IFT Rev:0

SECTION 15890

DUCT WORK

PART 1 GENERAL

1.01 SCOPE OF SECTION

A. This technical Specification establishes the type and quality of materials and the
standard of workmanship to be used in the supply and installation of Metal Ductwork.

1.02 WORK INCLUDED

A. The work includes the provision of all labour, materials and the performance of all
operations in connection with the supply and installation of metal ductwork as
specified herein and where referred to on the Drawings.

B. Coordination: The Contractor shall be responsible for the full coordination of the
work of all trades.

1.03 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. Manufacturers: Firms regularly engaged in the factory fabrication of Metal Ductwork

whose products have been in satisfactory use in a similar application for not less than
10 years.

B. Installer: Firms regularly engaged and qualified in the installation of Metal Ductwork
with at least 5 years successful installation experience on projects of a similar nature.

1.04 APPLICABLE CODES AND STANDARDS

A. The Metal Ductwork and all associated materials and workmanship shall comply fully
with the latest relevant standards in all respects.

B. The following are the most commonly used and relevant British, American and other
Standards for Metal Ductwork and associated materials. However, the Contractor
shall ensure that all applicable standards are complied with whether listed here or not.

1. Specification for sheet metal ductwork No. DW 142 and Addendum "A" 1988
for low, medium and high pressure / velocity air systems published by heating,
ventilating contractors association (HVCA) UK.

2. The SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National

Association, Inc.) duct manual and sheet metal construction for ventilating and
air conditioning systems

3. Low Pressure Duct Construction Standards, 5th ed. (SMACNA).

4. Rectangular Industrial Duct Construction Standards. (SMACNA).

SECTION 15890 Page 1 of 7

IFT Rev:0

5. The ASHRAE handbook published by the American Society of Heating,

Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers Inc. - Duct Construction

6. ASTM Standard A525 : Hot Dipped Galvanized Steel Sheets

7. Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems

(National Fire Protection Association, ANSI/NFPA 90A-93).

8. Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems

(National Fire Protection Association, ANSI/NFPA 90A-93).

9. Standard for the Installation of Warm Air Heating and Air Conditioning
Systems (National Fire Protection Association, ANSI/NFPA 90B-93).

10. Standard for the Installation of Blower and Exhaust Systems for Dust, Stock
and Vapor Removal or Conveying (National Fire Protection Association,
ANSI/NFPA 91-92).

11. Standard for the Installation of Equipment for the Removal of Smoke and
Grease-Laden Vapors from Commercial Cooking Equipment. (National Fire
Protection Association, ANSI/NFPA 96-94).

1.05 SUBMITTALS

A. Drawings refer to 15010

B. Calculations - refer to 15010.

Fan head calculations shall be submitted to the engineer for approval based on
Contractor ductwork working drawings.

C. Products - Typical duct section and fittings to demonstrate integrity of construction.

D. Full details of air test procedures.

1.06 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE DATA

A. Comply with 15010

1.07 WARRANTY

A. Provide 12 months warranty in accordance with contract conditions.

PART 2 PRODUCTS

2.01 GENERAL

A. All figure numbers referred to throughout this ductwork specification relate to those
contained in DW 142 or SMACNA Std.

SECTION 15890 Page 2 of 7

IFT Rev:0

B. All ductwork shall be manufactured from hot-dip galvanised steel sheets to BS 2989
grade G90 or Z27 coating type in accordance with DW 142 or SMACNA Std.
specification for low velocity air systems.

C. Ductwork shall be manufactured to the sizes detailed on the drawings, however where
ductwork is to be internally lined the ductwork size shall be increased to compensate
for the lining thickness.

D. The interior surfaces of all ductwork shall be smooth. No sheet metal parts, tabs,
angles, or similar shall project into the air stream for any reason unless specified to do
so. All seams and joints shall be external.

E. The minimum nominal sheet thickness for any ductwork shall be 0.8 mm for internal
systems with the longer duct size up to 1000mm. Where the longer duct size exceeds
1000 mm the nominal sheet thickness shall be 1.0 mm.

F. The Contractor shall ensure that the choice of gauge thickness for ductwork and the
stiffening provision is such that the ductwork installation does not drum or vibrate.
Single stiffeners shall be used as illustrated in figures 44-49 inclusive of DW 142.

G. Ductwork performance standards shall be as follows:-

Pressure / Velocity
Ductwork system Air Leakage
classification

Air conditioning supply air Low Class "B"

ducts (constant volume)

Air conditioning supply air Medium Class "B"

ducts (variable volume)

Air conditioning return air Low Class "B"

ducts

Air conditioning return ducts Medium Class "B"

(variable volume)

Toilet extract ventilation Low Class "B"

ductwork

H. All ductwork operating at pressures classified as "Medium" pressure in the table

above shall be tested to establish conformity with leakage limits set out in DW 142
and in accordance with procedures described in DW 143 or SMACNA Std.

Additionally samples of straight duct beads and tees on low, medium and high
velocity ductwork systems should be selected and pressure tested during erection to
demonstrate the adequacy of jointing methods.

SECTION 15890 Page 3 of 7

IFT Rev:0

I. All jointing and construction methods shall be approved by the Engineer.

J. Approved sealant shall be used on all ductwork longitudinal seams. The sealant can
be included in the seam during manufacture and applied as an edge sealant.

K. Button punch snap lock longitudinal joints shall not be used.

L. Particular attention shall be given to ensuring that cross jointing methods are suitable
for the specified pressure rating. Cross joints shall generally be flanged and corner
treatment shall be such that corners pull-up true and square and do not leak. An
approved liquid or mastic sealant shall be used on all cross joints.

M. Longitudinal joints on rectangular ductwork shall be seamed as illustrated in Figures

1-4 inclusive DW 142.

Seams illustrated in figures 5, 6 and 7 shall not be used.

N. Aerofoil section turning varies shall be used on all 90 square bends. Turning vanes
shall be securely attached at each end either to the duct or to internal runners and the
runners fastened to the duct by mechanically-closed rivets or bolts at 150mm
maximum spacing. Turning vanes in twin bends in which the widths of the straight
section and branch differ shall be set so that the leading and the trailing edges of the
turning vanes are parallel to the duct axis.

O. Change shapes that maintain the cross-sectional area shall have sides where the slope
does not exceed 22.5o on any side. Should it be necessary to reduce the cross
sectional area the slope shall not exceed 15o on any side and the reduction in area shall
not exceed 20%. In this instance the approval of the Engineer shall be sought prior to
manufacture.

P. The slope of expansions and contractions shall not exceed 22.5o on any side unless it
is unavoidable, in which case splitters shall be provided to bisect the angle between
the sloping side and the centre line of the duct.

Q. Ductwork connections to plant and equipment (eg. cooling coils,) shall, in the case of
bolted flanges, be provided with matching flanges of similar size and thickness. Sheet
metal returned flanges shall not be permitted.

R. Construction requirements for circular ducts shall be in accordance with DW 142.

Spirally-wound ductwork shall be used.

The grooved seam of spiral seamed ducts shall be tightly formed to produce a rigid
duct and as such shall be accepted as an airtight joint without the use of sealant. The
longitudinal seam for straight seamed ducts shall be a grooved seam continued to the
extreme end of the duct and sealed during manufacture.

S. The ductwork sizes indicated on the drawings are nominal, therefore for socket and
spigot joints the actual dimensions of ductwork and fittings shall be correctly related
so that when installed the joint shall be effectively sealed.

SECTION 15890 Page 4 of 7

IFT Rev:0

T. Bends shall be either segmented with swaged ends, or in the case of ductwork 400mm
diameter and below, pressed bends of the long radiussed type shall be acceptable.

U. Tapers of the concentric type shall be manufactured with an angle not exceeding 15o.
Tapers of the eccentric type shall have angles not exceeding 30o.

V. Hangers and supports for ductwork systems shall generally comply with DW 142 Part
6. Primary fixings into the building structure shall be subject to approval by the
Engineer.

W. Ductwork hangers and supports shall be adjustable for height, spaced to ensure
adequate support and where practicable, fitted at each ductwork joint or spaced at not
more than the maximum centres in Tables 24, 25 and 26 for rectangular, circular and
flat oval horizontal ducting. Securing of formed brackets to corners of ductwork as a
means of suspension shall not be permitted.

X. Supports for vertical ductwork in buildings shall be generally located at each floor
slab but subject to a maximum spacing of 4 metres.

Y. All ductwork shall be securely supported from the building structure but inert packing
material shall be provided between ducts and supports to prevent direct contact of the
ducting with the structure.

Z. Thermal insulators shall be installed between sheet metal ductwork carrying

conditioned air and the support steelwork as described in this specification and as
shown on the drawings.

PART 3 EXECUTION

3.01 STORAGE

A. Ductwork shall be either stored on purpose made racks of welded construction, or in a

dry open area stored clear of the ground.

B. All open ends of ductwork shall be sealed with polythene sheeting to prevent the
ingress of dirt.

C. Small ductwork sections shall not be stored within larger sections except in the case of
circular ducts.

D. Ductwork shall not be stacked in a manner that will result in damage to or

deformation of the sections will occur.

E. All ductwork shall be stored with an identification label indicating the piece number,
size and location in which it is to be installed.

F. Comply with Section 01600

SECTION 15890 Page 5 of 7

IFT Rev:0

3.02 FIXINGS

A. Mechanically closed rivets shall be used strictly in accordance with the manufacturers
recommendations with regard to use, size and clearance drill size.

B. Bolts, nuts and washers shall be used for flanged sections of ductwork and shall be of
mild steel protected by electro galvanizing, cadmium plating or a similar approved
finish.

C. Self tapping screws shall be use subject to the approval of the Engineer, in instances
where other types of fixing is not practical.

D. Welding shall not be permitted on galvanized sheet steel materials.

3.03 GENERAL INSTALLATION

A. Ductwork shall be installed generally as indicated on the drawings subject to full

coordination and fully in accordance with the HVCA DW 142 manual referred to in
Part 2.0.

B. Where sets and final plant connections are required site measurements shall be taken
to establish dimensions prior to manufacture.

C. All ductwork joints shall be fitted with the recommended minimum number of fixings,
cleats or clamps. Sealants shall be used at all joints.

D. Branches shall be installed off straight sections of ductwork and not off taper sections.

E. Ductwork expansions shall be made upstream of a branch connection and contractions

downstream of a branch connection.

F. Concentric tapers on circular ductwork shall be used in preference to eccentric tapers.

The latter shall be used only where it is necessary to offset the ductwork centre line.

G. Particular regard must be paid to the preventation of duct movement, with consequent
noise, potential leakage and strain upon flexible connections.

H. Attention shall be given to the installation of long runs of air ducts to the direction of
expansion or contraction movement due to thermal change, towards flexible inserts
provided for the purpose of absorbing such movement.

I Test holes shall be provided in all main ducts and branches floor airflow measuring.
Test holes shall be neatly formed and fitted with removable type airtight plastic plugs.

J. Care shall be exercised to ensure that no edges protrude into the airways, and that all
spigots (especially on high velocity systems) are well matched so that a smooth
airflow is achieved throughout the length of the ducting. Any section of ductwork
causing noise due to poor construction shall be removed and reinstated at the
Contractor's expense.

SECTION 15890 Page 6 of 7

IFT Rev:0

K. Due consideration shall be given to the space required for all other services and
allowance made for the thickness of thermal insulation.

L. Air-leakage testing shall be carried out progressively, to the requirements for the
particular pressure classification of the system in accordance with DW/142
Appendices A + B.

M. All testing, balancing and commissioning shall be in accordance with the relevant
section of this specification.

END OF SECTION 15890

SECTION 15890 Page 7 of 7