High-velocity outlets

High-velocity outlets are the small openings that deliver air from a small-duct high-velocity system into the room. HiFi's patent-pending wall and ceiling outlets are plaster-in, or mud-in: the rim is finished into the wall or ceiling with joint compound or plaster, so the outlet sits flush and only a 2-inch round, square or hexagon opening, or a 1/2-inch-wide linear slot, shows. They fit Unico, SpacePak and Hi-Velocity systems, and there are linear outlets for wood floors, tile, stair risers and toe kicks. The plaster-in vent guide covers how the rim is finished.

The range

  • 2-inch round, square and hexagon. Small faces for walls and ceilings. The perforated rim is plastered over, so only the opening shows.
  • 6-inch linear. A 6-inch slot, 1/2 inch wide, in straight, 90, 45 and 20-degree directions. The 90-degree version fits within standard 2x4 wall construction.
  • 12-inch linear. A 12-inch slot, 1/2 inch wide. Guide vanes and airfoils shaped into the body spread the air from one end of the slot to the other. It installs as a rough-in.
  • 6-inch linear floor outlet. A flush 1/2-inch slot for floors with access from below, in flooring and subfloor of 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches total thickness. A long trim can be sanded flush with the flooring.
  • 6-inch outlet for wood, tile, stair risers and toe kicks, in black or white.

Shop high-velocity outlets. Another size, shape, pattern or connection is made to fit the system: tell us what you need.

Connections

Match the outlet to the system's supply tubing first. Depending on the model, HiFi high-velocity outlets come with a Twist Fit end, a 2, 2.5 or 3-inch clamp, a 2, 2.5 or 3-inch tapered end, or a 3-inch non-tapered (ESP) end. The Twist Fit end is compatible with Unico Twist-Fit and SpacePak Twistlock, and the clamp-style couplers connect directly to duct or attenuator tubing.

Straight or 90-degree describes the outlet's configuration; the connection describes how it joins the duct. Record both on the specification. A round dimension alone doesn't decide the part.

Installation

The installation guides cover straight, 90-degree and floor high-velocity outlets.

  • Push-through, for a finished wall or ceiling and for retrofit work. The 2-inch round, square and hexagon and the straight 6-inch linear go in through a 4-1/4-inch hole, and the 2-inch round and square also come in a version for a 3-3/8-inch hole. The rim is mudded into the surface.
  • Rough-in, for new construction. On the 6-inch linear, a separate frame mounts to the studs or joists through pre-drilled holes before the wallboard goes up, and the outlet body goes in after the wall is finished. The frame suits 1/2 and 5/8-inch plasterboard, with a lip of 1/16 inch for joint compound (mud) or 1/8 inch for plaster. The straight 6-inch linear comes as push-through or rough-in; the 90, 45 and 20-degree versions install as rough-in.
  • Floor. The floor outlet installs from below and mounts to blocking or joists. A router template comes with it for the 5/8-inch channel, and it connects to the attenuator at 90 degrees.

The room chooses the look. The system chooses the connection.

For a Unico or SpacePak system, record the actual outlet connection as well as the system name. Depending on the model, choices include Twist Fit, clamp and tapered ends; the Twist Fit end is compatible with Unico Twist-Fit and SpacePak Twistlock.

A useful room note keeps three decisions together: the designer’s face and finish, the installer’s exact connection and mounting option, and the mechanical designer’s required airflow and outlet count. Straight or 90-degree describes the outlet configuration, not the connection.

Keep the selected product, options, room and quantity in your project list, so the person ordering receives the agreed selection. Need another size, shape, pattern or connection? Send what the project needs.

Choosing one

A specification for a high-velocity outlet needs six things, from our Journal checklist, Specifying high-velocity outlets without the guesswork:

  1. Product and variant
  2. Connection
  3. Airflow requirement, from the mechanical designer
  4. Finish and cavity
  5. Access and install sequence
  6. Quantities and schedule

Find your vent narrows the family when you choose high velocity and the location, and the product page confirms the model. The 2-inch round and square, the 6-inch linear and the floor outlet all appear in room ideas in the lookbook.

Airflow

A small-duct high-velocity system moves air through small supply tubing faster than a conventional system does. Each outlet releases a jet that draws room air along with it, and that mixing is how the system conditions the room. The number of outlets in each room and the airflow at each one come from the system's design, set by the project's mechanical designer.

Our linear high-velocity outlets have internal flow paths formed in the body, part of HiFi's proprietary, patent-pending design; geometry varies by model. On the 12-inch linear, guide vanes and airfoils spread the air along the full length of the slot.

From our CFD models, the 6-inch linear outlet (straight and 90-degree) and the 6-inch linear floor outlet cover an operating range of 20 to 40 CFM per outlet. These figures come from simulation, not lab measurement. Send us the model and we'll send the airflow and pressure-drop information we have for it. Where a product has a spec sheet, it is on the product page.

Ordering

HiFi offers a standard catalog of sizes and patterns, along with custom options for project-specific requirements. Orders typically ship within 2-3 weeks. Rush orders are available if your schedule is tight.

HiFi's patent-pending design and manufacturing process can make any shape, size, pattern or connection to fit the system. For a whole house, send us your list in any format, even a few lines typed into an email. We'll match each outlet to the catalog, confirm it with you, and send one invoice.

Questions

Which high-velocity systems do HiFi outlets fit?

Unico, SpacePak and Hi-Velocity systems. Depending on the model, the connection is Twist Fit, a 2, 2.5 or 3-inch clamp, a 2, 2.5 or 3-inch tapered end, or a 3-inch non-tapered (ESP) end, and another connection is made to fit. Match the connection to the system first, then choose straight or 90-degree and rough-in or push-through.

Do HiFi high-velocity outlets connect directly to the supply tubing?

Yes. Behind the finished opening is the outlet body and the connection chosen for the system: a Twist Fit end compatible with Unico Twist-Fit and SpacePak Twistlock, or clamp-style couplers for duct or attenuator tubing, depending on the model. For retrofit work in a finished wall or ceiling, the push-through versions go in through a 4-1/4-inch hole; the 2-inch round and square also come in a version for a 3-3/8-inch hole.

Is there a slotted outlet for SpacePak systems, straight or 90-degree?

Yes. The 6-inch linear outlet is a 1/2-inch-wide slot that comes straight or at 90 degrees, as well as 45 and 20 degrees, with SpacePak Twistlock and Unico Twist-Fit compatible ends or clamp connections. The 90-degree version fits within standard 2x4 wall construction and installs as a rough-in. For a longer line, there is a 12-inch linear outlet.

Can a high-velocity outlet go in a wood or tile floor?

Yes. The 6-inch linear floor outlet installs from below where the underside is accessible, in flooring and subfloor of 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches total thickness; for another build-up, send us the floor's thickness and we'll make it fit. It comes with a short trim and a long trim that can be sanded flush with the flooring. For tile, wood, stair risers and toe kicks there is also a 6-inch high-velocity outlet in black or white.

What airflow does each outlet handle?

From our CFD models, the 6-inch linear outlet (straight and 90-degree) and the 6-inch linear floor outlet cover 20 to 40 CFM per outlet. For other models, send us the model and we'll send the airflow and pressure-drop information we have. The airflow target for each outlet comes from the project's mechanical designer.