Page 38 - Climate Control News Mag October 2019

Insulation & Ducting
Economic advantages of new lightweight technology
simple installation – that's a 30% faster instal- lation in comparison to the traditional galva- nized ducts.
“Installation is safer due to the lighter weight which improves manual handling for fabricators and installers which drastically reduces acci- dents and injury to personnel,” Malek said.
“Maintenance of the ALP pre-insulated duct- work is made easy with inspection portholes which provide access to the duct to make clean- ing operations straightforward while maintain- ing indoor air quality.
“ALP pre-insulated duct also provides space saving benefits as the dimensions are smaller and the system has the flexibility to be in- stalled along ceilings, walls and floors and small spaces.
“IT’S EASY TO SEE WHY THIS PRODUCT IS MAKING INROADS INTO THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET.”
“The ducting panels can be fabricated into any kind of shape, size or bends by cutting, notching and using proprietary adhesive, and can be as- sembled to suit various specifications,” he said.
“The overall economic advantage of a light- weight pre-insulated system is impressive. It’s easy to see why ALP pre-insulated lightweight duct is making inroads in the Australian mar- ket and why engineers, architects and speci- fiers are taking notice; it's an impressive list of advantages.”
TRADITIONAL HVAC GALVANIZED sheet steel ducting has been the standard specified product for HVAC ducting for over 100 years.
This system is heavy, cumbersome to install and requires an additional step of wrapping in- sulating material around the steel ducts, adding time and weight to the installation.
According to Ductus managing director, Jim Malek, this old method of ducting requires addi- tional space, support and weight considerations in the design phase of the project and often suf- fers air and temperature inefficiencies.
“These long-time issues required a modern so- lution to deliver a better and more efficient sys- tem. Enter ALP Pre-insulated lightweight duct,” he said.
“ALP developed and introduced this technol- ogy and it quickly became a superior choice across Europe and America. Ductus now brings this innovative product to Australia.
“Why has this system had such success in Eu- rope and America? Because lightweight ducting overcomes engineering, installation, air quality and environmental challenges that results in the best possible performance, economic benefit and environmental outcome, all while meeting or exceeding Australian Standards.”
Pre-insulated ducting is an innovative prod- uct that utilizes high density polyurethane foam which is environmentally advantageous as it is produced without CFC or HCFC.
The PUR is thermoset to embossed aluminum foil on each side which has a thickness of 60, 200 or 500 microns, depending on the required ap- plication. The aluminum offers a bacteriostatic efficacy whilst the foam provides a superior de- gree of thermal insulation.
“This combination of materials provides a system that achieves excellent air tightness and mechanical resistance, in case of pres- sure variations, which ultimately preserves the air temperature and air flow efficiency,” Malek said.
“Minimum air loss results in long term energy savings as it reduces fan energy usage. The alu- minum facing also provides an impervious bar- rier to prevent moisture absorption. Noise reduc- tion is yet another advantage as the density and rigidity of pre-insulated ducting ensures less vi- bration.”
The air delivered from pre-insulated duct is hygienic and does not contain fibers from insu- lating material as it is a closed cell system, and with the aluminum providing bacteriostatic ef- ficacy, resistance to rodents and resistance mould growth, the indoor air quality delivered is of the highest standard.
The pre-insulated system is approximately 80% lighter than traditional steel systems re- sulting in a lighter load on the building and bearers, requiring fewer hanging supports. The lightweight panels make it a flexible and
There is a need to address efficiency and power consumption within the ducting sector.
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