Architectural Air Distribution

On September 16, 2026, in news, by Michael
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When designing high performance HVAC systems for upscale residential and modern commercial spaces, standard stamped metal grilles often fail to meet both airflow efficiency requirements and architectural standards. Linear bar grilles offer a crisp, continuous line aesthetic without sacrificing static pressure management or free area ratio.

Architectural Grille offers two stand out linear bar grille models: the AG10 and the AG20. Both series share durable aluminum construction and a variety of premium factory finishes, but their internal deflection dynamics serve distinctly different air distribution functions.

Standard Stock Options

Available in 6 finishes:
Antique Bronze | Brushed Satin | Black Gloss | Black Matte | White Gloss | White Matte

AG10 B Bar Linear Grilles

The AG10 Bar Grille features parallel bars set at a 0° deflection angle. This straight blade orientation provides an unobstructed path for air entering or leaving the duct work, making it the premier choice when high volume airflow and maximum throw distance are required.

  • Higher Free Area Ratio: Because the bars stand perfectly straight, the effective free area remains maximized. This reduces static pressure drops across the grille face, permitting lower fan speeds and reduced overall sound levels (NC/RC ratings).
  • Deep Room Penetration: Ideal for high-ceiling supply applications or sidewall registers where air needs to travel deep into a space before mixing.
  • Symmetrical Aesthetic: The straight 0° bar arrangement creates clean sightlines regardless of the viewing angle, perfect for modern linear ceiling runs.

AG10 B Frame Product Pages | AG10 B Frame Catalog Sheet

AG20 B Bar Linear Grilles

The AG20 Bar Grille utilizes blades set at a 45° deflection angle. This fixed pitch provides the highest degree of deflection available by Architectural Grille.

  • Targeted Air Streams: Perfect for sidewall or sill applications where supply air needs to be directed away from occupants, draft-sensitive areas, or glass windows to prevent condensation.
  • Sightline Concealment: The 45° angled blades serve as an effective visual baffle. When looking straight at the unit, interior ductwork, plenum boxes, and rough openings remain hidden from view.
  • Downward or Upward Diversion: Depending on installation orientation, the AG20 can direct conditioned air down toward the occupied zone from a high wall or throw air up along a window curtain wall.

AG20 B Frame Product Page | AG20 B Frame Catalog Sheet

Custom Ordering

While the AG10 and AG20 models come in standardized dimensions, Architectural Grille also provides fully custom fabrication across their extensive linear bar, perforated, and decorative grille lines. Exploring their project inspiration gallery offers a helpful look at how these custom profiles integrate into complex architectural spaces. Custom ordering also opens up material selection beyond standard aluminum, allowing you to specify high-grade bronze, brass, or stainless steel to meet precise structural and design requirements.

Linear Bar Grilles

Perforated Grilles

Construction Grilles

Frank Lloyd Wright Series

Big Rush Job? Meet Dayus

For applications requiring standard availability and rapid delivery, Dayus serves as another premium supplier and the fastest source for custom aluminum registers, grilles, louvers, and linear slot diffusers.

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Our engineering team is just a quick phone call away to provide expert guidance and ensure you have the right specialized gear for every job. Plus competitive contractor pricing, deep stocking and quick shipping from our East and West warehouses.

Join our TradePro program for below-MAP tier pricing, direct-dial engineering support and priority shipping.

 

Balancing High-Performance Kitchen Ventilation

On September 9, 2026, in news, by Michael
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Designing residential ventilation networks requires precision engineering to handle structural airflow demands, maintain building envelope pressure balance, and meet building code standards.

Modern high-efficiency homes feature tight thermal envelopes that risk severe depressurization when high-capacity range hoods operate. IRC M1503.4 and NBC 2020 9.32.3.8 mandate make-up air systems for exhaust hood capacities exceeding 400 CFM. Depressurization as low as 0.02 in. w.g. can pull combustion gases backward through flues and water heater chimneys, causing back-drafting hazards.

MUAS Unitary Residential Makeup Air Systems

The Fantech MUAS operates as a fully integrated, powered supply system that automatically tempers and modulates airflow in direct proportion to kitchen exhaust rates.

  • Proportional Control: Uses the Fantech Makeup Air Controller (FMAC) with a current transducer attached to the exhaust fan’s neutral leg to track motor current and automatically balance airflow.
  • Unitary Cabinet Assembly: Consists of an electronically commutated (EC) motorized impeller, integrated MERV 11 pleated filter, and internal control module housed within a 1-inch mineral wool insulated galvanized cabinet.
  • Motorized Backdraft Prevention: Includes a 24VAC motorized shut-off damper that seals the supply duct whenever the system is inactive.
  • Model Configurations:
    MUAS 8 – Delivers 690 CFM at 0.2 in. w.g. static pressure using an 8-inch duct connection.
    MUAS 10 – Delivers 1070 CFM at 0.2 in. w.g. static pressure using a 10-inch duct connection.
  • Optional Air Tempering: Integrates with MUAH electric duct heaters (6 kW MUAH 8/6 for 8-inch ducts; 10kW MUAH 10/10 for 10-inch ducts) featuring an electronic air velocity sensor to prevent operation below 100 FPM.

MUAS Product Page | MUAS Specs

FKD Series Inline Centrifugal Fans

The FKD series is a perfect compliment to pair with the MUAS. The FKD creates a quiet, efficient, and fully integrated airflow circuit when placed downstream from the MUAS, and upstream from the hood liner.

  • Construction: Manufactured with an airtight 22-gauge galvanized steel housing.
  • Versatile Duct Integration: Engineered for seamless inline installation across multiple duct sizes, including 8-inch and 10-inch configurations.
  • High-Output Performance:
    FKD 8XL – Ranges from 836 CFM @ 0 in. w.g. to 499 CFM @ 1.0 in. w.g.
    FKX 10 – Ranges from 910 CFM @ 0 in. w.g. to 547 CFM @ 1.0 in. w.g.
    FKD 10XL – Ranges from 1266 CFM @ 0 in. w.g. to 900 CFM @ 1.0 in. w.g.

FKD Series Product Page | FKD Series Specs

HL Range Hood Liners

The HL series hood liners serve as the collection interface for remote inline or exterior-mounted exhaust fans, removing fan noise from the kitchen environment.

  • Construction: Heavy-gauge stainless steel fascia with an internal galvanized steel structure housing washable steel baffle filters.
  • Lighting & Controls: Integrated dimmable 50W halogen lights and an infinite variable speed control knob.
  • Dimensions & Duct Connections:
    HL 30 & HL 36 – Feature 8-inch top duct collars (Duct Size: 8″).
    HL 42 & HL 48 – Feature 10-inch top duct collars (Duct Size: 10″).

Range Hood Liner Product Page | Range Hood Liner Specs

A high-performance kitchen exhaust system requires more than just capturing smoke and grease at the range hood. Integrating Fantech’s kitchen exhaust systems creates a fully balanced ventilation ecosystem. Together, these components protect the home against dangerous back-drafting, safeguard indoor air quality with MERV 11 supply filtration, and deliver an energy-efficient kitchen ventilation system.

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Our engineering team is just a quick phone call away to provide expert guidance and ensure you have the right specialized gear for every job. Plus competitive contractor pricing, deep stocking and quick shipping from our East and West warehouses.

Join our TradePro program for below-MAP tier pricing, direct-dial engineering support and priority shipping.

 

Engineering Fresh Air

On September 2, 2026, in news, by Michael
0

Modern residential construction produces tightly sealed building envelopes designed to minimize thermal loss. While excellent for heating and cooling efficiency, airtight construction restricts natural air exchange, allowing indoor pollutants, humidity, and VOCs to accumulate.

To balance structural efficiency with indoor air quality (IAQ), Broan-NuTone engineered the AI Series HRVs and ERVs. These mechanical ventilation platforms integrate advanced airflow algorithms, smart motors, and variable recovery cores to optimize fresh air delivery.

The core innovation across Broan’s AI Series and BLP150 units is Virtuo Air Technology™. Balancing a balanced-ventilation system traditionally requires flow collars, differential pressure gauges, and physical damper adjustments. Virtuo replaces manual balancing with dynamic automated regulation.

  • Auto-Balancing & Rapid Commissioning: Upon startup, Virtuo runs an automated diagnostic sequence. It measures intake and exhaust airflows, analyzes maximum achievable CFM against system static pressure, and balances the supply and exhaust streams. This eliminates manually throttling dampers and cuts commissioning time by up to 20 minutes per unit.
  • Real-Time Self-Adjustment: Static pressure changes continuously in field applications due to filter loading, external wind gusts, or damper position shifts. Virtuo monitors differential static pressure and adjusts motor speeds instantly to maintain setpoint CFM, keeping the unit 100% balanced across all fan speeds.
  • PMSM ECM Motors: The units feature Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM) paired with Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM) drivers, delivering up to 60% energy savings compared to standard PSC motors while enabling granular speed control.
  • Integrated LCD Interface: Located directly on the unit chassis, the built-in LCD screen displays real-time CFM, power consumption (Watts), system statuses, and diagnostic fault codes without requiring external meters.

The Broan AI Series features a unified platform designed for wall or suspended chain installations, serving airflow demands from 35 up to 231 CFM. Offered in both Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) and Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) configurations, the series accommodates diverse climate zones. Available in Top Port or Side Port configurations (standard 5″, or 6″ round collars depending on total CFM output) to streamline mechanical room duct layouts.

AI Series Top Port

AI Series Side Port

AI Series Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV)

Advanced Polymerized Membrane Core:
Uses a specialized synthetic membrane core capable of transferring both sensible heat and latent energy. Water vapor molecules pas through the membrane material via vapor pressure differentials without cross-contaminating fresh and exhaust air streams.

AI Series Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV)

Polypropylene Core:
Constructed from rigid, non-porous polypropylene. Thermal energy conducts directly through thin polymer plates, warming incoming cold outdoor air with outgoing indoor heat. The material is completely impermeable to moisture and is only capable of transferring sensible heat.

Humidity balancing:
In humid climates, when it is more humid outside than inside, the ERV limits the amount of moisture coming into your home. In dry climates when the humidity level is reversed, the ERV limits the amount of moisture expelled from your home. This dynamic enthalpy exchange significantly reduces latent cooling loads on the primary AC equipment while maintaining optimal relative humidity year-round.

Designed for Cold Weather:
During the heating season, warm indoor exhaust air drops below its dew point as sensible heat transfers to the incoming fresh air stream. This moisture condenses on the core plates and drains out through an integrated drain fitting, removing excess relative humidity from the home. To maintain continuous operation during sub-zero conditions, the unit performs, at intervals, recovery module discreet defrost cycles.

Quick Specs:

  • Airflow Range: 30 to 210 CFM via a high-efficiency PMSM ECM motor
  • Thermal Performance: Up to 81% SRE and 84% ASE
  • Cabinet Construction: Corrosion-resistant galvanized steel

Quick Specs:

  • Airflow Range: 33 to 231 CFM via a high-efficiency PMSM ECM motor
  • Thermal Performance: Up to 78% SRE and 82% ASE
  • Cabinet Construction: Corrosion-resistant galvanized steel

AI Series Energy Recovery Ventilator
Product Pages:
Top Port | Side Port

Specs:
B130E65R | B150E75N | B160E65R
B160E75R | B180E75RT | B210E75RS
B210E75RT

AI Series Heat Recovery Ventilator
Product Pages:
Top Port | Side Port

Specs:
B110H65R | B150H75NS | B160H65R
B180H75RT | B230H75RS | B230H75RT

Elevating Your Fresh Air System with the CFB

Adding an external high-efficiency filter box into a fresh air supply duct normally presents a challenge for mechanical contractors:extra duct resistance alters system static pressure, requiring manual re-balancing of supply and exhaust airflows. However, pairing our CFB Series filter boxes with Broan’s AI Series eliminates this issue completely due to the Virtuo Air Technology™. This will continuously measure static pressure changes and Virtuo will automatically adjust the PMSM output to maintain a perfectly balanced fresh air system while providing high-efficiency filtration.

HVACQuick CFB Series MERV-13 Inline Filter Box

Built with a heavy-duty 5052 H32 aluminum enclosure, the unit comes standard with a 4-inch MERV-13 filter designed to capture fine airborne particulate matter down to 2.5 microns (PM2.5) with 85% efficiency, including wildfire smoke, pollen, mold spores, and fine dust. For enhanced air purification, option filter upgrades include a MERV-15 media offering 90% PM2.5 efficiency, or an activated carbon-impregnated filter that maintains airflow comparable to a standard MERV-13 filter while adsorbing gaseous VOCs, toxic smoke compounds, and harsh odors.

CFB Product Page | CFB Spec Sheet

Whether specifying for high-CFM single-family residential layouts or space-constrained ceiling cavities, Broan’s fresh air equipment removes the headache of mechanical balancing. Virtuo Air Technology continuously adapts to changing static pressure to maintain designed ventilation rates, keeping building envelopes balanced and compliant with modern ASHRAE 62.2 and Title 24 indoor air quality requirements.

Your dependable Partner for High-Performance products

Our engineering team is just a quick phone call away to provide expert guidance and ensure you have the right specialized gear for every job. Plus competitive contractor pricing, deep stocking and quick shipping from our East and West warehouses.

Join our TradePro program for below-MAP tier pricing, direct-dial engineering support and priority shipping.