Noise and vibration controls for variable air volume systems in new chemistry laboratories

New chemistry laboratories require variable air volume systems to meet high exhaust airflow requirements and to reduce energy consumption during varied duty loads. Limited building budgets often introduce shortcuts into these systems that compromise the noise and vibration environments for chemists and their increasingly sensitive instrumentation. If acoustical planning is not included in the initial design, remedial noise and vibration controls will probably be limited, time-consuming, and expensive to implement. Three chemistry laboratories that required acoustical evaluation and remedial controls following recent building construction serve as case studies. Noise and vibration sources discussed include variable air volume supply fans, exhaust air fans, walk-in and counter-top exhaust hoods, and their respective ductwork and control systems.