SOUND ATTENUATORS

RSA

Introduction

Building design and construction must include engineering control for HVAC equipment to

limit objectionable noise levels. Meeting the acoustical expectations of building owners

and occupants has become increasingly difficult with today’s light weight construction

methods and with HVAC systems that are located in close proximity to occupied spaces

and listener critical environments.

Noise is produced in an HVAC system by various sources including fans, motors and air

moving through ductwork and fittings. The sound propagates from the ductwork into the

occupied building spaces through two means : radiated and duct born sound. Radiated

sound propagates out in all directions from the sheet metal housing of duct, fans and fit-

tings, this sometimes called “Breakout” sound. Duct born sound travels through duct work

and eventually enters occupied spaces through room air outlets.

RABIE Engineering Department has the practical experience using proven and tested

materials to quite mechanical systems in new design and remedial construction projects.

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Definitions

 Sound attenuation : The ratio of sound energy absorbed by a given surface, to the

sound energy incident upon that surface.

 Decibel (dB) : Is a logarithmic unit indicates the ratio of a physical quantity (usually

power or intensity) relative to a specified or implied reference level. The ratio may

be power, sound pressure, voltage or intensity or several other things.

 Duct born noise : Noise which is transmitted along ductwork, both upstream and

downstream of fan.

 Frequency : The number of pressure variations per second, which is measured in

cycles per second, called Hertz (Hz).

 Insertion loss : A measure of the noise reduction capability of an attenuator.

 Octave bands : Sound that contain energy over a wide range of frequencies are di-

vided into sections called bands. A common standard division is in 8 octave bands

identified by their center frequencies 62.5, 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and

8000 Hz.

 Sound power level (SWL) : Is a logarithmic measure of the sound power in compari-

son to a specified reference level.

 Sound pressure level (SPL) : In decibels, of a sound is 20 times the logarithm to the

base 10 of the sound pressure to the reference pressure. The reference pressure

shall be explicitly stated and is defined by standards.

 Reverberant : Noise which is transmitted by reflection of room surfaces.

 Reverberant time : Sound after it is ended at the source will continue to reflect of

surfaces until the sound wave loses energy by absorption to eventually die out.

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Recommended NC Levels For Various Activities :-

The noise in different types of rooms should not exceed the Noise Criterion limits listed below.

Recommended NC Level Equivalent Sound Level

Type of Room - Space Type
NC Curve dBA
Residences
Apartment Houses 25-35 35-45
Assembly Halls 25-30 35-40
Churches 30-35 40-45
Courtrooms 30-40 40-50
Factories 40-65 50-75
Private Homes, rural and suburban 20-30 30-38
Private Homes, urban 25-30 34-42
Hotels/Motels
- Individual rooms or suites 25-35 35-45
- Meeting or banquet rooms 25-35 35-45
- Service and Support Areas 40-45 45-50
- Halls, corridors, lobbies 35-40 50-55
Offices
- Conference rooms 25-30 35-40
- Private 30-35 40-45
- Open-plan areas 35-40 45-50
- Business machines/computers 40-45 50-55
Hospitals and Clinics
- Private rooms 25-30 35-40
- Operating rooms 25-30 35-40
- Wards 30-35 40-45
- Laboratories 35-40 45-50
- Corridors 30-35 40-45
- Public areas 35-40 45-50
Schools
- Lecture and classrooms 25-30 35-40
- Open-plan classrooms 35-40 45-50
Movie motion picture theaters 30-35 40-45
Libraries 35-40 40-50
Legitimate theaters 20-25 30-65
Private Residences 25-35 35-45
Restaurants 40-45 50-55
TV Broadcast studies 15-25 25-35
Recording Studios 15-20 25-30
Concert and recital halls 15-20 25-30
Sport Coliseums 45-55 55-65
Sound broadcasting 15-20 25-30

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Description
Sound attenuators is used to reduce fan and machine noise to meet the required noise
levels, can be straight RSARC (Rectangular), or bend shapes RSABV (Vertical), and
RSABH ( Horizontal ).

Special Features
 Splitters are fitted with an acoustic absorbing material has a glass tissue facing, non-
flammable, non-hygroscopic, not sustain vermin or fungus, rot proof and odorless.
 Diffusion angle to improve pressure drop.
 Bell mouth entrance to help minimize turbulence and to minimize air pressure loss
and regenerated noise.
 20 gauge galvanized steel for casing.
 24 gauge perforated galvanized for splitters.
 End connection M.S steel angle secured to casing end.
 Components are also available in stainless steel or aluminum construction.
 Rabie attenuators are normally supplied in sections when any dimensions are ex-
ceeded.
W+70

Dimensional Details W+40 ø12m

Sound Attenuator Rectangular

RSAR

H+40

H+70
H

B/2 F B
W

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Sound Attenuator Bend Vertical Sound Attenuator Bend Horizontal

RSABV RSAVH

H+70 W+70
H+40 W+40

H+40
H+70
H
W+40
W+70

W
F

B/2 F B
W
B/2

H
L1
H
m

m
W

L
L1
L2

L
H

m
m

L1
W

m = minimum150mm
m = minimum150mm

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Splitters

Splitters are fitted with an acoustic absorbing material and

tested to the following tests

1. Acoustic performance ASTM C 1071 - ASTM C432-77

2. Fire resistant NFPA 90A

3. Surface burning characteristics UL 723-ASTM E84

4. Moisture absorption ASTM D-07 B-ASTM C550

5. Mold growth ASTM D2020-UL 181

Both splitters sides are from perforated sheet to protect

prevents damage and fiber erosion up to 40 m/s airway
velocity.

L
B

ABSORBER

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Cylindrical Sound Attenuators

RSACD & RSACP

Description
Standard Cylindrical attenuators, Types RSACD and RSACP are available in a wide
range of sizes in two standard lengths for Both “on-fan and in-duct” applications. Alterna-
tive metric and imperial sizes and acoustic lengths are available.

Type RSACD is a “straight through” design offering good acoustic performance and negli-
gible pressure loss. For higher performance, type RSACP incorporates an aerodynami-
cally efficient concentric acoustic pod.

TYPE RSACD TYPE RSACP

Mø L Mø L
Duct ø Duct ø

Holes Holes

Pcd Pcd

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Cross Talk Attenuators
Types RSACL, RSACU & RSACZ
Description
RSA Cross Talk type attenuators have been designed to avoid noise interference be-
tween interconnected rooms. Air flow is permitted whilst noise transfer is limited.
Type RSACL, RSACU, RSACZ are used as air transfer attenuators between adjoining
area where the acoustic integrity of a common partition or ceiling needs to be maintained.
W H+15cm

L
G

ATTENUATOR TYPE RSACL

W H H+15cm

L
H

ATTENUATOR TYPE RSACU

W H+15cm
G
L

ATTENUATOR TYPE RSACZ

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Selection

RABIE offers the design and engineering assistance to integrate our line of sound attenu-
ators into a system solution.

Several pieces of information are required for RABIE Noise control department to perform
an analysis on an equipment installation. These information are Project related as well as
Equipment related such as:

 Project Name

 Building Name

 Unit Code (or Tag Number)

 Complete HVAC Duct drawing with grills & diffusers sizes and air flows.

 Height between ceiling and finish floor level of the room.

 Noise Criteria required (NC Level).

 Sound Power Level (SWL) of the units in octave band center frequency (sound
spectrum). Sound Pressure Level (SPL) is not acceptable.

 Maximum allowed pressure drop across sound attenuator.

RABIE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WILL ASSIST ALL CUSTOMERS IN

CALCULATION AND SELECTION TO PROVIDE ATTENUATORS AT ACTUAL
JOB CONDITIONS.

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Procedure of Selecting Sound Attenuator

In order to select the appropriate sound attenuator, one should first analyze the sounds
reaching the listener from the Noise source (in this case it is the AHU).

There are two types of sound reach the listener; Direct Path(s) sound and Reverberant
Path(s) sounds.

In Rabie Al-Takyeef Factory (RTF) analysis sheet, we first analyze the noise coming to
the closest and most critical room from the AHU as following:
 We fill in the AHU’s flow, which is passing the Sound Attenuator.
 We also fill in the AHU Sound Power Level (SWL) at each octave band frequency.
 We calculate how much attenuation the duct and elbows will affect on the SWL.
 And we calculate how much attenuation will develop due to End Reflection.
 By subtracting all the attenuations calculated from the system components from the
noise of the AHU we get the Sound Power leaving the system from that critical air
outlet.
 Then we calculate the Sound Pressure Level (SPL) reaching the listener from the
direct path by considering the following:
 The portion of airflow coming out from that outlet
 The distance between the air outlet and the ear of the listener
 And then we add the correction of outlet directivity
 Then we calculate the reverberant SPL reaching the listener by considering:
 The total air flow reaching the room from all outlets
 The room volume correction
 And the reverberant time correction (which is due to room acoustic construction
and contents such as furniture, curtains, wall material and surface and so on)
 By adding the direct and reverberant SPL (logarithmic addition), we get the result-
ant SPL at the listener WITHOUT sound attenuator.
 Then we consider the required or recommended NC level and add a safety factor,
then we calculate how much attenuation is required at each octave band frequency.

After the analysis is finished, we select different sizes and lengths of the sound attenua-
tor to compensate for the attenuation required, taking into account a suitable pressure
drop.

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Calculation Sheet

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Sound Attenuator Installation and Maintenance Instructions

 Single Unit:
 Single Units come usually of dimension up to 2.5m wide and 1.2m height.
 Typical connections to ducts for single units is Slide on flange (Duct Mate flange) using screws
and sealing tape.
 Connection for great sizes but as a single unit incorporates welded angular frame of 50×5mm.
 Multiple Units:
 A sound attenuator of bigger dimensions than 2.5m×1.2m may come as a multiple unit that can
be joined together at site.
 Typical connection to ducts for Multiple Units is welded angular frame 50×5mm using screws and
sealing tape or gasket.
 Typical interconnections of units in a multiple unit sound attenuator is also an angular frame
50×5mm as appropriate.
 Draw bands and track welds maybe necessary to hold the overall bank stable and in position.
 Take special care to seal between the edges of each unit to prevent air from passing between the
units.
 Nose clips or sheet metal screws with a caulk or sealant is common solution in this area.
 Attenuators have no moving parts. Only general cleaning is required periodically, normally done
when the duct itself is inspected and cleaned.
 Wiping the interior wall of the units with a damp cloth will generally remove any dust and dirt build-up.
Minimal amount of water can be used to remove heavy soil, but saturating the insulation is not rec-
ommended.
 To avoid an over proportional pressure drop and unstable air-regenerated noise, horizontal installa-
tion is recommended.
 Recommended inlet distance from duct branch is 1.5 times the height, and from duct bend is 2.5
timed the width.

Single Section Multi Section

M.S Angle 5X5cm

Holes

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