DIN and ISO

Fan Performance

However, when this motorised impeller is fitted into a housing,

which could consist of a cowl, casing or plenum, the fans
performance characteristics change significantly. It is
important to remember that motorised impellers will be
used in many fan types, including roof mounted in downflow
and vertical discharge configurations, wall mounted
and duct mounted.
These components all have an effect on the way the air
leaves the impeller and the overall performance of the fan.
For example, with an in-line duct mounted centrifugal fan, the
air is forced to change direction once it hits the wall of the
casing. This together with the air flow losses associated with
surface friction, dramatically affects the pressure development
capabilities of the fan. In addition to these reductions, the
noise level increases and the overall efficiency of the fan
decreases. Furthermore, if these components are poorly
designed, the performance loss is amplified.
Fantechs in-house capability allows it to perform air flow
testing using their purpose-built air flow rigs which have been
specifically designed to test to ISO5801:2007.
In addition, Fantechs sister company Elta Fans UK, has the
capability to perform noise testing to BS848:Part 2 1985.

Motorised
centrifugal impeller

Complete built-up
centrifugal fan

15% reduction in air flow

37% reduction in pressure development
14% reduction in efficiency
8% reduction in peak efficiency
1.2dB noise increase
ISO5801 Type A Test Results Comparison
800

Difference in
air flow

700

Ps F, Pressure (Pa)

Australian fan manufacturers purchase their motorised external

rotor centrifugal fans from the major suppliers in Europe and
increasingly cheaper product from Asia. To derive the fans
performance, these suppliers test the fan in the very basic
configuration where the setup consists of a motorised impeller,
inlet cone and a simple motor mount. This allows the fan to
perform without restrictions which produces the optimum
values for air flow, noise and efficiency.

Fantech recently undertook testing to determine the actual

differences in performance between a motorised centrifugal
impeller-only assembly and a built up centrifugal fan in a housing.
At a given duty point the results are as follows:

600

Fan Assembly
Impeller Only

500
400

Difference in
pressure

300
200
100
0
0.000

0.500

1.000

1.500

2.000

2.500

45%
40%
35%

ISO5801 Type A Test Results Static Efficiency

(Input Power)
Fan Assembly
Impeller Only

Difference in
Peak Efficiency
Difference in
efficiency

30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%

0.000

0.500

1.000

1.500

2.000

2.500

Victoria:
New South Wales:
South Australia:
Northern Territory:

(+61 3) 9554 7845

(02) 8811 0400
(08) 8294 0530
(08) 8947 0447

Queensland:
Western Australia:
A.C.T.
New Zealand:
South East Asia:

3.000

qv , Air Flow (m3/s)

It should also be noted that the tests performed by the motorised

impeller manufacturers are completed using their purposely-designed
inlet cones and are set to have an ideal overlap between impeller
and inlet cone. To reduce production costs many of the local fan
manufacturers use their own inlet cones which suit a variety of their
fan ranges. These inlet cones often do not follow the suppliers overlap
recommendations, thereby further reducing performance.
When ordering fans it is important to question whether the
performance data comes from a complete built-up centrifugal fan
with housing, brackets etc, or is it from the motorised impeller
only. The majority of imported motorised centrifugal impellers
are sourced from Germany and these are tested to a German DIN
standard such as DIN24163. So if the data of a locally assembled
complete built-up fan is published to the German DIN standard
rather than the ISO standard, it would be prudent to question the
fan supplier as to how their catalogued performance data is derived.
Every fan range engineered and sold by Fantech is thoroughly tested
as a fully assembled fan during the development process to determine
its true performance. The fan tested is exactly the same as the unit
purchased and installed by the contractor. As a result Fantech has
comprehensive data on each fan model and therefore has the ability
to publish accurate and reputable technical catalogue data. This
information is beneficial to the end user as they can be confident that
the fan will perform as intended.
For more information contact Fantech on 03 9554 7870.

Fantech Pty. Ltd.

3.000

qv , Air Flow (m3/s)

Static Efficiency (%)

To ensure a ventilation system functions in the built

environment as it was intended in the design stages, it is
crucial to know that the fans actual performance matches
the catalogue data published by the manufacturer. The only
true way to measure the performance of a fan is by using a
specially designed air flow test rig which is compliant to an
international standard, such as ISO5801:2007; Industrial
fans - performance testing using standardised airways.

(07) 3299 9888

(08) 9209 4999
(02) 6280 5511
(09) 444 6266
(+603) 5121 4453