Good Noise Control Principles for HVAC Design

Noise control considerations and low background sound levels are critical for many kinds of buildings: not only listening spaces like performance halls, but also residences, offices, schools, and laboratories. Planning for good acoustical design is best when started early in a project. When the acoustics for HVAC systems are included early in the design, noise control is not a burden and can be seamlessly integrated. Sometimes acoustical concerns are considered at a late stage in the design or after the project is built, when it is much more difficult to incorporate appropriate noise control. Below, we describe some basic noise control design principles for HVAC systems.