        |
The table below gives maximum water flow velocities in feet per second (ft/s) that should not be exceeded in water-piping systems adjacent to acoustically sensitive spaces. To avoid excessive flow velocity, use pipes with large inside diameters.
Pipe Inside Diameter (inches) |
Maximum Flow Velocity (ft/s) |
1 2 3 4 6 8 and larger |
3 4 6 7 8 10 |
To meet stringent acoustical criteria, pipes carrying water at high flow velocities can be wrapped with a layer of glass fiber or mineral fiber inside a cover of sheet lead, dense vinyl, or sheet metal. This kind of wrapping is called pipe lagging.
Example
A 4-in riser in a shaft near an acoustically sensitive area has a water flow volume Q of 250 gallons per minute (gpm). What will be the flow velocity v in ft/s? Is this flow velocity satisfactory?
The water flow velocity is less than 7 ft/s. so water flow noise control requirements are satisfied according to the table.
Next: Vibration Isolation of Pumps