HVAC: Five easy steps to estimate External Static

Pressure drop in HVAC Ducts using Equal Friction

Method.
Introduction
Estimating External Pressure drop in ducts is not a rocket science
and it can be done easily in order to select the HVAC equipment's
fan (Air Handling Unit, Fan, Heat Recovery Unit, Fan Coil Unit...etc).
and accordingly, we can estimate as well the power consumption of
such units.
What is External Static Pressure in HVAC Ducts?
External Static Pressure is basically and simply the pressure required
by a fan (which is located inside any HVAC equipment) to deliver the
required / design airflow rate and to allow air to reach from the HVAC
equipment to the Index point so air can be discharged with the
required airflow rate even from the furthest air outlet (Diffuser or air
grille...etc).
To do that, the fan pressure has to overcome all loses in the
direction of air flow (on the Suction and Discharge side of the
equipment) including, but not limited to, Volume control dampers,
Fire Dampers, pressure drop in air outlets, duct pressure drop, duct
fittings losses, External air louvers (in case if the Outside Air Intake
duct has the index run compared to the return air duct)... etc.

What are the steps and how to estimate / calculate the

External Static Pressure of a fan?
The below calculation sheet is very simple and all engineers can
make use of it in order to estimate / calculate the External static
pressure (ESP) of any fan in any HVAC equipment.
It is worth mentioning here also that ESP has to be calculated for
different scenarios to ensure that the calculated ESP is indicating the
maximum ESP drop in the system which will be for the Index run
noting that the index run is not mandatory to be the furthest duct
run. The index run is the duct run with the maximum external static
pressure drop.
Steps:
1. Write down the "DESIGN AIR FLOW RATE" required for the fan. In
case of heating or air conditioning equipment, the design air flow
rate is what you get from the cooling load program.
2. Go to the friction loss chart in any HVAC standard (CARRIER,..etc)
or use a ductulator to get the "FRICTION FACTOR" based on the
required air velocity and duct size according to the area of
application (low pressure system, Medium pressure system,...etc).

3. Measure the duct length from the design drawings and check
different scenarios as explained above since the index run is the
duct run with the maximum external static pressure drop not the
furthest duct run.
4. Use the below sheet (very simple excel sheet) to add the duct
run, friction factor, pressure drop in all accessories and repeat the
same for the return air duct (or Fresh air duct whichever is greater).
5. Add whatever required safety factor to secure the unit selection.
So, External Static Pressure drop value can be defined accordingly.

What about detailed calculation for External Static Pressure

drop?
Detailed calculation is not far different from the above calculation
except for the exact equivalent length of each and every duct fitting
that will be used instead of the safety factors.
A lot of programs are available nowadays in the market to do this
exercise. However, this easy way as summarized in the table is

friendly to use, easy, error margin is always not exceeding 5% of the

detailed calculated value.
Detailed calculation for the equivalent length of duct fittings can be
found in HVAC standards such as SMACNA standard, CARRIER binder
Part (2) Chapter (2),...etc.