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Buried and Encapsulated Ducts, Jacksonville Florida

Reference

Reference investigating the strategy of using buried and/or encapsulated ducts to reduce duct thermal losses in residential buildings.

Assembled section of fiber board duct

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Encapsulated ducts are sprayed with ccSPF in an unconditioned attic

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Wrong: Ducts are held from the rafters with strapping and a large beam prevents ducts from properly lying on the ceiling plane

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HVAC Ducts Shall Not Be Run within Exterior Walls

Guide

Guide describing the use of building cavities as supply or return ducts.

No Ducts or Air Handlers Located in Garage

Guide

Guide describing how to design HVAC systems to be located within the conditioned space of the home, either in a utility closet or in an attic, basement, or crawl space.

Compact Buried Ducts in a Hot-Humid Climate House

Reference

Report on heating and cooling air-distribution ducts that are insulated, installed close to the ceiling in a vented attic and covered with attic insulation to minimize energy loss.

Right – Duct register is mastic sealed to framing

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Building Cavities Not Used as Supply or Return Ducts

Guide

Guide describing the use of building cavities as supply or return ducts.

Duct Leakage Tests

Guide

Guide describing how to conduct duct leakage tests per RESNET protocols on all components of the HVAC system (including the air handler, ductwork, register boxes/boots, and all air devices such as diffusers, registers, or grilles).

Building America Top Innovations 2013: Buried and Encapsulated Ducts

Case Study

Case study describing a DOE Building America Top Innovation on HVAC ducts located in vented attics that are encapsulated in foam and buried in attic insulation.

Injected Spray Sealant for Existing HVAC Ducts

Guide

Guide describing how to thoroughly seal HVAC ducts to ensure air delivery without leakage, and to ensure economical and quiet performance of the HVAC system.

Trunk to duct connections are only mechanically fastened and not sealed

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Right – Metal duct boot is properly sealed at seams

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Right – Flex duct is mastic sealed at junction box

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Right – Metal or fiberboard duct is mastic sealed at seams

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Still Placing Ducts in the Attic? Consider Burying Them

Reference

Information sheet about buried ducts.

Kitchen Exhaust Retrofit Duct Guide

Guide

Guide describing the retrofit of kitchen exhaust systems, including duct sizing and routing considerations.

Design Options for Locating Ducts within Conditioned Space

Presentation

Presentation with technical training covering several possible approaches to locating ducts within the home’s air and thermal barriers, and then dig into design considerations and details for the spray foam encapsulation approach.

Technology Solutions Case Study: Buried and Encapsulated Ducts, Jacksonville, Florida

Case Study

Case study describing how using buried and/or encapsulated ducts can reduce duct thermal losses in existing homes.

Wrong: Duct is hung between truss members by strapping and not buried

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The tape is covered with mastic to ensure an airtight seal between the duct and the fitting

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Energy Code - Module 7: Ducts, HVAC, Hot Water, and Lighting

Presentation

Webinar that will explain mandatory and prescriptive requirements related to duct installation, insulation, sealing, and testing, as well as requirements for heating, cooling, and hot water systems and controls.