Achieving Great Ductwork Design
Installing commercial ductwork is about more than “hanging and
banging.” The type of duct chosen for the job, the sizing and length
of the runs, the angle of the bends, the selection of connectors and
sealant, all make a difference in the quality, lifetime, and cost of
the job.
Money
and comfort are critical concerns in duct design. Doing it right
isn’t just an academic exercise.
The elimination of errors in acquiring the duct, planning for
perfect duct runs, using the minimum number of connections, and
creating perfect seals creates significant savings. These savings
can rise to 30% or more of the traditional cost of duct acquisition
and installation.
Savings go beyond initial installation, with ductwork design
correlating to the energy efficiency, airflow quality, and expected
lifetime of the entire HVAC system.
Attention to every detail counts. Even attention to the delivery can
save time and labor costs. At
ZEN Industries, for example, our premium service delivers
shrink-wrapped duct labeled and ready to fit together as easily as a
Lego set.
The Qualities of Exceptional Duct Design
Every
contractor should be aware of their responsibilities when it comes
to designing an effective HVAC duct installation. These
considerations include:
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Duct Sizing. Duct Sizing. A great duct design
considers the load requirements of different rooms, with the
most common error being to undersize the duct, resulting in
inefficient airflow. The industry standard is the Manual D
protocol for duct design, developed by the Air Conditioning
Contractors of America (ACCA).
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The Number and Angle of Bends. In a
superior duct installation, bends are as few as possible and the
angle of the bends is shallow, increasing the volume of air
delivered where it is needed.
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Effective Ductwork Length. Duct length
goes hand in hand with the location of the HVAC equipment, with
both optimized to move conditioned air throughout the building,
even into hard-to-reach areas. Effective length takes into
account the friction and turbulence in the duct, mainly caused
by connectors and fittings, each of which results in some loss
of pressure. Getting it right delivers the airflow needed with a
minimum use of energy.
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No Leaks. A good installation has
well-supported and properly sealed ducts. Leaks waste energy and
increase heating and cooling costs. They create unintended hot
and cold spots and help shorten the lifespan of the entire
system.
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A Great Return Air System. Whether it is
heating or cooling, HVAC pushes air into the rooms throughout
its system. Without a well-placed network of return air vents,
the increased air pressure would prevent the HVAC from operating
effectively, degrading comfort, increasing energy costs, and
shortening the lifetime of the system.
Once the duct design has been perfected, where do you turn for
quality ductwork at an affordable price, delivered on-time and
on-budget? ZEN Industries
has been fulfilling the ductwork needs of builders and contractors
for over two decades. Call us at 877-600-0274, or
visit our Contact Us page today!
It's All About the Math
Installing effective ductwork is as much about the math as it is
about the metal. Getting the most out of an HVAC system today takes
into account a range of factors, including the orientation of the
building, the type and quality of windows, insulation levels, and
the design of the building itself – knowing which surfaces of the
building are going to gain or lose heat.
Load calculation is the process for determining the right size of
HVAC system for the building. The gold standard for calculating load
is set forth in Manual J of the Air Conditioning Contractors of
America (ACCA).
Ductwork sizing depends on a number of factors, starting with the
capacity of the heating/cooling units. It includes the square
footage of the building and its individual rooms, the cubic feet per
minute (CFM) of air flow, and the duct size friction loss rate.
Calculations that used to be ball-parked using pencil and paper are
now delivered in high precision by building information specialists
using advanced software that weighs a complex array of factors.
At ZEN
Industries, we not only deliver quality duct when you need it,
we have a division devoted to duct drawings, HVAC estimating, and
automating HVAC production requests. You can learn more at
ZEN
M.E.P.
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Affordable, high-quality duct, fittings,
and accessories – delivered on time and within budget.
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Reliable shop drawings delivered up to
50% faster.
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Errors reduced to historic lows while
meeting the most demanding specifications.
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Elimination of double data entry and
Improved estimating accuracy.
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Assuring that each duct section is
precision fit to its location, connections, and support.
We work hard to stay ahead of the curve, always
striving to help assure the success of your next project.
Would you like to work with an HVAC fabricator that goes beyond
high-quality ductwork to deliver the kind of innovation, insight,
and process optimization that will save you money and improve your
bottom line?
Call us at 877-600-0274, or visit our
Contact Us page today!
Founded in 1999 on a set of unbreakable core
principles, ZEN strives to provide top-quality fabrication, advice, and
planning for our customers. We’re celebrating our 20th year in business!
The quality of our HVAC duct work is of the
highest caliber and our price is competitive with the best in the
industry. Of course, ZEN Industries Inc. gains its edge with unbeatable
service, and service means people - it's about our experienced personnel
and the relationships we build with each and every customer