Impact of ductwork airtightness on fan energy use: Calculation model and test case

Using experimental data from an earlier study on a full scale ductwork built in a laboratory, the tool gives results in good agreement with measured energy savings (within 7 percentage points). With ideal pressure adjustment and when required airflow rates were met before tightening, the maximum fan energy savings by tightening the ductwork from 1.5 times Class A to Class C reaches 51% according to the tool versus 46% according to measurement data.