Source book for efficient air duct systems in Europe

Ventilation, air conditioning and air heating systems are of vital importance for the health and comfort of residents and other building users. However, there exists a substantial body of literature that shows that HVAC systems performance can be greatly affected by inferior quality ductwork. To avoid these problems, it is important to pay greater attention to the design, construction, installation, and maintenance of ductwork systems, bearing in mind that the primary functions of the HVAC systems must be fulfilled.
The European AIRWAYS project (running from December 1999 to December 2001 and partly supported by the European Save II programme) was set up in order to provide guidance to design and maintain efficient air duct systems, and to bring to light the energy saving opportunities in parallel to health, safety, and comfort issues.
The results of this work have been published in a book targeted at decision-makers concerned with indoor climate issues, including policy makers, architects, and designers. It provides condensed information on reasons behind better air duct system design and how this can be achieved. Check lists for important design issues are available. They are intended to be used in the practical design of duct systems.
The publication will be soon available on a CD-ROM that includes a literature survey as well as an annex report presenting the results of an inquiry of tools actually used within Europe for the design of air duct systems.