The movement of air for heating, ventilation and air conditioning
What is Ductwork?
Ductwork is a network of round or rectangular pipes that transports and distributes air to various rooms within the home or workplace. The air is used for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).
A fully functioning ductwork system should provide thermal comfort, healthy indoor air quality, good ventilation and maintain consistent pressures relationships between conditioned spaces. Aside from the ducts themselves, the network is made up of numerous components including vibration isolators, take-offs, smoke and fire dampers, turning vanes, plenums, terminal units and air terminals.
Usually found in homes or in workplaces such as kitchens, offices, hospitals or factories, ductwork has two main air-transfer systems: supply and return. The ductwork components work together to suck air from a room into the heater or air conditioner, where it is heated or cooled and then pushed back through ducts into the living space.
It is essential that the system – which is made up of either sheet metal, fiberglass or flexible plastic and wire composite – is maintained to a high standard to ensure that the airflow is moved in a hygienic, efficient and effective manner. In sensitive environments such as hospitals, the effects of an unhealthy ductwork can be deadly. An example would be the spread of serious infections such as MRSA through the HVAC, which could threaten the lives of patient
