Ducted Ventilation Systems

Ducts carry fresh air to interior rooms, basements, and spaces without windows.

Exhaust ducts remove stale air from toilets, kitchens, and service areas.

Dampers and fans control and balance airflow across floors and zones.

Ducted ventilation helps meet ventilation codes and improves ducted ventilation indoor air quality.

Inline ventilation fans fit within duct runs, and commercial inline exhaust fans suit toilets and service areas. Centrifugal fans handle higher pressure, while axial fans move large volumes. FAHUs treat fresh air, and ducted ERVs recover energy. EC ventilation fans and VFD ventilation fans provide variable speed control. An inline HVAC booster fan can support long duct runs.

Supply ducts deliver fresh air, and extract air ductwork removes stale air.

Ventilation supply diffusers, fresh air diffusers, supply air grilles, and exhaust air grilles connect ducts to rooms.

VCDs balance airflow in branches.

Fire dampers maintain fire compartmentation, and smoke dampers support smoke control.

Ducted ventilation filtration removes dust and fine particles from fresh air.

Duct sound attenuators and acoustic lining reduce fan and airflow noise.

Access doors allow cleaning and inspection, and flexible connectors isolate fan vibration.

Louvres protect intakes and outlets from rain, birds, and debris.

Ducted supply ventilation, or a ducted fresh air system, brings filtered outdoor air into the building through supply ducts, creating slight positive pressure.

Ducted exhaust ventilation removes stale air through exhaust ductwork, creating negative pressure in toilets, kitchens, and service areas.

A balanced ducted ventilation system uses both supply and exhaust ducts for neutral pressure.

Ducted HRV systems, ducted ERV systems, and ducted MVHR systems recover energy from exhaust air. A ducted heat recovery ventilation system, or central heat recovery ventilation, reduces AC load.

TFA units cool and dehumidify fresh air before ducting it to occupied spaces.

Ducted systems ventilate basements and car parks to remove fumes and support smoke control.

Dedicated exhaust ductwork removes kitchen smoke, grease, and toilet odours. Inline kitchen exhaust fans and inline toilet exhaust fans are common choices.

Fire-rated duct systems remove smoke during fires. High temperature inline exhaust fans are used where required.

GI ducts are the most common HVAC metal ductwork, being strong, durable, and cost-effective.

Pre-insulated ducts combine duct and insulation in one panel. They are lightweight, quick to install, and offer low leakage.

Aluminium suits lightweight and corrosive applications, while stainless steel suits hygienic, corrosive, and kitchen exhaust uses.

Flexible ductwork for HVAC connects diffusers and grilles to main ducts over short lengths.

Fabric ducts distribute air evenly in large open spaces such as warehouses, gyms, and halls.

Welded black steel ducts are used for kitchen exhaust and smoke extraction because of their fire resistance.

• GI Sheet Metal: Durability high; Cost low to moderate; Insulation added separately; Best for general supply and exhaust.
• Pre-Insulated PIR / Phenolic: Durability moderate; Cost moderate to high; Insulation built in; Best for treated fresh air and conditioned air ducts.
• Aluminium: Durability high; Cost moderate; Insulation added separately; Best for lightweight and mildly corrosive applications.
• Stainless Steel: Durability very high; Cost high; Insulation added separately; Best for hygienic, corrosive, and kitchen areas.
• Flexible Duct: Durability low to moderate; Cost low; Insulation available; Best for short final connections.
• Fabric Duct: Durability moderate; Cost moderate; Insulation not applicable; Best for large open spaces.
• Black Steel: Durability very high; Cost moderate to high; Insulation added separately; Best for kitchen exhaust and smoke extraction.

Rectangular ventilation ducts fit easily into ceiling voids with limited height.

Round ventilation ducts and spiral duct ventilation offer lower pressure drop, lower leakage, and a clean exposed look.

Oval ducts combine the low profile of rectangular ducts with the efficiency of round ducts.

Duct gauge, joints, reinforcement, and sealing follow SMACNA standards for strength and low leakage.

ASHRAE 62.1 sets minimum outdoor air and exhaust rates.

The National Building Code of India (NBC 2016) specifies ventilation and fire safety requirements, including fire dampers and smoke control.

SMACNA standards define duct construction, gauges, joints, and leakage classes.

The ISHRAE IEQ standard provides Indian guidelines for indoor air quality and ventilation.

Ducted ventilation system design starts with fresh air and exhaust requirements, defining ducted ventilation CFM.

Ducted ventilation ACH targets apply to car parks, toilets, kitchens, and utility spaces.

Ventilation duct sizing uses equal friction or static regain methods for balanced airflow. Designing HVAC ductwork correctly avoids noise and uneven distribution.

Ventilation duct velocity and ventilation duct pressure drop are kept within limits for low noise and energy use.

Fans are selected for airflow and ducted ventilation static pressure.

Ducts are routed around beams, pipes, and cable trays through services coordination.

Intakes and exhausts are placed well apart to prevent recirculation.

Silencers, lining, and low velocities keep ducted systems quiet.

Ducts carrying treated or conditioned air are insulated to prevent energy loss and condensation.

Acoustic lining reduces noise near fans and in sensitive areas.

Joints are sealed to meet specified leakage classes.

Proper insulation and vapour barriers prevent condensation and dripping.

Fire damper ventilation components are installed where ducts cross fire-rated walls and slabs.

Fire-rated ducts are used for smoke extraction and where required by code.

Smoke dampers work with smoke control systems during fires.

Fans and dampers respond to fire alarm signals automatically.

EC fans and VFDs adjust airflow to demand.

Well-sized ducts reduce fan energy.

Sealed ducts deliver more air with less energy.

Heat recovery ventilation systems and energy recovery ventilation systems reclaim energy from exhaust air.

Demand controlled ducted ventilation, or CO₂ controlled ducted ventilation, adjusts airflow to occupancy. Together, these features create an energy efficient ducted ventilation system.

Fans run on schedules and at variable speeds.

Sensors control ventilation based on air quality.

Motorized dampers open and close zones automatically.

Alarms indicate dirty filters and fan faults.

A ducted ventilation system with BMS integration provides central monitoring.

Ducts deliver fresh air evenly to every space.

Filters and controls are centralised for easy management.

Ducts stay hidden in ceilings and shafts.

Ducted systems integrate with ERVs, HRVs, and TFA units.

Fans are located away from occupied areas.

Ducted ventilation integrates with AC, BMS, and fire systems.

Ducts need ceiling voids and vertical shafts.

Ductwork adds material and labour cost.

Poorly sealed ducts lose air and energy.

Ducts collect dust over time and need cleaning.

Adding ducts to existing buildings can be challenging.

Compress India designs and installs ducted systems to minimise these limitations.

Office ducted ventilation and commercial ducted ventilation provide fresh air across floors. A ducted ventilation system for commercial buildings is standard in modern offices.

Ducted systems ventilate large retail areas and food courts.

Hospital ducted ventilation supports clean, controlled environments.

Hotel ducted ventilation and residential ducted ventilation provide fresh air to rooms and apartments.

Ducted fresh air keeps classrooms healthy.

Ducted exhaust removes vehicle fumes.

Kitchen exhaust ducts remove smoke and grease safely.

Industrial ducted ventilation removes heat and fumes. Industrial inline exhaust fans suit many factory applications.

Ducted systems maintain controlled, filtered airflow.

Large ducted systems ventilate public transport infrastructure.

Kruger offers inline, centrifugal, and axial fans for ducted ventilation.

Systemair offers fans, ventilation units, and air handling solutions.

Nicotra Gebhardt offers centrifugal and plug fans for ducted systems.

Greenheck offers fans, dampers, and louvres.

Kingspan offers pre-insulated duct systems.

Caryaire offers grilles, diffusers, dampers, and air distribution products.

Other manufacturers also offer quality products. Compress India recommends the best-fit options for your project.

Ducts are pressure tested to confirm leakage is within limits.

Airflow is measured at each outlet.

Dampers are adjusted to achieve design airflow in every room.

Fire dampers are tested for correct operation.

Detailed reports document ducted ventilation commissioning results.

Filters are cleaned or replaced regularly.

Fans, motors, and belts are inspected and maintained.

Dampers are checked and lubricated.

Ducts are cleaned and sanitised to remove dust and microbes.

Grilles and diffusers are cleaned.

Fire dampers are inspected as per safety requirements.

Causes: poor balancing or duct design.

Solution: Rebalance dampers or modify ducts.

Causes: undersized ducts, leakage, or weak fans.

Solution: Seal ducts, resize branches, or upgrade fans.

Causes: high velocity or poor fittings.

Solution: Resize ducts, add silencers, or adjust dampers.

Causes: poor sealing or damage.

Solution: Reseal joints and repair ducts.

Causes: dirty ducts or filters.

Solution: Clean ducts and replace filters.

Causes: poor insulation.

Solution: Repair insulation and vapour barriers.

Causes: stuck blades or actuator faults.

Solution: Repair or replace dampers.

Fresh air ductwork can be added to existing buildings.

Old ducts can be replaced with efficient, sealed ducts.

ERVs or HRVs can be added to reduce energy use.

EC fans and CO₂ controls improve efficiency.

Cleaning and resealing restore performance.

Commercial HVAC ductwork is typically priced per square foot of duct surface area, varying by material and gauge.

Fans, ERVs, and TFA units form a significant part of the cost.

Insulation, dampers, diffusers, grilles, and silencers add to the total.

Building size, duct material, fire safety, controls, and site conditions all affect the final cost.

Share your drawings with Compress India to receive an accurate quotation.