This International Standard specifies a method for testing ducted fans and other air-moving devices to determine the sound power radiated into an anechoically terminated duct on the inlet and/or outlet side of the equipment.

The method is applicable to fans which emit steady, broad-band, narrow-band and discrete-frequency sound and to air temperatures between – 50 °C and + 70 °C. The test duct diameter range is from 0,15 m to 2 m. Test methods for small (d < 0,15 m) and large (d > 2 m) test ducts are described in the informative Annexes H and I, respectively.

The maximum mean flow velocity at the microphone head for which the method is suitable depends on the type of microphone shield used, and is as follows:

Above these values the suppression of turbulent pressure fluctuations by the microphone shield (see 3.9) may be insufficient.

It is expected that sound power tests will be conducted in conjunction with airflow performance tests in accordance with ISO 5801. The ducting arrangement will therefore normally incorporate a “star” type flow straightener on the outlet side of the fan which will minimize swirl (see 7.3). Where it is permissible to delete the straightener as, for example, with large fans to installation category C according to ISO 5801:1997, the method is limited to a swirl angle of 15°. (An example of a method for determining the angle of swirl is given in Annex J.)