Draw the room-to-unit path

Use the proposed floor plan to mark supply grilles, return grilles or transfer paths, closed-door conditions, the equipment location and ceiling voids. Identify areas where joinery, new walls or a lower ceiling interrupt the route. Ask the HVAC designer to size and assess the arrangement for the actual system rather than copying a grille from another villa.

At Victory Heights, the project record reported insufficient return-air routes for some indoor units (15757). Transfer grilles, a silencer and a filter box appeared in the fresh-air arrangement (15764), while ceiling height, return paths and drainage constrained installation (16607). These are project-specific observations; they do not establish a universal number or size of grilles.

Check before finishes hide the path

Coordinate return openings with doors, acoustic expectations, lighting and access hatches. Ask the team to mark the approved route on the drawing and identify any closed room that could lose return flow. After installation, request operating checks in relevant room and door conditions, plus a list of open balancing or noise items. If the project also adds outdoor air, document its route and controls separately so “fresh air” is not used as a substitute explanation for return air.