Chapter 6 governs how air moves through the building safely and reliably, with emphasis on duct construction, plenums, smoke control, and fire-resistance coordination.
At a Glance
| Lens | Notes |
|---|---|
| Chapter focus | Duct Systems |
| Why it matters | Chapter 6 governs how air moves through the building safely and reliably, with emphasis on duct construction, plenums, smoke control, and fire-resistance coordination. |
| In the field | You see this chapter above ceilings, in shafts, at damper locations, at smoke detector shutoffs, and in balancing issues that make systems look undersized when the real problem is ductwork. |
Core Fundamentals
- Duct systems are part airflow problem, part fire-protection problem, and part access problem.
- Construction quality matters: leakage, support, lining, insulation, and routing all change system behavior.
- When a duct crosses a rated assembly, Chapter 6 has to stay coordinated with the IBC.