TURNING VANES: Are They Necessary?
The answer is yes, and here’s why.
Turning vanes in HVAC ductwork, when properly designed and installed, have been proven time and again to reduce pressure losses and increase system efficiency. Contractors should never take it upon themselves to add or remove vanes specified in a design plan, as doing so will skew design calculations and make the system function differently than intended. As for the common belief that turning vanes’ added surface area increases friction in a system, this a myth that has been dispelled by SMACNA, ACCA, and various other industry leaders and associations.
