Handbook Chapter17 UnderfloorAirDistribution

CHAPTER 17
INTRODUCTION TO
UNDERFLOOR AIR
DISTRIBUTION
6.0 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS

This chapter presents an introduction to underfloor air distribution (UFAD).
UFAD systems are specifically designed to supply air directly into the
occupied zone and promote stratification. Methods of air delivery can
range from a stratified displacement style of flow to an air flow that mixes
the occupied zone. These systems create a general upward flow of air in
the space and, like displacement ventilation, allow the effective removal
of heat, pollutants, and odors.
This chapter presents an introduction to underfloor air distribution, also known as

UFAD. UFAD systems are a hybrid of displacement and mixing ventilation systems,
and are specifically designed to mix the occupied zone—the first 6 ft [1.8 m] of the
room—allowing air to stratify above this point. UFAD systems create a general upward
flow of air in the space and, like displacement ventilation, allow the effective removal of
heat, pollutants and odors. Underfloor air distribution systems are often able to manage
higher loads than displacement ventilation while maintaining thermal comfort and
offering an increased level of occupant control.
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17.1 Basics of Underfloor Air Distribution
Chapter 17 Introduction to Underfloor Air Distribution
Occupied Zone
CH17-2 © Copyright Price Industries Limited 2011. Errata reprint 2016. © Copyright Price Industries Limited 2011. Errata reprint 2016.
CH17-3
10
6
Height, ft
Floor outlets Ceiling outlets

4
0
local concentration %
CH17-5
CH17-7
Contaminant
concentration
Contaminant
concentration
Contaminant
concentration
CH17-9
CH17-11
Height
Displacement
Diffusers Swirl diffusers
Temperature
Qt
Induced air/
QR thermal plume
Window
Qsupply Yst
CH17-13
CONDUCTION RADIATION CONVECTION
2 2
CH17-15
Thermal Plumes
CH17-17
17.2 Air Distribution Methods
Thermal Plumes
(Convection)
(Radiation)
CH17-19
17.2 Air Distribution Methods
CH17-21
17.3 Residency Time and Thermal Decay
Return Riser Seperate

perimeter Plenum divider
zone
Supply Riser
Terminal
unit
Main zone
CH17-23
Floor diffuser
Supply air plenum
Return air plenum
Floor diffuser Floor diffuser
Supply air plenum
Floor diffuser Floor diffuser

Return air plenum
Supply air plenum
Insulation Return air plenum
CH17-25
79 59.0 59.1 65.1 57.0 64.5
72 Diffusers
Temperature (°F)
66
55
53 60.2 61.5 64.2 63.8 65.8
59.0 59.1 65.1 57.0 64.5

79
72 Diffusers
Temperature (°F)
66
55
53 60.2 61.5 64.2 63.8 65.8
CH17-27
17.4 Leakage
To return plenum or
other control zones
Exterior Wall
Interior Wall
Through exterior Through conduits,
walls to outside junction boxes
and thermostats
Slab edges Wall bases
at perimeter and penetrations
πr22 – πr12 = π(r22 – r12) = π(11/82 – 12 ) = 0.8345 in2 = 5.80 x 10-3ft2
Q = 4005 A √PV
Q = 4005(5.80 x 10-3 ft2)√(0.08 in. w.g.) = 7 cfm
CH17-29
17.4 Leakage
Exterior Wall
Interior Wall
Through conduits,
Wall bases junction boxes
and penetrations and thermostats
Raised-floor Through electrical/ Through floor and
edges data floor boxes carpet joints
πr22 – πr12 = π(r22 – r12) = π(282 – 252 ) = 499 mm2 = 4.99 x 10-4 m2
Q = 0.91 A √PV
Q = 0.91 (4.99 x 10-4 m2)√(20) = 2.0 x 10-3 m3/s = 2.0 L/s
CH17-31
17.4 Leakage
Area: 1
/16 in × 7 tiles x 2 ft/tile = 10.5 in2 = 0.073 ft2 Area: 1.5 mm x 7 tiles x 600 mm/tile = 6300 mm2 = 0.0063 m2
Q = 4005 A √PV Q = 0.91 A √PV
Q = 4005(0.073 ft2)√(0.10 in. w.g.) = 92 cfm Q = 0.91 (0.0063 m2)√(25) = 0.029 m3/s = 29 L/s
CH17-33
17.4 Leakage
Structural wall
Partition wall installed

above the floor
CH17-35
17.4 Leakage
Post
Attach trim angle over carpet and fascia plate
Cut carpet to fascia plate and adhere to
access floor with releasable adhesive
Floor panel
Face to plate join to meet
edge of access floor
Bottom angle
Where gaps occur between the edge of access floor and fascia:
apply duct or metal tape to seal joint prior to application of carpet
CH17-37
17.4 Leakage
Fire wall extends Plated wall Water pipe

to subfloor or divider Access floor or conduit
Wall base
Cut carpet to fascia plate
and adhere to access floor
with releasable adhesive
Sealant (and packing material Fire-rated caulk or

ConCore® or All Cut panels to as required) to fill gap sealent at floor slab line
Steel floor panel within 1/16 in. of wall
Fire-rated caulk or
sealent at floor slab line
Plated wall
or divider Access floor Cable
Plated wall or divider Access floor panel
Sealant (and packing material Fire-rated caulk or

as required) to fill gap sealent at floor slab line
Air duct
Sealant (and packing material

as required) to fill gap
Sub floor
Fire-rated caulk or sealant
CH17-39
17.4 Leakage
Sealant (and packing material

as required) to fill gap Access floor system
Sprinkler head
CH17-41
17.5 Plenum Design
Plenum
Inlets Plenum
Inlets
CH17-43
17.5 Plenum Design
Plenum Inlet
Pedestal column Plenum divider
Floor plenum Air highlight
79.00
75.80
72.60
Temperature (°F)
69.40
66.20 A
63.00
CH17-45
17.5 Plenum Design
CH17-47
17.5 Plenum Design
Control Wiring
Sub-plenum #1
T-stat Wiring Air handling unit
Static Pressure Tubing P P Static pressure
P Static Pressure Sensor sensor in plenum
Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)
Sub-plenum #2 VFD
P
P
Fan powered Pressure sensor in

terminal unit main duct drop
Dampers in
the ductwork
P Sub-plenum #3
Automatic
damper
T-stat
Interior Perimeter
P floor Pressure Fan terminal floor
diffuser node unit diffuser
Controller
P
CH17-49
17.5 Plenum Design
Return Riser
Supply Riser
15 ft
Interior Perimeter
Adjustable End Cap

Diffuser
22 ft
Fabric Duct
non-vented vented
48 ft
CH17-51
17.5 Plenum Design
Interior Perimeter
85
62.1 °F 65.4 °F
22 ft
62
Average Average
58
Temperature (°F)
54
50
48 ft
INTERIOR PERIMETER
61.9 °F
Average
64.2 °F 85
Average
22 ft
Fabric Duct 62
58
Temperature (°F)
54
Open End Cap

50
48 ft
INTERIOR PERIMETER
59.4 °F
Average
63.4 °F 85
Average
22 ft
Fabric Duct 62
58
Temperature (°F)
54
Closed End Cap

50
48 ft
CH17-53
17.5 Plenum Design
Comparison of average diffuser temperatures for interior and

perimeter zones across all three cases
66 Perimeter
Interior
64
62
60
58
56
54
No duct Fabric duct with Fabric duct with
open end closed end
CH17-55
17.6 Mixed Systems
CH17-57
17.7 Humidity
Through slab
Heat gain into (loss from)
return plenum 10% to 15%
Room air extraction
60% to 70%
Total system
heat gain 100%
Through floor
Heat gain into the supply
plenum 35% to 45%
Through slab
Heat gain into (loss from)
return plenum
Radiant extraction
Room air extraction
Through floor
Heat gain into the
supply plenum
4. Conditioned Air
3. Mixed Conditioned Air
Supply
1 3 Coil 4 5 Air
1. Outdoor Air
5. Mixed
Preconditioned Air
2
2. Return Air Bypass Air
CH17-59
17.9 Acoustics
CH17-61
17.9 Acoustics
Fan terminal unit
Ductwork with Automatic Hot water

damper and diffuser valve and
actuator actuator
CH17-63
17.10 Treatment of Heating and Cooling Loads
Exterior Wall
Interior Wall
Through conduits,
Wall bases junction boxes
and penetrations and thermostats
Raised-floor Through electrical/ Through floor and
edges data floor boxes carpet joints
CH17-65
SI
CH17-67
CH17-69
CONDUCTION RADIATION CONVECTION
2 2
CH17-71
RPF Return Plenum
Overhead ZF
UCLR UFAD Zone
(Mixing)
SPF Supply Plenum
CH17-73
Side View Side View
Overhead (mixing) air distribution (OH) Underfloor air distribution (UFAD)

50
PERIMETER INTERIOR PERIMETER INTERIOR
45
40
Zone Cooling Load, W/ m2
68 °F 64 °F 64 °F 68 °F
35
30
25 64 °F 60 °F 60 °F 60 °F
20
Perimeter Floor Diffuser Interior Floor Diffuser
15
Overhead View Overhead View
10
0
1357911131517192123135 7911131517192123135 7911131517192123135 7911131517192123135 7911131517192123
North East South West Interior
Perimeter Floor Diffuser Interior Floor Diffuser
CH17-75
17.11 Diffuser Types
CH17-77
CH17-79
Distance, m
0 0.6 1.2 1.8 2.4 3.0 3.7 4.3 4.9 5.5
40
35
30
25
% DR
20
15
10
5
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Distance, ft
Distance, m
0 0.6 1.2 1.8 2.4 3.0 3.7 4.3 4.9 5.5
40
35
30
25
% DR
20
15
10
5
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Distance, ft
CH17-81
40
30
Shaded area under 20%
is an acceptable region
20
DR, %
10
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
DR vs. Distance, ft
CH17-83
CH17-85
40
30
Shaded area under 20%
is an acceptable region
20
DR, %
10
0
0 0.6 1.2 1.8 2.4 3.0 3.7 4.3 4.9 5.5
DR vs. Distance, m
CH17-87
Room Warm
Warm Air Air Air
Heater Heater
Cool Air
CH17-89
CH17-91
CH17-93
CH17-95
CH17-97
17.12 Applications
Special
Interior
Perimeter
CH17-99
17.12 Applications
Control Zone 2
Control Zone 1
Interior
diffusers
Sub-plenum
Fan powered
terminal unit
Control Zone 3
Dead Band Cooling

Proportional
Heat On Band
Max. Heating
Max. Cooling
Air Volume
Dead Band Cooling Min. Cooling
Proportional
Band
Max. Cooling Tset-point

Air Volume
Cool Room Condition Warm
Min. Cooling
Tset-point
CH17-101
17.12 Applications
Non-ducted
air outlets (4) Sub-plenum
Fan powered
terminal unit
Dead Band Cooling

Proportional
Heat On Band
Max. Heating
Max. Cooling
Air Volume
Min. Cooling
Tset-point
CH17-103
17.12 Applications
Perimeter T-stat
T-stat T-stat Floor
Diffuser
w/Heater
Perimeter Perimeter
Interior Perimeter Interior Fan Terminal
Floor Floor
Underfloor Floor Floor Underfloor Floor
Diffuser Unit Diffuser
Controller Diffuser Diffuser Controller Diffuser
Available with or Dead Band Cooling

without heat Proportional T-stat Recirculated Warm
Heat On Band
Max. Heating room air air
Max. Cooling
Air Volume
ng
oli
Co Interior
um Perimeter
en Underfloor Floor Trough Heater
Pl Fan Terminal Floor
Min. Cooling Unit Controller Diffuser Heater
Diffuser
Tset-point
Recirculated Warm Cool

T-stat room air air air
Non-ducted
perimeter
diffusers
Interior Perimeter Heater Heater
Underfloor Floor Floor CLOSED Open
Controller Diffuser Diffuser Damper Damper
CH17-105
17.12 Applications Perimeter
Chapter 17 Introduction to Underfloor Air Distribution T-stat Perimeter
floor
T-stat floor
diffuser
diffuser
w/heater
w/heater
Interior
Underfloor Interior
floor
Underfloor
controller floor
diffuser
controller diffuser
Perimeter
T-stat Floor
Diffuser
w/Heater
Interior
Underfloor Floor
Controller Diffuser
Perimeter
Perimeter
floor
floor
diffuser
diffuser
Warm
Fan Warm
air
Fan
Terminal air
Terminal
Unit
Unit
Perimeter Diffusers
Fan Perimeter
Terminal Heater Floor Sub-plenum
Unit Diffuser
Perimeter
Perimeter
floor
Fan Powered floor
diffuser
Terminal Unit diffuser
Cool
Fan Cool
air
Fan
Terminal Extended air
Terminal
Unit Extended
Ductwork
Unit Ductwork
Dead Band Cooling

T-stat Proportional
Band
M
od Max. Cooling
ula n
M tin Fa
ing
Air Volume
od gF t
ula an ula
tin
g H Interior od
M Perimeter
ea
Underfloor Floor
t Floor
Controller Diffuser Diffuser Min. Cooling
Tset-point
CH17-107
17.12 Applications
Perimeter
T-stat floor
diffuser
w/heater
Perimeter
Interior T-stat Floor
Underfloor floor Diffuser
controller diffuser w/Heater
Interior
Underfloor Floor
Controller Diffuser
Perimeter
floor diffuser
with Sub-plenum
Heat-Cool
changeover
Fan terminal Perimeter Floor
unit Diffuser with
Heat-Cool
Changeover
Fan Powered
Terminal Unit Perimeter
Fan Terminal Floor
Unit Diffuser
Dead Band Cooling

Proportional
T-stat
Fan On Band
Max. Cooling
M
Air Volume
od
ula ng
tin oli
gH Co
eInterior
at Perimeter
um T-stat
en
Underfloor floor Pl floor
Plenum divider
controller diffuser diffuser Min. Cooling
Sub-plenum
Tset-point Interior diffusers

Interior Perimeter
Cool Room Condition Warm Underfloor Floor Floor
Controller Diffuser Diffuser
Fan Powered Main zone

Terminal Unit
CH17-109
17.12 Applications
Dead Band Cooling

Proportional
Band
M
od Max. Cooling
ula an
M tin gF
Air Volume
od
ula
gF
latin
an u
tin
gH od
M
ea
t
Min. Cooling
Tset-point
T-stat
Perimeter Diffusers
Fan Powered
Sub-Plenum Terminal Unit
Perimeter Perimeter
Floor Fan Terminal Floor Interior Diffusers
Diffuser Unit Diffuser
Plenum divider
T-stat
Interior
Underfloor Floor Trough
Controller Diffuser Heater
CH17-111
References
CH17-113
References
CH17-115
END OF CHAPTER 17
INTRODUCTION TO
UNDERFLOOR AIR
DISTRIBUTION
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CHAPTER 17

6.0 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS

This chapter presents an introduction to underfloor air distribution, also known as

Visit www.priceindustries.com for the latest updates.

Floor outlets Ceiling outlets

CONDUCTION RADIATION CONVECTION

Return Riser Seperate

Supply air plenum

Return air plenum

Floor diffuser Floor diffuser

Supply air plenum

Floor diffuser Floor diffuser

Supply air plenum

Insulation Return air plenum

79 59.0 59.1 65.1 57.0 64.5

53 60.2 61.5 64.2 63.8 65.8

59.0 59.1 65.1 57.0 64.5

53 60.2 61.5 64.2 63.8 65.8

Q = 4005(5.80 x 10-3 ft2)√(0.08 in. w.g.) = 7 cfm

Q = 0.91 (4.99 x 10-4 m2)√(20) = 2.0 x 10-3 m3/s = 2.0 L/s

Q = 4005 A √PV Q = 0.91 A √PV

Partition wall installed

Fire wall extends Plated wall Water pipe

Sealant (and packing material Fire-rated caulk or

Plated wall or divider Access floor panel

Sealant (and packing material Fire-rated caulk or

Sealant (and packing material

Fire-rated caulk or sealant

Sealant (and packing material

Pedestal column Plenum divider

Floor plenum Air highlight

Fan powered Pressure sensor in

Adjustable End Cap

Open End Cap

Closed End Cap

Comparison of average diffuser temperatures for interior and

2. Return Air Bypass Air

Fan terminal unit

Ductwork with Automatic Hot water

CONDUCTION RADIATION CONVECTION

RPF Return Plenum

SPF Supply Plenum

Side View Side View

Overhead (mixing) air distribution (OH) Underfloor air distribution (UFAD)

Perimeter Floor Diffuser Interior Floor Diffuser

Dead Band Cooling

Max. Cooling Tset-point

Cool Room Condition Warm

Dead Band Cooling

Available with or Dead Band Cooling

Recirculated Warm Cool

Dead Band Cooling

Dead Band Cooling

Tset-point Interior diffusers

Fan Powered Main zone

Dead Band Cooling

Take the chapter quiz to earn

Visit www.priceindustries.com for the latest updates.

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