Ductwork Sound Attenuation Requirements
Some spaces require sound attenuators or acoustic treatment in ductwork.
What You Might Be Looking At
large rectangular device in ductwork designed to reduce noise transmission
Apprentice words: sound baffle, noise reducer, quiet duct, acoustic duct
Trade terms: sound attenuator, acoustic duct, silencer, acoustic liner
Check First
What Not To Do
Don't skip sound attenuators where shown on drawings. Don't assume standard liner is sufficient.
What can go wrong: Excessive noise in occupied spaces, occupant complaints, code violation for noise criteria, re-work
Better Foreman Question
For this duct run, is a sound attenuator required? And what are the insertion loss requirements?
Verify With
Reference type: project specs, manufacturer data
Source to verify: Sound attenuator manufacturer catalog, project acoustic specification
Safe wording: Sound attenuation requirements are project-specific.