Abstract: In a high-speed, high-volume ventilation fan, a noise-attenuating housing structure includes a perforated inner casing contained within a solid-walled outer casing. Filling the space between the inner and outer casings is a porous, sound-absorbing material. To prevent loss of downstream pressure, and therefore operational efficiency, due to leakages of air through the sound-absorbing material from the downstream side at the fan blades to the upstream side thereof, an annular anti-flow barrier is situated in the space between the inner and outer casings slightly downstream of the fan blades. The structure thus provides a high degree of noise attenuation without sacrificing operational efficiency.