PANDA PAN341
“Positive and Negative Ductwork
Accreditation” Duct Leakage
Tester
PANDA PAN341
“Positive and Negative Ductwork Accreditation”
Quantifies air leakage in commercial
ductwork
Generates a PASS/FAIL result
PANDA 341
Duct Leakage Tester
1. Why test for duct leakage?
2. What are the standards?
3. Who are the customers and how to approach them?
4. How does it work?
5. Features and benefits
Why Test For Duct Leakage?
+ No duct system is airtight
+ As leakage increases, more air and energy
are required to maintain design conditions
• Increases operating costs
• Unable to meet design airflow or comfort
parameters (temp and RH)
Why Test For Duct Leakage?
+ Unwanted contaminants migrating to other areas
• Laboratory exhaust
• Industrial processes
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Why Test For Duct Leakage?
+ Meet regional standards or requirements
• Local codes
• Architectural engineering plans
EN
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Standards
+ Europe
• DW/143
• Eurovent 2/2
• EN1507
• EN12237
• EN13779
+ North America
• SMACNA (Sheet Metal And Air Conditioning
Contractors National Association)
- HVAC Air Duct leakage Test Manual
European Standards
+ Maximum Allowable leakage rate per unit area of duct Surface according to
Air Tightness Class
Air Tightness Static Pressure Limit (ps) Air Leakage
Class Pa Limit (fmax)
Positive Negative m3.s-1.m-2
A 500 500 0.027 ∗ 0.65
1000
B 1000 750 0.009 ∗ 0.65
1000
C 2000 750 0.003 ∗ 0.65
1000
D* 2000 750 0.001 ∗ 0.65
1000
* Class D ductwork is only for special apparatus
North America Standards
+ Ductwork classification from SMACNA
+ Maximum Allowable leakage rate per unit area (100 Sq. ft.) of duct Surface
Area according to Leakage Class
APPLICABLE LEAKAGES CLASSES , SMACNA Standard
DUCT CALSS 1/2", 1", 2" W. G. 3" W. G. 4", 6", 10" W. G.
SEAL CLASS C B A
SEALING TRANSVERSE TRANSVERSE JOINTS, SEAMS AND ALL
APPLICABLE JOINTS ONLY JOINTS AND SEAMS WALL PENETRATIONS
LEAKAGE CLASS
RECTANGULAR
METAL 24 12 6
ROUND METAL 12 6 3
Who Tests for Duct Leakage
+ Mechanical/Sheet Metal Contractors
• Install HVAC system components per engineering
drawings
- Air handler
- Heating and cooling components
- Ductwork and dampers
- Grilles and diffusers
• Duct leakage testing is performed as the ducts are
being constructed and installed into the HVAC
system
- Easy access to ductwork
- No obstructions
+ Commissioning
• Generally witnesses leakage testing and signs off
on report
What is a Duct Leakage Test?
Static Air Flow
Pressure Rate
Fan adjusted to
achieve Static
Pressure
Leakage means
more Air Flow
required!
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PANDA
Set-up Summary
1. Blank‐off a section of Ducting
2. Connect Flexible Hose to PANDA
3. Connect Flexible Hose to Ducting
4. Adjust PANDA Fan to achieve test Pressure
5. Put 5 numbers into the Application
6. Run the Test!
Positive Pressure Test
+ Positive Pressure – High Flow
• Connect to the Fan OUTLET
Very Tight System?
+ Positive Pressure – Low Flow
• Attach Low Flow Nozzle
• Connect to the Fan INLET
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Negative Pressure Test
+ Negative Pressure – High Flow
• Connect to the Fan INLET
Very Tight System?
+ Negative Pressure – Low Flow
• Attach Low Flow Nozzle
• Connect to the Fan INLET
Connect to Ductwork
+ Keep PANDA flexible duct length to a minimum
+ Keep PANDA flexible duct as straight as possible
+ Make sure both end connections are sealed
+ Make sure PANDA flexible duct has no leaks
+ Pressure Reading tube from the PVM610 should be connected directly to the
ductwork under test
+ Blank‐off all Open Ends including tappings and test holes
+ Blank at convenient place with easy access
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Adjust PANDA to Test Pressure
Pressure Reading
Fan Speed Control
Fan Run/Stop Switch
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Two Instruments
1) PVM610
• Measures the Static Pressure in the Duct
• Connect the + port to the duct
• Leave the – port open to atmosphere
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Two Instruments
2) TA465‐P
• Measures the Air Flow Rate
• Measures the Air Temperature
• Measures Barometric Pressure
• Application Calculates PASS/FAIL
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TA465-P Flow Connections
+ High Flow Testing
• Connect to FLOW GRID marked
P1(+) and P2(‐)
+ Low Flow Testing
• Connect to NOZZLE
marked P1(+) and P2(‐)
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Set-up Test Application
Enter key parameters into
TA465-P:
1. Surface Area of ductwork section to be tested
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Surface Area
not Volume or Cross-sectional Area
+ +
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Set-up Test Application
Enter key parameters into TA465-P:
1. Surface Area of ductwork section to be tested
2. Static Pressure of test, as measured by Model
PVM610 micromanometer
3. Flow Device as Nozzle or Flow Grid
4. Air Tightness Class A to D
a) ‘A’ is the easiest
b) ‘D’ is the tightest
5. Test Length, or duration of leakage test
a) Minimum recommended time is 5 minutes..
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Run the Test
+ Click ‘START’ to Run • Results
Test
PASS:
Leak Factor is
below Leak Limit
FAIL:
Leak Factor is
above Leak Limit
FAIL:
Check Ducting for Leaks Leak Factor is
above Leak Limit
Look – At blanks, access openings and difficult joints
Listen – with test rig running, leaks should be audible
Feel – running your hand over joints can help locate leaks
Smoke Pellet – placed inside ductwork
(can be corrosive so obtain permission)
Thermal Imaging Camera – provides quick and easy
visualization of leaks
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PANDA
Set-up Summary
1) Blank‐off a section of Ducting
2) Connect Flexible Hose to PANDA
3) Connect Flexible Hose to Ducting
4) Adjust PANDA Fan to achieve test Pressure
5) Put 5 numbers into the Application
6) Run the Test!
PANDA
• Weight: 45kg (99 lbs)
• Removable Box
• Removable Flexible Duct
Features and Benefits
Powerful blower builds‐up the static pressure fast
Transportable
Real‐time results
User Friendly
Versatile instrument
Rugged industrial construction
Features
+ User Friendly:
• Variable speed blower motor control
• Direct reading digital Instruments
• Built in duct leakage applications
- Saves time, less math
+ PASS/FAIL results
• Data Logging Capability
• No charts or graphs to read
• Automatically correct for air density
+ Powerful blower builds‐up the static pressure fast!!
• Allows for longer duct runs to be tested
- Test up to 120m long, 1 m2 duct in 20 minutes
+ Easily switch from Positive Pressure mode to Negative Pressure Mode
• Reposition flex duct connection on blower
+ Easily switch from high flow mode to low flow
+ Rugged industrial construction
Thank You!!!
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PANDA PAN341
Powerful and fast
Transportable
Real-time results
User Friendly
Versatile instrument
Rugged industrial construction..
Ideal for:
o Sheet Metal Contractors
o Test and Balancers
o Commissioning/Acceptance test engineers
o HVAC Manufacturers
o Design Engineers
PANDA PAN341
“Positive and Negative Ductwork Accreditation”
Questions?
Primary Market - New building Installations
Target - Meet standards or requirements
EN1507
- Requirement for Strength and Leakage Rates of Rectangular Ducts
EN12237
- Requirement for Strength and Leakage Rates of Circular Ducts
Defines Maximum Allowable leakage rate
per unit Area of Duct Surface
According to 4 Air Tightness Classes
Meet regional standards or requirements
Europe
• EN13779
Ventilation for buildings - Achieve a good air quality with
acceptable installation and running costs
• HVCA DW/143
Ventilation for buildings: Guidance document for Ductwork
Leakage Testing
• Eurovent 2/2
Ventilation for buildings: Air Leakage Rate in Sheet Metal Air
Distribution Systems
Primary Market - New building Installations
Target - Meet standards or requirements
Air Tightness Static Pressure Limit (ps) Air Leakage
Class Pa Limit (fmax)
Positive Negative m3.s-1.m-2
A 500 500 0.027 ∗ 0.65
1000
B 1000 750 0.009 ∗ 0.65
1000
C 2000 750 0.003 ∗ 0.65
1000
D* 2000 750 0.001 ∗ 0.65
1000
* Class D ductwork is only for special apparatus
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Meet regional standards or requirements
North America
• SMACNA
Sheet Metal And Air Conditioning
Contractors National Association
HVAC Air Duct leakage Test Manual
Meet regional standards or requirements
North America
• SMACNA
- Ductwork classification from SMACNA
- Maximum Allowable leakage rate per unit area (100 Sq. ft.) of
duct Surface Area according to Leakage Class
APPLICABLE LEAKAGES CLASSES , SMACNA Standard
DUCT CALSS 1/2", 1", 2" W. G. 3" W. G. 4", 6", 10" W. G.
SEAL CLASS C B A
SEALING TRANSVERSE TRANSVERSE JOINTS, SEAMS AND ALL
APPLICABLE JOINTS ONLY JOINTS AND SEAMS WALL PENETRATIONS
LEAKAGE CLASS
RECTANGULAR
METAL 24 12 6
ROUND METAL 12 6 3
Primary Market: New Building Installations
Target: Meet standards or requirements
Test and Balancing Engineers
o Leak Test the HVAC system before balancing
o Saves time correcting the Balance when leaks are found
o They make more money providing an extra service to
meet the standards
o They will get repeat business
Primary Market: New Building Installations
Target: Meet standards or requirements
Commissioning/ Acceptance Test Engineers
o Leak Test the HVAC system before other checks
o Saves time checking the Balance when leaks are found
o They make more money providing an extra service of
checking that standards are met
o They will get repeat business
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Primary Market: New Building Installations
Target: Meet standards or requirements
HVAC Manufacturers – Sheet Metal Contractors
o Leak Test the HVAC system before shipping to site
o Leak test the ducting before shipping to site
o Guarantee of product quality and saves time on site
o This will help them win contracts
and get repeat business
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Primary Market: New Building Installations
Target: Meet standards or requirements
Design Engineers and Specifiers
o If Duct Leakage Testing is specified then the test must be
carried out!
o This group may not be customers, but they are influencers
o Duct Leakage Testing makes for an Energy Efficient
Building
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Secondary Market: Existing Installations
Target: desire to improve energy performance
o Facilities Management
o HVAC Maintenance Companies
o HVAC Planning Engineers
o Customers of a HVAC system
Additional Market: Special Applications
Target: desire to do a tightness test
o Cleanroom builders/installers
o Car and truck manufacturers
o Aerospace (plane tightness test)
o Chimney Manufacturers
o Confined spaces/cabinets
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