Structural Design of AHU

[strainstress]

Hi,

I am currently working on structural design of an Air Handling Unit. Since there is no code governing the design of an AHU, I am looking for some guidelines on how to select internal frame members so that the AHU will maintain structural integrity.

During normal operation of AHU, is the internal sheet metal casing subjected to pressure. If yes, should that be total fan static pressure ? Under what condition, will the whole of AHU be subjected to such high internal pressure.

In addition to internal pressure, under seismic load condition, should the stresses due to internal pressure be added to the seismic load stresses ?

Any help on AHU structural design will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Kapil
EW

 

[Drazen]

the largest stress on ahu structure normally occurs during site installation - rigging and lifting, as that is situation when some dynamic stresses take place, while during normal operation stress mostly depend on advertised function - with two-level ahu's lower level seemingly has to carry loads of upper level.

static pressure can hardly be significant as frame is much more rigid than sheet metal which makes walls.