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TRG-TRC007-EN 61
period four
Equipment Sound Rating
notes
The objective of ARI Standard 260–2001, Sound Rating of Ducted Air Moving
and Conditioning Equipment, is to deliver sound data that accurately represents
the acoustical impact of the air-handling equipment after it is installed.
This standard uses the reverberant-room method to measure the sound
generated by the entire air handler, not just the fan. As mentioned, a fan
performs differently inside an air handler than it does in a stand-alone
application. The air-handler casing generally changes the airflow patterns at
the fan inlet and discharge openings. This effect is the major reason for the
difference between fan-only sound data and the actual sound produced by
the air handler after it is installed.
To eliminate such inaccuracies, ARI 260 requires that the entire air handler be
tested in all of the configurations in which the equipment is commonly applied
in the field. This involves the four test configurations discussed in Figure 64,
as well as various combinations of options such as inlet and discharge
plenums, different types of filters, dampers, coils, and so forth.
Unlike the other methods, ARI 260 requires that secondary sound sources,
such as return or exhaust fans and compressors, be tested to determine their
acoustical impact on the air handler. Any secondary source that alters the
sound spectrum of the supply fan must be included in cataloged ratings.
In summary, ARI 260 addresses a wide range of air-handling equipment with a
consistent test method. It ensures accurate, verifiable sound data, and focuses
on the entire air handler in all of its common installation arrangements. ARI 260
enables designers to make equitable product comparisons, and to more
accurately predict sound-pressure levels for occupied spaces.
ARI Standard 260
I Uses reverberant-
room method
I Tests entire air
handler, not just fan
I All common
configurations and
components included
I Includes effects of
secondary sound
sources
Figure 66