Insertion loss provided by several commercially available air handling duct wrap materials that are applied to reduce sheet metal duct breakout noise levels

Abstract

Noise breaking out of sheet metal HVAC duct is often a significant and disturbing noise source for a building space being served by a supply or return duct or through which the supply or return duct is passing. Reducing breakout noise is often attempted by using heavy loaded vinyl duct wrap applied directly to the duct or applied over glass fiber insulation or foam sheet. Duct wrap insertion loss data were collected using a portion of a sheet metal duct with noise produced by a loudspeaker assembly suspended within the duct. Breakout noise levels were measured on adjacent sides of the duct with and without duct wrap. This approximate insertion loss data were obtained by a University of Kansas architecture student as a portion of work leading to a Master of Arts in Architecture degree.