providing insights for today’s hvac system designer

Engineers Newsletter
volume 47–4

Understanding VAV
Sound Standards

following procedure determines NC

Acoustics are an important and often Fundamentals of Acoustics given sound pressure levels in a range
overlooked topic in HVAC&R. Many from 63 to 8000 Hz:
pieces of equipment in these systems When discussing sound, you will see a
generate sound, including chillers, air 1. Plot the sound pressure levels for
handlers, rooftops, and variable air
variety of terms and phrases, including each octave band on an NC chart.
volume (VAV) boxes. In this Engineers sound pressure, sound power, A-
2. Identify the highest NC curve
Newsletter, we are going to provide an weighted, noise criteria (NC), room criteria
overview of acoustics related to VAV intersected by the plotted sound
(RC) and many more. When discussing
boxes. pressure level. This curve identifies
indoor acoustics, NC and A-weighted
the NC rating.
sound values are used.
Figure 1 shows sample sound pressure
Sound pressure and power Sound
levels on an NC chart. In this example,
pressure, sometimes written as Lp, refers
the 63 Hz octave band determines the
to the pressure disturbances created as
rating of NC 40 because this is the
sound waves pass through air. The human
highest NC curve intersection. Sound in
ear responds to these sound pressure
the higher frequency ranges drops off
disturbances. Obstructions in the sound
quickly.
path between the source and receiver
affect sound pressure. A-weighting Weighting curves
developed by Fletcher and Munson and
Sound power, Lw, is the magnitude of
published in 1933 have been used to
acoustical energy created by the sound
compensate for the human ear’s varying
source. Unlike sound pressure, distance
sensitivity at different frequencies. The
and obstructions do not affect sound
“A” weighting curve, often written as
power.
dBA, is most often used because it best
Noise Criteria (NC) NC values are likely approximates human hearing at low
the most common single-number sound pressure levels where hearing
descriptor used to define indoor sound protection is not necessary.
quality. Building owners may require
To calculate an A-weighted value:
specific NC levels for spaces. NC curves
slope downward from left to right to 1. Subtract A-weighting curve values, in
reflect the human ear’s increasing decibels, from the corresponding
sensitivity at higher frequencies. Lower octave band sound pressure level for
NC values indicate quieter spaces. The each octave band (63 to 8000 Hz).
2 Use logarithmic addition to sum the

©2018 Trane. All rights reserved. 1

 adjusted sound pressure levels for all Figure 1. Plotted sound pressure levels on an NC chart
eight octave bands. The resulting
value represents the A-weighted
sound pressure level to be expressed
with “dBA” as the unit of measure,
e.g. 41 dBA.

The entire procedure is explained in

detail and with an example in the
“Acoustics in Air Conditioning”
Applications Engineering Manual
published by Trane.

VAV box acoustics

Conditioned air is supplied from an air
handler or rooftop unit to spaces to
maintain space temperature in a
multiple-zone VAV system. VAV boxes
installed downstream of the supply fan,
are used to vary the supply of
conditioned air to the spaces. The VAV
box contains an airflow-modulation
device (air valve), controls, and
depending on system application,
possibly a heating coil, filter, and small
terminal fan. The air passing through a
VAV box generates sound. elements, and diffusers. The standard by acoustic ceiling tiles, for example. It is
does not apply to air registers or diffusers becoming more common for commercial
and grilles without an air valve. buildings to be built without acoustic
ceiling tiles. With HVAC equipment open
VAV box sound standards For rating purposes, all manufacturers are to the occupied space, designers must
required to test with a differential static be more aware of radiated sound to
There are currently two major sound pressure of 1.5 inches H2O and 100% ensure acceptable sound pressure levels
standards for VAV acoustics in North airflow. This ensures that sound data from in the occupied spaces. A mitigating
America: ANSI®/AHRI® Standard 880 one manufacturer can be compared option would be to locate the VAV box
and ANSI/AHRI Standard 885. equally to another because the data was over a non-critical area.
Representatives from AHRI-member collected at the same rating conditions, if
companies participate in standard the data was collected with the same Standard 880 requires that sound power
development, which results in industry version of Standard 880. If different levels from octave band center
agreed-upon standards. AHRI publishes versions of the standard were used, two frequencies 125 through 4000 Hz be
its standards online and free to view. Go sets of data may not be directly presented in documentation like catalogs
to www.ahrinet.org to view these comparable due to the addition of duct end and selection reports. Alternatively, this
standards. corrections (see page 3). may be written in octave bands from 2
through 7 (125 to 4000 Hz). Octave band
AHRI Standard 880 AHRI Standard Discharge sound power refers to the 1 at 63 Hz is omitted from the standard
880-2017 “Performance Rating of Air sound that leaves a VAV box. In sound because air terminals do not generate
Terminals” establishes test predictions, the discharge sound power is significant sound at this frequency.
requirements, rating requirements, and used to help predict the sound levels Manufacturers are allowed to publish
minimum data requirements for air inside a space because of supply air data beyond the required sound bands.
terminal devices.to determine VAV box passing through the VAV box, flexible duct,
sound power. These devices may and diffusers into the space. Table 1 shows an example 700-cfm shut-
include pressure-dependent air valves, off VAV box tested in accordance with
pressure-independent air valves, fans Radiated sound power escapes the VAV AHRI Standard 880. Both discharge and
with on/off or speed control, heating box casing. This sound will affect indoor radiated sound power are shown.
sound pressure levels unless attenuated

2 Trane Engineers Newsletter volume 47-4 providing insights for today’s HVAC system designer
In a parallel fan powered VAV Duct end corrections The Standard discharge and radiated sound power (for
installation, a small terminal fan in the 800 committee added “duct end the damper and, in the case of fan-
VAV box recirculates air from the corrections” to the standard beginning powered boxes, the fan), wide-open
plenum when heat is needed. In a in 2011 in an effort to account for open- damper pressure drop, and fan motor
series fan powered VAV installation, the ended duct terminations into large power consumption.
terminal fan operates continuously. rooms. This can be referred as “end
Additional tests with the fan on and off reflection loss.” This gives testers the Once approval is received,
are required for fan-powered VAV boxes ability to account for the sound that manufacturers are able to use the AHRI
because the fan generates additional should enter a test chamber to be VAV Certification Mark to show
sound and, depending upon the measured but does not. Instead, some compliance.
configuration, may not run the entire low-frequency plane waves rebound
period of operation. back into the duct and are not While certification applies to one
measured. In an installation, this operating point and cooling-only VAV
Parallel fan-powered VAV box sound phenomenon is usually desirable as it boxes, manufacturers typically publish
power data is presented for terminal reduces the amount of sound data that covers the entire operating
fan-only operation and standard cooling transmitted to the space through the range of their products, including the
operation (where the terminal fan is not supply air path. effects of options like reheat, VAV box
operating) as shown in Table 2. Series lining, and alternate housing
fan powered VAV box sound power is Certified sound Manufacturers may geometries.
presented for terminal-fan operation choose to participate in AHRI’s VAV box
only and terminal fan plus primary Certification Program. Annual AHRI Standard 885 ANSI/AHRI
airflow operation as shown in Table 3. independent verification of randomly Standard 885-2008 “Procedure for
sampled VAV boxes ensures Estimating Occupied Space Sound
Footnotes generally accompany the manufacturer’s performance claims are Levels in the Application of Air Terminals
table of data indicating which version of accurate within tolerance limits set by and Air Outlets” uses sound power
Standard 880 was used for testing and both Standard 880 and the Certification taken in accordance with Standard 880
relevant commentary on the VAV box Program. The VAV box operating to estimate sound pressure in the
and/or tests. characteristics evaluated include occupied space. This industry-

Table 1. Discharge and radiated sound power for a 700-cfm shut-off VAV box.

Octave (Hz) 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000

Discharge 71 71 63 59 58 60
Radiated 57 54 53 45 42 36

Table 2. Discharge and radiated sound power for a 700-cfm parallel fan powered VAV box.

Octave (Hz) 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000

Discharge - valve only 66 63 60 57 54 49
Radiated - valve only 64 58 53 47 42 35
Discharge - fan only 66 59 59 55 50 48
Radiated - fan only 69 62 60 56 52 49

Table 3. Discharge and radiated sound power for a 700-cfm series fan powered VAV box.

Octave (Hz) 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000

Discharge - fan and 100% primary 68 62 59 55 54 52
airflow
Radiated - fan and 100% primary 74 69 66 63 61 63
airflow
Discharge - fan only 64 56 58 54 52 51
Radiated - fan only 60 57 56 53 50 49

providing insights for today’s HVAC system designer Trane Engineers Newsletter volume 47–4 3
developed method gives the user a created using software like the Trane
procedure to compute space sound Acoustics Program (TAP™) or a system
pressure using hand-calculations or a mock up.
spreadsheet.
Separate attenuation values are
In many presentations of VAV box provided for the discharge and radiated
sound data, a space NC level is printed. sound paths. Over the course of
The attenuation values printed in Table several publications, these attenuation
E1 of Normative Appendix E “Typical values have changed, complicating
Sound Attenuation Values”, often called matters. For example, the discharge
transfer functions, are used as deducts sound pressure from a medium sized
to compute the space sound pressure. VAV box serving 700 cfm would be
Each deduct is subtracted from the reported as NC 35 when tested in
VAV box sound power value in the accordance with ARI Standard 885-
same octave band to determine sound 1998 and NC 31 when tested with
pressure. Then, the NC-level is Standard 885-2008. For the same box,
computed using the sound pressure the radiated sound pressure would be
and published for both discharge and reported as NC 26, NC 27, or NC 22
radiated sound. The result is two depending on the acoustical ceiling tile
unique and different NC values for a material being used, if tested with
single VAV box. Standard 885-1998 version. If Standard
885-2008 were used, only NC 27
This appendix and the attenuation would be reported. See pages 5-7 for a
values used within are not used to comparison of the attenuation values
estimate sound pressure for actual and their results from the two most
installations. The attenuation values recent versions of Standard 885.
were developed with a number of
assumptions, such as the size of a
room being served by the VAV box, the
plenum depth, and acoustical ceiling
type materials. It is for these reasons
that the NC level printed in a catalog
or selection report should not be
expected in the actual installation.
Instead, the NC level gives designers
another tool to compare VAV boxes
from a sound perspective because
each VAV box NC level is computed
using the same criteria. To predict an
NC level in the actual space, an
acoustic model would need to be

4 Trane Engineers Newsletter volume 47-4 providing insights for today’s HVAC system designer
 The evolution of AHRI Standard 885 Sound Attenuation Values

The sound attenuation values (transfer functions) found in AHRI Standard 885 have been changed over the course of
several publications. Discharge attenuation values have been provided in the standard from 125 to 8000 Hz while radiated
attenuation values have been provided from 125 to 4000 Hz.

In the 1998 publication, there were three options for discharge attenuation values based upon VAV box size and airflow:

ARI Standard 885-1998 – Table E1 – Discharge Attenuation values

125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000

Small Box (8 x 8 in.) <300 cfm 25 28 38 53 58 31 28

Medium Box (12 x 12 in.) 300-700 cfm 27 26 39 51 53 33 26

Large Box (15 x 15 in/) >700 cfm 29 30 40 51 51 35 29

In the 2008 update, the discharge attenuation values were largely republished with changes highlighted:

ARI Standard 885-2008 – Table E1 – Discharge Attenuation values

125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000

Small Box (8 x 8 in.) <300 cfm 24 28 39 53 59 40 28

Medium Box (12 x 12 in.) 300-700 cfm 27 29 40 51 53 39 30

Large Box (15 x 15 in/) >700 cfm 29 30 41 51 52 39 32

In the 1998 publication, there were three options for radiated sound:

ARI Standard 885-1998 - Table E1 - Radiated Attenuation Values

125 250 500 1000 2000 4000

Type 1 - Glass Fiber 19 19 21 25 29 35

Type 1 - Mineral Fiber 18 19 20 26 31 36

Type 1 - Solid Gypsum Board 23 26 25 27 27 28

In the 2008 update, only the mineral fiber option was left with no changes to the individual octave band attenuation values.
Because the octave band attenuation values were not changed for mineral fiber, a strict 1998-to-2008 comparison with
mineral fiber should yield no changes.

ARI Standard 885-2008 - Table E1 - Radiated Attenuation Values

125 250 500 1000 2000 4000

Type - Mineral Fiber 18 19 20 26 31 36

providing insights for today’s HVAC system designer Trane Engineers Newsletter volume 47–4 5
 The evolution of AHRI Standard 885 Sound Attenuation Values, continued

As a result, system designers must be very careful to ensure like-for-like comparisons when using Standard 885 and the
resulting NC level derived from Appendix E. Three different VAV boxes were compared using 1998 and 2008 attenuation
values. The resulting sound pressure and NC values are below.

First, a small, 150-cfm VAV box with a 4-inch inlet was evaluated with both versions:

125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 NC

Discharge sound power 75 74 61 58 55 53

...if ARI 885-1998: Small Box (8 x 8 in.) 50 46 23 5 -3 22 NC 36

<300 cfm were used:

...if ARI 885-2008: Small Box (8 x 8 in.) 51 46 22 5 -4 13 NC 36

<300 cfm were used:

125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 NC

Radiated sound power: 52 52 50 43 39 33

...if ARI 885-1998: Type 1 - Glass Fiber 33 33 29 18 10 -2 NC 23

were used:

...if ARI 885-1998: Type 2- Mineral Fiber 24 33 30 17 8 -3 NC24

were used:

...if ARI 885-1998: Type 3- Solid 29 26 25 16 12 5 NC 18

Gypsum Board were used:

...if ARI 885-2008: Type - Mineral Fiber 34 33 30 17 8 -3 NC 24

were used:

Next, a medium sized VAV box with an 8-inch inlet serving 700 cfm is considered:

125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 NC

Discharge sound power: 71 71 63 59 58 60

...if ARI 885-1998: Medium Box (12 x 12 44 45 24 8 5 27 NC 35

in.) 300-700 cfm were used:

...if ARI 885-2008: Medium Box (12 x 12 44 42 23 8 5 21 NC 31

in.) 300-700 cfm were used:

125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 NC

Radiated sound power: 57 54 53 45 42 36

...if ARI 885-1998: Type 1 - Glass Fiber 38 35 32 20 12 1 NC 26

were used:
...if ARI 885-1998: Type 2- Mineral Fiber 39 35 33 19 11 0 NC 27
were used:
...if ARI 885-1998: Type 3- Solid 34 28 28 18 15 8 NC 22
Gypsum Board were used:
...if ARI 885-2008: Type - Mineral Fiber 39 35 33 19 11 0 NC 27
were used:

6 Trane Engineers Newsletter volume 47-4 providing insights for today’s HVAC system designer
 The evolution of AHRI Standard 885 Sound Attenuation Values, continued

Finally, a large VAV box with a 10-inch inlet serving 1100 cfm is considered:

125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 NC

Discharge sound power 75 70 67 66 61 57

...if ARI 885-1998: Large Box (15 x 15in.) 46 40 27 15 10 22 NC 28

>700cfm were used:

...if ARI 885-2008: Large Box (15 x 46 40 26 15 9 18 NC 28

15in.) >700cfm were used:

125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 NC

Radiated sound power: 63 59 54 47 39 32

...if ARI 885-1998: Type 1 - Glass Fiber 44 40 33 22 10 -3 NC 28

were used:

...if ARI 885-1998: Type 2- Mineral Fiber 45 40 34 21 8 -4 NC 28

were used:

...if ARI 885-1998: Type 3- Solid 40 33 29 20 12 4 NC 23

Gypsum Board were used:

...if ARI 885-2008: Type - Mineral Fiber 45 40 34 21 8 -4 NC 28

were used:

In the medium-sized VAV box, the reported discharge sound pressure is different when using the dissimilar attenuation
values.

Using NC does present some and the various paths sound takes to reach
challenges. Due to the nature of the Final Thoughts the space or receiver.
procedure, different sound spectrums
can result in the same NC level. For VAV boxes serve as both sound Published NC levels are based upon
example, a sound spectrum attenuators and regenerators in HVAC example installations where room sizes
dominated by low frequency sound systems. The industry has provided and materials are assumed and not
could result
, in NC 40 shown as the two separate sound standards that specific to the actual project. Two catalog
blue sound spectrum in Figure 2 (next pertain to VAV boxes: AHRI Standard NC values—one for discharge sound and
page). Middle frequency sound 880 to determine and present sound another for radiated—are provided. These
dominates the second sound power and AHRI Standard 885 to values, when printed in a catalog or
spectrum, in red, which results in a compute space sound pressure and selection software, should be used only for
different human response but the show space NC level with a specific comparison. When comparison does
same NC level. VAV box and representative space occur, it is important to ensure like-for-like
parameters. comparison in the radiated and discharge
material and parameters.
In general, radiated and discharge
By Eric Sturm, Trane. To subscribe or view previous
sound power is provided for VAV issues of the Engineers Newsletter visit trane.com/EN.
boxes without terminal fans. Boxes Send comments to [email protected].
with terminal fans will have radiated
and discharge sound with and without
the fan operating. Sound power is a
property of the VAV box and sound
pressure is the result of installation

providing insights for today’s HVAC system designer Trane Engineers Newsletter volume 47–4 7
Figure 2. NC chart with two different sound spectrums resulting in the same NC level

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration

Resources Institute. Variable Air Volume Terminals
Certification Program Operations Manual. AHRI.
Trane Resources ASHRAE®. 2017. ASHRAE Handbook—
Fundamentals, Chapter 8 (Sound and Vibration).
Guckelberger, D. and B.Bradley. Acoustics in Air Atlanta, GA: ASHRAE.
Conditioning
application manual. ISS-APM001-EN. April 2006. ASHRAE. 2015. ASHRAE Handbook—
Fundamentals, Chapter 48 (Noise and Vibration
Trane. “Fundamentals of HVAC Acoustics” Air Control). Atlanta, GA: ASHRAE.
Conditioning Clinic.
TRG-TRC007-EN. February 2018. Articles
Trane. “Achieving Acoustical Standards in the Fletcher, H. and W.A. Munson. “Loudness, Its
Classroom.” Classroom Acoustics White Paper. Definition, Measurement and Calculation.” The
EDU-SLB026-EN. December 1, 2013, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 5, 82;
www.www.trane.com/content/dam/Trane/ October 1933.
Commercial/global/markets/k12/
improvingstudentperformance/schoolacoustics/ Analysis Software
EDU-SLB026-EN_072414.pdf
Trane Acoustics Program (TAP™). Program details
Industry Resources and trial software available at www.trane.com/TAP

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration

Institute. 2011. AHRI® Standard 880-2011:
Performance Rating of Air Terminals (I-P).
Arlington, VA: AHRI.

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration

Institute. 2017. AHRI Standard 880-2017:
Performance Rating of Air Terminals (I-P).
Arlington, VA: AHRI.

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration

Institute. 1998. AHRI Standard 885-1998:
Procedure for Estimating Occupied Space Sound
Levels in the Application of Air Terminals and AIr
Outlets. Arlington, VA: AHRI.

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration

Institute. 2008. AHRI Standard 885-2008:
Procedure for Estimating Occupied Space Sound
Levels in the Application of Air Terminals and AIr
Outlets. Arlington, VA: AHRI.

8 Trane Engineers Newsletter volume 47-4 providing insights for today’s HVAC system designer
Join your local Trane office for the 2019 Engineers Newsletter LIVE!
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Small Building System Control. Recent innovations provide more options to
consider for controls in smaller buildings. This program will compare different
configurations of packaged rooftop systems, describe the technologies available to
control each system type, and demonstrate how to specify the controls to meet the
needs of your customer.

Chilled-Water Coil Design for ASHRAE 90.1-2016. The 2016 version of ASHRAE
Standard 90.1 requires chilled-water cooling coils be selected for at least a 15°F ΔT.
This ENL demonstrates the process for selecting coils and control valves to meet
this new requirement. illustrates coil configuration impact on part-load coil
performance, and discusses the impact on chiller plant design operation.

Air and Waterside Economizing Reviews air- and waterside economizing

advantages, drawbacks and considerations when using one versus the other.
ASHRAE Standard 90.1 requirements and exceptions will also be discussed.

Design Considerations for Hydronic Heating Systems. Investigates various

methods of providing efficient hydronic heating, including the use of heat-recovery
chillers, heat pumps, and boiler systems.

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High-Performance Air Systems examines the properties of high-performance air

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proper component selection, duct design guidelines, system control strategies,
selection for part-load efficiency and much more.

Demand Response in Commercial Buildings discusses the relevant

improvements that load shifting and demand response can provide, with examples
of the types of utility and funding programs that are available.

Trane, the Circle Logo, and TAP™ are trademarks of Trane in the United States and other countries. ANSI is a registered
trademark of American National Standards Institute, Inc. ASHRAE is a registered trademark of the American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. AHRI is a registered trademark of Air-Conditioning, Heating &
Refrigeration Institute, Inc. All trademarks referenced are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Trane, This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
A business of Ingersoll Rand Trane believes the facts and suggestions presented here to be accurate. However, final design and
application decisions are your responsibility. Trane disclaims any responsibility for actions taken on
For more information, contact your local Trane
the material presented.
office or e-mail us at [email protected]

9 Trane Engineers Newsletter volume 47–4 ADM-APN068-EN (December 2018)