Rheia Design Process
The key principle in designing with Rheia is that all equipment—air handling unit, ducts, returns—is located entirely within the building thermal envelope. The Rheia design process calculates the required airflows before installation and optimizes the plans for cost and comfort while syncing data with Rheia Verify to fine-tune balancing so every room gets the right amount of air.
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Rheia Design Process plugin for Right-Suite® Universal (RSU) software. Intended for experienced HVAC designers who are familiar with the RSU environment.
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Rheia uses custom component sizing approach which supersedes Manuals D and T.
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Rheia provides a comprehensive training program and tools to bring designers up to speed on the Rheia design methodology.
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Eliminate the challenges of room-to-room airflows with an engineered approach that defines the performance of each duct run.
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Designs are uploaded into the Rheia Manage database which is used by Rheia Verify to balance the home
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Balanced airflow and well-placed diffusers deliver even temperatures throughout the home.
Closing the loop on comfort
Stage 1 – Manual J®
Load calculations and target airflows.
Using code mandated Manual J®.
Stage 2 – Manual S®
Equipment specification and sizing.
Using code mandated Manual S®.
Stage 3 – Rheia D (System Design per Manual D® and Manual T®)
Accurate design through airflow prediction size and locate diffusers, grilles and registers.
Using code mandated Manual D® and Manual T® or alternative.
Stage 4 – Rheia Verify
Fine-tuned balancing process.
Rheia required.
Stage 5 – Rheia Report
Balancing report for every commissioned home.
Rheia option.
CONNECT WITH US
Schedule a brief intro meeting with your team and ours to learn more.
Drop us a note and we’ll get it scheduled!
Design Solutions
1-Story Solutions
Typically a slab-on-grade foundation is constructed with the air handler and ductwork located in the attic, or the air handler in a mechanical closet and the ductwork in the attic.
- Rheia installations require the air handler to be located in a mechanical closet inside the home, or in the garage (with appropriate insulation and air sealing on exterior walls).
- A central location for the mechanical room keeps duct runs shorter which reduces cost and optimizes performance. The home is conditioned through sidewall micro-diffusers.
- Upflow air handler to a Rheia manifold located in the mechanical closet.
- Duct routing options are:
Ducts in the conditioned space by locating them in inverted trusses that are air sealed and insulated. Ducts run in thickened walls that can accommodate the 3” or 4” ducts. Ducts in dropped ceilings and soffits are discreetly located in hallways, closets, and bathrooms. - A central return with either insulated jump ducts or pass-through grilles works well for this system layout.
Central closet with upflow air handler and manifold
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Thickened wall enabling ducts to be run horizontally
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Inverted truss soffit to enable ducts to be run without the need for dropped ceilings
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6” dropped ceilings are used in low-impact areas
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Air sealed and insulated soffits for duct runs
5 of 52-Story Solutions
A slab-on-grade or basement foundation home is typically constructed with the air handler located in either a
first or second floor closet for slab-on-grade foundations, or in the conditioned basement under the home. Ductwork is typically located in bulkheads and chases for first-floor distribution and in the attic for second-floor distribution.
- Rheia installations require the air handler to be located in a mechanical closet inside the home on the first or second floor, or in the basement.
- A central location for the mechanical room will keep duct runs shorter which reduces cost and optimizes performance.
- Downflow air handler and Rheia manifold if located on the second floor.
- Rheia ducts are located in the home’s conditioned space in floor cavities and in interior walls.
- The lower floor is conditioned through ceiling diffusers, the second floor is conditioned through sidewall diffusers.
- Insulated ducts and air-sealed chases may be needed for rooms above a garage.
- A central return with with either insulated jump ducts or pass-through grilles works well for this system layout.
First floor mechanical closet with up flow air handler and manifold
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Alternative down flow air handler with manifold in the floor cavity
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Precut I-joist routing for larger duct bundles
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Ducts run in joist bays to ceiling diffuser locations
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Ceiling diffusers for most ground floor rooms
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High sidewall ducts for upper floor air distribution
6 of 63-Story Solutions
Townhome construction is typically built with a slab-on-grade foundation a living space and garage on the ground floor, and the air handler located in a mechanical closet. Ductwork is typically located in bulkheads and chases for first-floor distribution and in the attic for second-floor distribution.
- Rheia installations require the air handler to be located in a mechanical closet inside the home, typically on the ground floor to optimize floor space usage.
- Up-flow air handler and Rheia manifold.
- Ductwork is routed through a vertical chase to the first and second floors.
- Rheia ducts are located in the home’s conditioned space in floor cavities and in interior walls.
- Lower floors are conditioned through a combination of ceiling and sidewall diffusers. The upper floor is conditioned through sidewall diffusers.
- A central return with either insulated jump ducts or pass-through grilles works well for this system layout.
Lower floor mechanical closet with up flow air handler and manifold
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Vertical chase to route ducts to floors above
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Open web trusses for easier direct duct routing
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Ceiling diffusers for most ground floor and middle floor rooms
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High sidewall ducts for upper floor air distribution
5 of 5RHEIA IN ACTION
View the results from our pilot home studies in several communities across the United States, representing different building practices and performace in varying climates.
