Kingspan KoolDuct

Saving energy is high on everybody’s agenda right now. The gap between design performance and actual performance is rapidly closing, and legislation to ensure that buildings are constructed with at least a minimum level of insulation is becoming increasingly stringent. As the Building Code maintains its focus on performance as opposed to prescriptive design and construction, it actively encourages innovation in new building technologies and energy saving systems, such as the KoolDuct System of pre-insulated ductwork from Kingspan.

HVAC ductwork is traditionally constructed using galvanised mild sheet steel with mineral fibre insulation installed as a separate construction activity. A much more modern and innovative approach is to use pre-insulated ductwork, which comprises ductwork sections fabricated from premium performance rigid insulation panels with aluminium surfaces, installed in a single fix. The sealing methods and jointing systems used to connect the sections provide very air tight ductwork systems, and therefore the optimum energy saving and environmental solution in air distribution ductwork. In the face of environmental and legislative pressures, the role played by HVAC ductwork systems on energy consumption is becoming an increasingly important feature of both new build and refurbishment construction works, yet the specification is commonly not considered until late in a project’s design process – and little or no attention is paid to the energy saving potential to be gained by specifying for low air leakage rates.

Pre-insulated ductwork from the Kingspan KoolDuct System is fabricated using rigid phenolic insulation panels. The panels are CFC/HCFC-free and manufactured with a blowing agent that has zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and a very low Global Warming Potential (GWP). KoolDuct has a thermal conductivity of 0.021W/m.K – the lowest of any commonly used duct insulation product on the market. The System is lightweight, takes up significantly less space and can be installed up to three times faster than sheet metal ductwork.

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