NATE Air Distribution Installation study plan

Map the full duct assembly sequence (layout, hangers, fittings, branch takeoffs, terminal connections) and write it out as a numbered checklist you can recite from memory

Identify the common duct materials and gages used for rectangular, round, and flexible duct in residential and light commercial work, and state where each is and is not acceptable

Practice laying out and cutting a rectangular transition and a 90-degree elbow on paper using triangulation, then verify your developed lengths against a scrap-piece mock-up

List the hanger and support spacing rules for rectangular and round duct and explain in your own words why spacing changes with duct size and orientation

Assemble a small mock-up section (straight run, one elbow, one branch takeoff) using the joining method you expect on the job, and document each step with notes on what went wrong

Compare four joining methods (slip-and-drive, drive cleats, transverse flanges, flexible duct ties) for speed, leakage, and appropriate application, and pick the right one for five given scenarios

Calculate duct weight per linear foot for two rectangular sizes and select hanger rod and strap sizes accordingly

Explain how fittings affect friction loss and identify which fittings in a layout should be avoided or redesigned

Convert a simple room-by-room load summary into required cfm per room using sensible heat ratios, and show your work for at least four rooms

Size a trunk-and-branch layout using the equal-friction method and then check it with the static-regain method, noting where the two diverge

Apply the friction-rate and velocity limits you would expect on a residential job and justify each limit you use

Identify the top three design mistakes that cause field installation problems (undersized returns, excessive flex, tight elbows) and describe the field symptom of each

Select supply and return grilles and registers for four rooms using face velocity, throw, and pressure-drop data, and record the catalog values you used

Explain the difference between face velocity and neck velocity and show how each affects noise and pressure drop

Lay out a return air path for a closed-door bedroom and justify the transfer method you choose

Describe how supply diffuser selection changes with ceiling height and mounting location (ceiling, high sidewall, floor)

Describe the step-by-step balancing procedure for a trunk-and-branch system, including the order in which you adjust dampers and why

Explain how to use a manometer, a balometer, and a pitot tube, and state what each measures and its main limitation

List the sealing requirements for the major joint types and identify where mastic, tape, or both are required

Explain vapor barrier placement, insulation R-value selection, and the consequences of a breached vapor retarder in a cold climate versus a hot-humid climate

Perform a duct leakage test on a mock-up or small section, compute leakage as a percentage of design airflow, and compare it to a target you state up front

Describe how to set up and read a duct leakage tester, including what to do about register boots and open ends during the test

Write the commissioning sequence for a residential duct system from rough-in inspection through final TAB

Explain what a TAB report should contain and how to spot an incomplete or padded report

Identify the personal protective equipment and hazard controls for the main duct-installation tasks: overhead work, sheet metal handling, confined spaces, and power tools

Describe lockout/tagout and safe work practices around rooftop units and energized equipment

Explain how to safely handle and cut sheet metal, including glove selection, edge treatment, and tool guarding

Outline the steps for a pre-task safety briefing and list the hazards specific to duct installation that a generic briefing would miss

Locate and summarize the code and standard provisions that govern duct installation, clearance to combustibles, and sealing in the code edition your jurisdiction adopts

Explain the difference between a code requirement, a standard, and a manufacturer instruction, and state which governs when they conflict

Assemble the documentation package a completed duct installation should leave behind (submittals, TAB report, leakage test, as-builts, inspection sign-offs)

Complete a timed 60-question practice set across all eight domains and review every missed item to its source