Starting a new HVAC project? HVAC design is more than ducts and fans. There are hundreds of components that all work together to move air through the building. This is especially true in commercial HVAC, where the system will serve many zones across multiple floors.

Your HVAC project will require components like dampers to keep air moving through your building and louvers to protect your system from water damage. There are also components that can support your system, even if they don’t directly contribute to airflow.

To help you, we provided a list of components to help complete your HVAC system.

Exterior of an office building with a checklist for designing an HVAC system

Dampers

There are several different types of dampers that perform important roles in your system, but the most common type is the control damper. Control dampers direct and regulate airflow through your HVAC system.

Commercial HVAC projects are divided into zones. Zones help the system concentrate on a specific area, like a meeting room, instead of a broader area like an entire floor. By concentrating on a zone, the HVAC system can achieve a comfortable temperature without expending energy on unoccupied areas.

Control dampers direct airflow to each individual zone. By opening and closing, these dampers can create a route to the zone in need of heating or cooling. Zone control is a vital part of modern HVAC systems, especially when smart devices become standard in building management. Control dampers provide control over airflow.

Three open dampers with a checkmark beside them

There are other damper types that perform equally important roles, like managing air pressure or isolating sensitive areas from the rest of the system. Every damper type plays an important role in your system. Your project may not need every damper type to perform, but you should know what each damper can do when your project needs it.

Here are some articles that explain the different damper types:

Commercial HVAC projects will need control dampers throughout the system to direct airflow.

Inlet Vanes

Technically, inlet vanes are a type of damper. However, they have a special use that sets them apart from other damper types. Each vane is round with several adjustable blades along the inner circumference of the frame. The blades are partially open to direct air in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, depending on the vane’s design. The overall design resembles a system fan.

These unique components are installed at the inlet of a fan, where air flows into the fan’s intake. Inlet vanes “spin” air as it reaches the fan. Their design directs air in a circular motion as it passes through the vane, creating a spinning motion for the airflow. By “pre-spinning” the air, the inlet vane reduces stress on the fan’s components.

The vane should spin airflow in the same direction as the fan spins, so that the air can more easily pass across the fan’s blades.

Inlet vane damper with open blade and a checkmark

Inlet vanes improve airflow efficiency and reduce wear and tear on fans. They are rarely required, but they can help improve your HVAC system.

Cut down on energy waste by adding inlet vanes to your HVAC system.

Louvers

Louvers aren’t involved in directing airflow, but they are a required component. Your HVAC system will have ventilation points along the exterior of the building. These points provide intake and exhaust ventilation, so that your system can intake fresh air and vent old air from the system. These points need louvers.

Rain can infiltrate these ventilation points, especially when the system is drawing air through the opening. Wind can also push the water into the intake point. Even a small amount of water can damage your system.

If left unchecked, water infiltration can lead to mold growth which will greatly impact the indoor air quality of your building. It is important to prevent water infiltration at the source. Louvers protect the system by deflecting rainfall. Each louver type provides a different level of protection.

Three louvers with a checkmark beside them

For more information, read our articles on louver design:

Louver Design 101 – What is a Louver and How Does it Work?
Louver Design 102 - Preventing Water Infiltration

Louvers are required at ventilation openings. Depending on your building’s location, you may have additional requirements for severe weather or extreme weather conditions.

Sunshades

Sunshades protect your interiors from direct sunlight. Believe it or not, the radiant heat from sunlight can have a significant impact on your HVAC system.

Natural light is good. It can make an interior space feel more open and comfortable. That is why many modern buildings rely on windows to use natural lighting. However, the radiant heat from the sun contributes to the heat in the room. This rise can make it difficult to cool rooms, especially during the heat of the day and in the summer months.

Sunshades help mitigate this heat without sacrificing the natural light source. By placing sunshades in the right places, and at the best angle, you can reduce the amount of sunlight coming through the window. This also reduces the amount of radiant heat that builds up in each room.

In "Six Simple Considerations", we discuss six things to think about when designing sunshades for your building.

They may not be connected, but sunshades contribute to a more efficient HVAC system. They can also add a touch of style to your building’s exterior.

Modern design is all about efficiency. And efficient design starts from the very beginning of the project. Keep your HVAC system running at its best by choosing the right components. Choose louvers and dampers that meet your project’s requirements.

Make sure you have the right control dampers for directing airflow. If you are building on a coastline, then make sure you have hurricane louvers.

AWV builds louvers, dampers, and vital HVAC equipment for efficient HVAC design. We offer a wide range of products, including control dampers and severe weather louvers. Just to name a few. Check out our website for our full product offering.

Ready to start? Contact AWV today. Let’s finish your upcoming project together.

Commercial HVAC Checklist