Duct Leakage Testing - SUPPLY SYSTEM

To perform a proper duct leakage test using an ORIFLOW duct leakage tester, perform the following steps:

1. 2.
3.

Use the orifice plate with the recommended leakage range for your job. Use our online program to help determine which plate(s) you can use with our testers. Make sure you have adequate electrical power for the fan. DO NOT OVERLOAD extension cords. Make sure you use one with the proper gauge. Cover all outlets with plastic bags and seal with duct tape. Allow all joints and seams that were sealed with duct sealer to cure for at least 24 hours or the required cure time by the manufacturer, whichever is greater. If possible, position the ORIFLOW duct leakage tester in a location where there will be a straight path from the orifice tube outlet to the location where you will feed air into the system. Drill a 3/8" diameter hole no closer than two or three feet away from the flexible duct to system joint. Place the pressure tubing into the previously drilled hole; extend 6 to 12 inches into the duct. Seal the tubing penetration joint with putty or tape. Zero both gauges. Locate adjusting screw on center front of gauge. Use a small slotted screwdriver. Turning clockwise increases the pressure reading, counter-clockwise decreases it.

4. 5. 6. 7.
8.

9.

10. Close the fan's inlet damper so the duct system does not get overpressurized by the tester. 11. Turn on the tester blower.

12.Adjust inlet damper until the reading on the gauge marked "Duct System" is at the system
pressure required for performing the leakage test.

13.Once the duct system pressure has been reached and stabilized, note the reading on the
gauge marked "Orifice Tube". This pressure drop reading will correspond to the amount of air you're feeding into the duct system, which is the amount of air that is leaking out.

14.Refer to the calibration table that came with your test rig. Find the pressure reading and note
the corresponding leakage rate.

Troubleshooting:
If the "Orifice Tube" gauge exceeds the maximum range, the system is probably leaking too much air. Investigate system for missed outlets or unsealed joints. You can also use a larger orifice or a gauge with a larger range. If you cannot obtain any pressure (or very little pressure) with the blower on and the inlet damper wide open, it could be due to one of the following problems: 1. Using too small of an orifice plate If pressure drop across orifice plate is more than 2 in.wg., use the next greater sized orifice plate. Use our online program to determine which orifice plate you should use based on the maximum allowable leakage. You can also refer to graphs for each tester/plate combination. 2. System has more leakage at test pressure than is allowed When using the C1, C1D or C2 tester, use the 4-inch plate to pressurize your system and refer to the following table to determine if your system is leaking more than the maximum capacity of the tester.

Also check your flex-duct connections Wrap duct tape tightly around the joint and feel for leaks. Rectangular duct joint corners can be typical leaky points. If fire damper and/or heater coils are part of the system you are testing, they also can be significant leak contributors. A smoke machine may be used to help locate leaks; contact us for more information. 3. Equipment not working properly Make sure the equipment is working properly by doing the following steps: turn off blower. observe blower wheel rotation direction when it slows down (view from looking through inlet safety screen); it should be rotating clockwise (if not, contact us). completely close inlet damper. disconnect the flex-duct from the tester. turn on blower. Slowly open inlet damper and verify that you can feel air coming out of the orifice tube. the orifice tube gauge pressure drop reading should be maxed out. you can verify gauges are working properly by removing pressure tubing and carefully apply pressure by gently blowing into tube end as if trying to inflate a balloon.

System Static Pressure (in.wg.)

Max Leakage with C1/C1D Tester (cfm) 655 645 630 600 545 465 200

Max Leakage with C2 Tester (cfm)

1 2 3 4 5 6 8

550 540 510 455 365 230 --

Welcome AABC, NEBB, SMACNA and TABB members

Copyright 2006 to 2012 All rights reserved, ORIFLOW LLC