由于（1）设计人员、风道末端制造商、安装人员、钣金承包商和TAB承包商未给予足够重视，导致风道/风道末端连接处漏气，以及（2）风道与风道末端有效连接的争议责任，风管系统的性能受到影响。如果对未密封、边缘密封和有效密封的连接件的泄漏进行量化和公布，将存在一个可靠的数据库，以提示制造商和设计师采取适当的措施，并尽可能迫使他们采取适当的措施，为未正确密封风管/风道末端连接件留下很少的借口。 该研究项目的目标是:1）填补ASHRAE资助的早期调查中的空白。2） 提供制造商风道末端额定值和安装文献中没有的信息。3） 加强对field（flow rate）选项卡报告准确性的评估。4） 提供将影响HVAC系统能耗和室内空气质量控制（房间空气运动和房间通风效率）的数据。

The performance of duct systems suffer due to (1) air leakage at the duct/air terminal connections because of inadequate attention by designers, air terminal manufacturers, installers, sheet metal contractors, and TAB contractors, and (2) the disputed responsibility for effective connection of ducts to air terminals. If the leakage of unsealed, marginally sealed and effectively sealed connections were quantified and publicized, a reliable database would exist to prompt and possibly obligate manufacturers and designers to take appropriate action and leave little excuse for not properly sealing duct/air terminal connections.The objectives of this research project are: 1) Fill voids in earlier investigations sponsored by ASHRAE. 2) Provide information that is not available in manufacturer’s air terminal rating and installation literature. 3) Enhance assessment of the accuracy of field (flow rate) TAB reports. 4) Supply data that will affect the energy consumption of HVAC systems, and the control of indoor air quality (room air motion and room ventilation effectiveness).