Is insulation inside a duct for the purposes of the ARE 5.0 PPD exam a resolution for reducing sound/noise within a duct? I vaguely remember mike newman mentioning this in the old PPD videos, but do not remember if he mentioned it being a correct or incorrect answer. I understand that insulation inside a duct would be a bad idea in real life because it cannot be accessed, and can cause buildup of bacteria due to moisture. But, for the purposes of the exam, if we see a question similar to this - would we select insulation as an option for reducing sound in a duct or not?
@estherilatova Yes! For the ARE, acoustical lining/insulation inside a duct can be considered a valid method of reducing sound transmission through the duct. The absorptive material helps attenuate sound as it travels through the ductwork.
There are real-world considerations related to moisture, cleanliness, airflow, and material selection, but those don’t make internal duct lining inherently incorrect. On an exam question focused specifically on reducing duct-borne noise, acoustical duct lining could be an appropriate answer.
Good luck!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Product Coordinator
Black Spectacles