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BuilDing & EnginEEring SErvicES ASSociAtion

SPECIFICATION FOR

SHEET METAL DUCTWORK

DW/144 Second Edition 2013

www.b-es.org
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DW/144
Specification for
Sheet Metal Ductwork
Low, medium and high
pressure/velocity air systems
2013
copyright © 2013 by the
Building & Engineering Services Association

All rights reserved

iSBn 978-0-903783-64-4

Publishing History:

First Edition (1998)

Second Edition (2013)

further copies of this publication are available from:

B&ES Publications
old Mansion House, Eamont Bridge,
Penrith, cumbria, cA10 2BX
tel: 01768 860405, Fax: 01768 860401
Email: [email protected]

note: this document is based on knowledge available at the time of publication and is meant for
general purposes, not for reliance on in relation to specific technical or legal issues, in which case
you should always seek independent advice. no responsibility of any kind for any injury, death,
loss, damage or delay however caused, resulting from the use of the advice and recommendations
contained herein, is accepted by the authors or others involved in its publication (including the
Building & Engineering Services Association).
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Building & Engineering Services Association
2 SPECIfICATION fOR SHEET METAL DUCTWORK

THE INDUSTRY STANDARD

B B
Bob Lane Peter
Peter Rogers
Rogers
Peter Rogers 
chairman Chairman
Chairman
chairman
Executive
executive Committee
Executive Committee
committee Technical Committee
Technical
technical Committee
committee
Ductwork Group
Ductwork Group Ductwork Group
Ductwork Group Ductwork Group
Ductwork
Group

Since its publication in 1998, the Association’s Specification for Sheet

Metal Ductwork –DW/144 – has gained national and international
recognition as the standard against which the quality of ductwork
manufacture and installation can be measured.
However, developments in technology and working practices, along with
the need to reflect a steady proliferation of European standards, have
rendered necessary a far-reaching revision of the original edition.
this second edition is the result of many years of work by members of the
technical committee of the B&ES Ductwork group (DWg), who have
expanded the content on such subjects as:
• supports and hangers;
• smoke and fire dampers;
• external ductwork;
• internal duct linings;
• thermal insulation;
• air terminal units;
• fire-resisting ductwork;
• ductwork for swimming pools, etc.
of course, a key element of any such review is to ensure that the
specification continues to offer realistic benchmarks to which all
individuals and organisations are able to perform.
DW/144 now incorporates B&ES publication, Acceptance Scheme for new
Products: rectangular cross Joint classification (DW/tM1), which
establishes performance ratings for both air leakage and deflection for
cross-joints.
in order to validate the parameters set out in DW/144, B&ES has
undertaken extensive testing against recently-introduced cEn
requirements to measure panel/flange deflection and air leakage testing.
testing has also been undertaken to determine the lifespan of untreated

DW/144 spot welds over a 30-year period.

2 2
the results have allowed the DWg technical committee to make a
DecDec
20132013
number of recommendations in relation to the construction of ductwork
which offer a significant commercial advantage. these include:
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Building & Engineering Services Association
SPECIfICATION fOR SHEET METAL DUCTWORK 3

• lighter gauges of steel;

• a reduction in the number of gauge, flange/stiffener manufactured
assemblies;
• dispensing with the need to treat spot welds;
• a reduction in coatings thickness/protective finishes;
• further clarification of standard duct sizes used.
During the drafting process, the DWg technical committee has consulted
widely with individuals and organisations throughout the building
engineering services and construction industry to ensure that the new
specification fully reflects the current “state-of-the-art” in terms of both
technical expertise and industry best practice. We firmly believe that this
process has resulted in a publication that clearly demonstrates the high
level of professionalism which exists within the ductwork community –
and we take this opportunity of thanking all those who have contributed
to its production.
in particular, we have worked closely with members of the drafting panel
for the ventilation Hygiene Branch’s guide to good Practice: cleanliness of
ventilation Systems (tr/19), as well as representatives of the following
organisations:
• Aluminium Federation ltd (AlFED);
• British Stainless Steel Association (BSSA);
• Building Services research and information Association (testing)
(BSriA);
• galvanizers Association;
• Heating, ventilating and Air conditioning Manufacturers
Association (HEvAc);
• Sheet Metal and Air conditioning national contractors’ Association
(SMAcnA);
• tAtA Steel;
• thermal installation contractors’ Association (ticA);
• thermal insulation Manufacturers and Suppliers Association
(tiMSA);
in addition, the past 15 years have witnessed a number of significant
legislative and regulatory innovations – including the construction
Products regulation, cE Marking and the construction (Design and
Management) regulations, along with other measures designed to
enhance environmental management and health and safety. the latter
comprise significant developments within the Building regulations in
England and Wales, with the result that the classes of ductwork to be
tested under the regulations have been clarified within DW/144, along
with the re-introduction of high-pressure class D to conform to European
practice.
to ensure that companies are fully informed and understand the wealth
of information that surrounds our industry we have compiled a new
reference document ‘commentary and guidance to DW/144’. the
information contained in this new document is additional supplementary
material to support DW/144 and is explanatory in nature. However, we
should emphasise that the it does not form any part of the specification
and should be used as reference only.
Finally, we would like to offer our profound thanks to the members of the
Ductwork group technical Sub-committee, all of whom have devoted a
great deal of time and effort in the redrafting process.
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Building & Engineering Services Association
4 SPECIfICATION fOR SHEET METAL DUCTWORK

ACKNOWLEDgEMENTS
B&ES wishes to record its sincere thanks to the following

DW/144 Members of the technical committee of the Ductwork group,

who contributed their time, knowledge and experience to the
production of this document.

peter rogers (chairman)

Mark cain
Lee Hussey
Brian James
Bob Lane
Jim Murray
cameron robertson
Mark Simpson

Ductwork Group Secretary:

Mark oakes

B&ES wishes to record its sincere thanks to particular organisations that

have provided technical support to verify both existing and new
information and these acknowledgements can be found both in the
chairman’s introduction and, where appropriate, at the foot of each
relevant section.

BUILDINg & ENgINEERINg SERvICES ASSOCIATION
B&ES Publications Department
old Mansion House Eamont Bridge Penrith cA10 2BX
01768 860405 [email protected]

www.b-es.org
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Building & Engineering Services Association
SPECIfICATION fOR SHEET METAL DUCTWORK 5

OTHER DUCTWORK-RELATED PUBLICATIONS

DW/143 A Practical guide to Ductwork leakage testing

DW/145 guide to good Practice for the installation of Fire and Smoke Dampers
DW/154 Specification for Plastic Ductwork
DW/172 Specification for Kitchen ventilation Systems
DW/191 guide to good Practice: glass Fibre Ductwork
tr/19 guide to good Practice: internal cleanliness of ventilation Systems
(incorporating DW/tM2 and tr/17)
B&ES Working together – Promoting understanding between mechanical services and
ductwork contractors.

copies of the above publications are available from:

B&ES Publications
old Mansion House, Eamont Bridge,
Penrith, cumbria, cA10 2BX
tel: 01768 860405, Fax: 01768 860401
Email: [email protected]
www.b-espublications.co.uk

Previous Sheet Metal Ductwork Related Specifications

- Ductwork Specification for High-velocity Air Systems (circular) 1963

- Standard range of rectangular Ducting 1967
DW/131 Sheet Metal Ductwork Specification for High-velocity Air
Systems (rectangular) 1968
DW/121 Specification for Sheet Metal Ductwork (low-velocity
low-Pressure Air Systems) (rectangular and circular) — Metric 1969
DW/122B Specification for Sheet Metal Ductwork (low-velocity
low-Pressure Air Systems (rectangular and circular) — British 1969
DW/112 Standard range of rectangular Ducts and Fittings — Metric and
British units 1970
DW/132 Specification for Sheet Metal Ductwork (High-velocity
High-Pressure Air Systems) (rectangular, circular and Flat oval) — Metric 1970
DW/141 Specification for Sheet Metal Ductwork (low and High-velocity/
Pressure Air Systems (rect, circular and Flat oval) - Metric 1977
DW/142 Specification for Sheet Metal Ductwork (low, Medium and High
Pressure/velocity Air Systems) 1982
DW/142 Specification for Sheet Metal Ductwork Addendum A (low,
Medium and High Pressure/velocity Air Systems) 1988
DW/144 Specification for Sheet Metal Ductwork (First Edition) 1998
DW/151 Specification for Plastic Ductwork 1974
DW/171 Standard for Kitchen ventilation Systems 1999
DW/tM1 Acceptance Scheme for new Products: rectangular cross Joint classification 1987
DW/tM2 guide to good Practice: internal cleanliness
of new Ductwork installations 1991
tr/17 guide to good Practice: cleanliness of ventilation Systems 2002
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Building & Engineering Services Association
6 SPECIfICATION fOR SHEET METAL DUCTWORK

CONTENTS
Page
the industry Standard 2
Acknowledgements 4
other Ductwork related publications 5
contents 6
general notes 10

Part One - Scope

1. Application 11
2. Materials 12
3. Ductwork Classification and Air Leakage 13

Part Two - Technical Information to be provided by 
the system designer to the ductwork contractor

4. Introduction 14
5. Standards 14
6.  Components 14
7. Particular requirements 15

Part Three - Rectangular Ducts

8. Rectangular duct sizes 19
9. Construction 19
9.1 general 19
9.2 Sheet thickness 19
9.3 longitudinal seams 19
9.4 cross joints 20
9.5 Stiffeners 20
9.6 Ductwork galvanized after manufacture 21
9.7 Fastenings 21
9.8 Welding sheet joints 22
9.9 Breakaway joints 22
9.10 cost efficient manufacturing considerations 22
10. Standardisation of Rectangular Ductwork 
Components  40

Part four - Circular Ducts

11. Standard sizes 48
12. Construction 48
12.1 longitudinal seams 49
12.2 cross joints 49
12.3 Fastenings 49
12.4 Welding 50
12.5 Breakaway Joint 50
13. Standardisation of Circular Ductwork Components 57

Part five - flat Oval Ducts

14. Standard sizes and sheet thicknesses 64
15. Construction (Spirally wound) 64
15.1 general 64
15.2 longitudinal seams 64
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SPECIfICATION fOR SHEET METAL DUCTWORK 7

Page
15.3 cross joints 64
15.4 Fastenings 65
15.5 Stiffening 66

16. Construction (Straight-seamed) 66
17. Standardisation of flat Oval Ductwork Components 73

Part Six - Hangers and Supports

18. general 78

Part Seven - Ductwork Related Information

19. Ductwork Sealing 89
20. Access / Inspection Openings 90
21. Regulating Dampers 94
22. fire Dampers 98
23. Combination Smoke and fire Dampers 101
24. Smoke Dampers 102
25. Smoke Control Dampers 103
26. External ductwork 105
27. Kitchen ventilation 109
28. fire Resisting and Smoke Containment Ductwork 109
29 Standard Component Drawings of Plant and 
Abbreviations 109
30. flexible Ducts 113
31. flexible Joint Connections 115
32. Protective finishes 116
33. Internal Duct Linings 118
34.  Thermal Insulation 119
35. Air terminal Units 122

Part Eight - Appendices

Appendix A Ductwork Air Leakage Testing 123

Appendix B Summary BS EN 10346, continuously hot-dip 130
coated steel flat products - technical delivery
conditions
Appendix C Hot Dip galvanizing After Manufacture 134
Appendix D Stainless Steel for Ductwork 138
Appendix E Aluminium Ductwork 143
Appendix f Pre-finished Steel 146
Appendix g Handling, Storage and Protection of Ductwork 148
Appendix H guidance Notes for Cleaning Inspection and  151
Cleaning Access Openings
Appendix J Design Notes for Ductwork 154
Appendix K Connections To Building Openings 155
Appendix L CDM Regulations 57 156
Appendix M Regulatory Reform (fire Safety) Order and 158
Construction Products Regulations (CPR) 59
Appendix N Bibliography 67 163
Appendix P Conversion Tables 75 171
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8 SPECIfICATION fOR SHEET METAL DUCTWORK

Tables

1 Ductwork classification and Air leakage limits 11

2.1, 2.2, 2.3 rectangular Ductwork - constructional
requirements for low Pressure class A 24
3.1, 3.2, 3.3 rectangular Ductwork - constructional
requirements for Medium Pressure class B 26
4.1, 4.2, 4.3 rectangular Ductwork - constructional
requirements for High Pressure class c 28
5.1, 5.2, 5.3 rectangular Ductwork - constructional
requirements for High Pressure class D 30
6 rectangular Ductwork - Maximum leakage
and Deflection values 35
7 circular Ductwork – Standard Sizes 48
8 circular Ductwork - Spirally Wound 51
9 circular Ductwork - Straight Seamed 51
10 circular Ductwork - Permitted Fastenings
and Maximum Spacings 52
11 circular Ductwork – Sheet thickness of
Fittings 52
12 Flat oval Ductwork – Standard Sizes and
Sheet thicknesses 67
13 Flat oval Ductwork – Stiffening requirements
for low and Medium Pressure 68
14 Flat oval Ductwork – Stiffening requirements
for High Pressure 69
15 Flat oval Ductwork – Permitted Fastenings
and Maximum Spacings 71
16 rectangular Ductwork – Horizontal Supports 83
17 circular Ductwork – Horizontal Supports 83
18 Flat oval Ductwork – Horizontal Supports 83
19 rectangular / Flat oval Ductwork –Support
Bearers 83
20 Access Panel locations 92
21 Standard Abbreviations 111
22 Air leakage rates 127
23 Zinc coating Mass (Weight) 133
24 corrosive categories and life
Expectancy 133
25 rectangular Ductwork – galvanized After
Manufacture 135
26 circular Ductwork – galvanized After
Manufacture 135
27 cavity vent Hole Sizes 135
28 Stainless Steel – Austenitic grades 142
29 Stainless Steel – Ferritic grades 142
30 low Pressure rectangular Ductwork
Aluminium construction 145
31 low Pressure circular Ductwork
Aluminium construction 145