1/9/24, 7:33 PM Duct Airflow Velocities – HVAC Design - My Engineering Notes
Duct Airflow Velocities – HVAC Design
THEODOSIS MOUMIADIS JANUARY 13, 2019
Fig. 01 - Ductwork design is an essential and demanding task of any HVAC system, that requires the compliance with many design
criteria and construction specifications. For extended air supply and return duct systems, the velocity criteria play an important role on
the system efficiency (pressure drop) and occupants comfort (acoustic performance).
Photo by T.Moumiadis
Ductwork system is an essential part of most small to large scale commercial and industrial HVAC systems.
Scope of the ductwork is to provide a contained path for the conditioned air coming out from the cooling /
heating units to the air supply terminals (diffusers, FCUs, VAVs) within the occupant’s space. The same
happens for the return air paths where ductwork systems connect the air return grilles and openings with
extraction fans or the air handling units.
One of the design parameters that define the sizing of ductwork is the maximum allowable air velocity.
According to CIBSE Guide B – HVAC / 2005, clause 3.3.2, the duct air velocity is not a major factor in the
constructional specifications of the ductwork. On the other hand the velocity of air flowing through a duct can
be critical, particularly where it is necessary to limit noise levels and has a major impact on the pressure
drop.
The selected maximum air velocity within each ductwork section of a network depends on the following
criteria:
System pressure class
Acoustic design criteria
Building usage
Exact location of the ductwork section in the system topology
This post aim is to summarize the above criteria in compliance with CIBSE and ASHRAE requirements.
Thus become an accurate and quick reference tool of duct air velocity for any future HVAC project.
moumiadis.blogspot.com/2019/01/duct-airflow-velocities-hvac-design.html 1/5
1/9/24, 7:33 PM Duct Airflow Velocities – HVAC Design - My Engineering Notes
Reference Standards and regulations
All information about duct airflow velocities is in accordance with the following references:
[1] CIBSE Guide B – Heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration / 2005ed,
[2] ASHRAE Handbook – Fundamentals 2017ed / Section 22 – Duct Design,
[3] ASHRAE Handbook – HVAC Applications 2015ed / Section 48 – Noise and Vibration Control,
[4] Carrier Handbook of Air Conditioning system design / Chapter 2 Air duct design.
ASHRAE Design Criteria
Any ductwork system can be designed with certain maximum allowable values for the air velocity by using
the design criteria below (1).
According to ASHRAE Handbook – HVAC Applications 2015 / Section 48 Noise and vibration control /
Table-8, the maximum recommended duct airflow velocities in order to comply with certain acoustic design
criteria is:
Table 1. Maximum recommended main duct airflow velocities to achieve
specified acoustic design criteria
Maximum Airflow velocity (m/s)
Design
Main Duct Location RC(N) Rectangular Circular
Duct Duct
In shaft or above drywall ceiling 45 17.8 25.4
35 12.7 17.8
25 8.6 12.7
Above suspended acoustic 45 12.7 22.9
ceiling 35 8.9 15.2
25 6.1 10.2
Duct located within occupied 45 10.2 19.8
space
35 7.4 13.2
25 4.8 8.6
Table 2. Maximum recommended branch duct airflow velocities
to achieve specified acoustic design criteria
Maximum Airflow velocity (m/s)
Design
Branch Duct Location(a) Rectangular Circular
RC(N)
Duct Duct
In shaft or above drywall ceiling 45 14.2 20.3
35 10.2 14.2
25 6.9 10.2
Above suspended acoustic 45 10.2 18.3
ceiling
35 7.1 12.2
25 4.9 8.2
Duct located within occupied 45 8.2 15.8
space 35 5.9 10.6
25 3.8 6.9
moumiadis.blogspot.com/2019/01/duct-airflow-velocities-hvac-design.html 2/5
1/9/24, 7:33 PM Duct Airflow Velocities – HVAC Design - My Engineering Notes
(a) Branch ducts should have airflow velocities of about 80% of values listed for main duct
Table 3. Maximum recommended runout duct airflow velocities
to achieve specified acoustic design criteria
Maximum Airflow velocity (m/s)
Runouts to outlets(b) Design Rectangular Circular
RC(N) Duct Duct
In shaft or above drywall ceiling 45 <8.9 <12.7
35 <6.4 <8.9
25 <4.3 <6.4
45 <6.4 <11.5
Above suspended acoustic 35 <4.1 <7.6
ceiling 25 <3.1 <5.1
45 <5.1 <9.9
Duct located within occupied 35 <3.7 <6.6
space 25 <2.4 <4.3
(b) Velocities in final runouts to outlets should be 50% of values listed for main duct or less
According to ASHRAE Handbook – HVAC Applications 2015 / Section 48 Noise and vibration control /
Table-9, the maximum recommended air velocities at neck of supply diffusers or return grilles, in order to
comply with certain acoustic levels are:
Table 4.0 Maximum air velocities at supply diffusers and return registers
“Free” opening airflow
Type of Opening Design RC(N) velocity (m/s)
Supply air outlet 45 3.2
40 2.8
35 2.5
30 2.2
25 1.8
Return air opening 45 3.8
40 3.4
35 3.0
30 2.5
25 2.2
CIBSE Design Criteria
According to CIBSE Guide B - HVAC & Refrigeration 2005 / Section 3.10 Ductwork / Table 3.2, the
maximum recommended duct velocities for low pressure ductwork systems, depending on acoustic
criteria and project type.
Table 5.0 Maximum airflows for low pressure systems in relation to noise levels
Velocity (m/s)
Typical applications Typical noise Main ducts Branch Runouts
rating (NR)
Domestic buildings (bedrooms) 25 3.0 2.5 <2.0
Theaters, concert halls 20-25 4.0 2.5 <2.0
Auditoria, lecture halls, cinemas 25-30 4.0 3.5 <2.0
Bedrooms (non-domestic buildings) 20-30 5.0 4.5 2.5
Private offices, libraries 30-35 6.0 5.5 3.0
moumiadis.blogspot.com/2019/01/duct-airflow-velocities-hvac-design.html 3/5
1/9/24, 7:33 PM Duct Airflow Velocities – HVAC Design - My Engineering Notes
General offices, restaurants, banks 35-40 7.5 6.0 3.5
Department stores, supermarkets, 40-45 9.0 7.0 4.5
shops, cafeterias
Industrial buildings 45-55 10.0 8.0 5.0
According to CIBSE Guide B - HVAC & Refrigeration 2005 / Section 3.10 Ductwork / Table 3.3, the
maximum recommended duct velocities for medium and high pressure ductwork systems, depending
on duct volume flow shall be:
Table 6.0 Maximum airflows for medium and high pressure systems
Velocity (m/s)
Volume flow in duct Medium pressure High pressure
(m3/h) systems systems
<360 8 9
360 – 1800 9 11
1800 - 5400 11 15
>5400 15 20
According to CIBSE Guide B - HVAC & Refrigeration 2005 / Section 3.10 Ductwork / Table 3.4, the
maximum recommended duct velocities in risers and ceilings in accordance to the application type (critical,
normal, non-critical) shall be:
Table 7.0 Maximum velocities for risers and ceilings
Duct air velocity (m/s)
for stated room type
Duct location Duct type Critical Normal Non-critical
Riser or above plasterboard Rectangular 5 7.5 10
ceiling
Circular 7 10 15
Above suspended ceiling Rectangular 3 5 6
Circular 5 7 10
According to CIBSE Guide B - HVAC & Refrigeration 2005 / Section 3.10 Ductwork / Table 3.5, the
maximum velocity for supply and return air openings shall be:
Table 8.0 Maximum velocity for supply and return air openings
Permitted air velocity (m/s)
Supply or return air Critical Normal Uncritical
Supply 1.5 2.5 3
Return 2 3 4
CARRIER Handbook
According to Carrier Handbook of Air Conditioning design / Chapter 2 Air duct design, the recommended
duct velocities for low velocity systems shall be:
Controlling factor the duct friction
Main ducts Branch ducts
Application Main Duct Supply Return Supply Return
(Controlling factor
the noise
generation)
Residencies 3.1 5.1 4.1 3.1 3.1
Apartments 5.1 7.6 6.6 6.1 5.1
moumiadis.blogspot.com/2019/01/duct-airflow-velocities-hvac-design.html 4/5
1/9/24, 7:33 PM Duct Airflow Velocities – HVAC Design - My Engineering Notes
Hotel bedrooms
Hospital bedrooms
Private offices 6.1 10.2 7.6 8.1 6.1
Directors rooms
Libraries
Theaters 4.1 6.6 5.6 5.1 4.1
Auditoriums
General offices 7.6 10.2 7.6 8.1 6.1
High class
restaurants
High class stores
Banks
Average store 9.1 10.2 7.6 8.1 6.1
Cafeterias
Industrial 12.7 15.2 9.1 11.2 7.6
These criteria can be used in isolation or combined based on the type of project, client requirements and system specifications. All tables are collections of tables and figures
existing within sections of references above and in any case do not express personal results or experience values. The reader is really encouraged to read in detail the referred
sections in order to have a more well- rounded view of the matter.
I hope that you find this post interesting and educative.
If you did like it please share it through the social so that more people can have access to it.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss any special case, please leave your comments
below. I will be happy to answer!
moumiadis.blogspot.com/2019/01/duct-airflow-velocities-hvac-design.html 5/5
