Nick Paschke, new product sales specialist, points out some of the benefits of DuctSox’s new UnderFloorSox, round fabric air ducts designed to distribute even air dispersion and temperature to underfloor air distribution systems.
At its booth,DuctSox(www.ductsox.com) drew a crowd throughout most of the expo, showcasing its new UnderFloorSox™ (UFSox), an air dispersion system designed to improve temperature consistency within the plenum for underfloor air distribution (UFAD) systems for retrofit and new construction in commercial buildings. UFSox are 12- to 18-inch-diameter round fabric air ducts routed through an UFAD plenum.
According to Nick Paschke, new product sales specialist with DuctSox, “The system features a modular configuration to uniformly mix the supply and plenum air, which minimizes diffuser adjustments to maintain set point temperatures throughout the occupied space.”
Paschke noted that full-scale thermal performance tests by the Center for the Built Environment (CBE) at the University of California-Berkley investigated the impact of distributing cool supply air into an underfloor plenum using UFSox. For the test configurations studied, Paschke said the results indicated that compared to an open plenum design, the use of UFSox reduced thermal decay (temperature gain) in the perimeter zone and overall temperature distribution within the plenum was more uniform. He added that more research is being done to determine fan power effects associated with adding UFSox.
UFSox are available in lightweight modular length sections that can be zippered together on-site during installation. Because UFSox are interconnected with the raised access floor structure of UFADs, Paschke said installation coordination is fast-tracked.
DuctSox also featured its new All-Fabric D-Fuser addition to its LabSox Series of air dispersion products, which are designed for research laboratories, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and other critical environments applications. The company said the new product offers the laboratory industry’s quietest, most even, and lowest HVAC discharge velocities of 33-fpm and 63-fpm at 750-cfm for the 2-foot by 8-foot and 2-foot by 4-foot models, respectively.
INSULATION, LINER, AND DUCTWORK
Atco Rubber Products Inc.(www.atcoflex.com) showed its new 1194 filter cabinets, constructed of a blend of 24- and 22-gauge material and designed to provide a lightweight, yet strong, base. These are smaller cabinets for tight spaces, and one size accommodates side- or bottom-mounted filters, said the company. It said its 1194-5 is a 5-ton unit used as a furnace base and it can handle a full 2,000 cfm of air.Anco Products Inc.(www.ancoproductsinc.com) featured is Textrafine™ 85 percent recycled fiberglass insulation. The company said the product can be used on HVAC parts as it expands to its full thickness with all associated thermal benefits. It can be used to acquire Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) points, too, it said.
Armacell(www.armacell.com) displayed its new AP Coilflex duct liner, which the company described as a pliable elastomeric thermal insulation that can be applied with water-based adhesives in accordance with SMACNA pinning and spacing guidelines. It added that the insulation has Microban® antimicrobial protection, designed to provide an extra level of defense to mold resistance.
CertainTeed(www.certainteed.com) said it reformulated its ToughGard R duct liner by adding 25 percent recycled content. In conjunction with receiving Greenguard® Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) certification in 2008, ToughGard R duct liner is designed to help contractors earn points for LEED certification.
“Using building products with recycled content is important in meeting today’s sustainable building standards and very important to the environment,” said Mike Lembo, senior product manager for CertainTeed’s Mechanical Insulation Business. “By adding recycled content, we will use less energy during the manufacturing process and decrease the amount of waste materials sent to landfills.”
DuraSystems Barriers Inc.(www.durasystems.com) showed its next generation of fire-rated ductwork, the DuraDuct GNX, calling it its lightest, two-hour fire-rated duct system. It features a double-wall construction, with each duct section consisting of an outer sheet metal liner, insulation, and an inner sheet metal liner.
WRAP, SILENCER, AND PROTECTIVE FILM
DuroDyne(www.durodyne.com) displayed its new Dyno-O-Wrap, Dyna-Tite KV bracket, and its two self-stick access duct doors, the HSAD and the CSAD.Dyno-O-Wrap is a self-adhesive film, designed to protect uninstalled duct sections from outside elements. As the company explained, while duct is handled, stored, or transported, its interior is unprotected from water, dust, and debris. This wrap is designed to securely seal the duct and block the exposure, it said, adding that its wrap is 40 percent thicker than most wrapping films.
The KV bracket is designed to enhance its Dyna-Tite suspension system by the addition of an integral bracket, which fastens the cable lock to the duct with sheet metal screws. Once the KV bracket is attached to the duct, the wire rope “drop” is passed into the entry hole at the top of the bracket, through the cable lock, and out the exit hole at the bottom. The KV 12 bracket assembly and the CL 12 have a working load limit of up to 150 pounds, said the manufacturer.
The HSAD and CSAD self-stick access doors are designed to provide quick access to ductwork. To use the product, the company said one first needs to size and cut a hole in the duct wall, then peel the release from the access door frame, press the frame into position, and then insert one screw into each of the four-pre-punched holes in the frame.
FabricAir(www.fabricair.com) featured its new All-in-One device, designed to keep its fabric duct always stretched out in a circular shape, even when air is removed from, or not in, the system. The company said the device helps the start-up process, too, as a circular duct allows air to flow through it faster than a flat, hanging duct.
Gray Flex Systems Inc.(www.grayflex.com) touted its Quality Flex® duct. The metalized polyester duct comes in R-values of 4.2, 6.0, and 8.0. Same R-values apply for the gray polyester and the black polyethylene duct. The company also has mobile home duct, aluminum foil connectors, and polyester connectors.
Industrial Acoustics Company(www.industrialaccoustics.com) showed its new SM line of duct silencers. There are 8 models for silence applications, including low frequency. Silencers are specifically engineered to enhance insertion loss in the 63 Hz, 125 Hz, and 250 Hz octave bands, said the company.
K-Flex USA(www.kflexusa.com) featured its AL Clad, elastomeric insulation with aluminum foil laminated to plastic cladding. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor use, comes in 3-foot lengths for easy handling, is moisture resistant, as well as mold and mildew resistant.
Metal-Fab, Inc.(www.mtlfab.com) introduced a new, space-saving grease duct that it said is UL-listed for zero clearance to combustibles. The new 3G Series grease duct features 3 inches of ceramic fiber insulation between the stainless steel flue and the outer casing. This is designed to reduce shaft size requirement, yet carries the UL2221 and UL1978 listings. While made with the same quality and materials as the 4G Series introduced several years ago, 3G has an outer diameter 2 inches smaller. A complete line of 3G components is available in 6-inch to 24-inch flue diameters, and it carries a limited lifetime warranty.
Metu-Streimer(www.metu-streimer.com) showed its new DuctShield, a strong, adhesive-backed polyethylene film designed to protect ductwork during storage, transport, and building construction. The company said its primary purpose is to protect open ends of ductwork from dirt and debris.
QuietFlex Manufacturing Co.(www.quietflex.com) sported its new AMG Flex™ duct, which the company said is designed to continuously inhibit the growth and consequent spreading of various bacteria, fungi, mold, and mildew. Its inner core is coated with the antimicrobial coating Agion®. Incorporated in the product is Formaldehyde-free™ insulation from Johns Manville. It is available in R-6.0 and R-8.0.
SMOKE DETECTOR, REGISTER, AND MORE
Spunstrand(www.spunstrand.com) introduced its new SpunCoustic™ green duct, which it termed “the most energy-efficient and quiet underslab duct system.” It is double-wall constructed, having R-5 insulation as well as an R-4.2 acoustical liner. The insulation and liner reduces fan and system noise, and eliminates the need for a duct silencer, the company said. With the combined R value of up to 9.7 and use of a new bio-resin system, the company said its new duct can help a contractor achieve a building’s desired LEED rating.System Sensor(www.systemsensor.com) announced the release of its new InnovairFlex™ duct smoke detector line. With InnovairFlex, the company said one unit can accommodate multiple installation footprints to overcome mounting constraints. Andy Kuester, director of product marketing, described it as “a first for duct smoke detectors.”
The new line also offers false alarm immunity, a broad temperature range (from -4° to 158°F), visible status indicators, and a test feature. For increased ease of installation, Kuester said techs can now install the new sampling tubes from the front or back without using tools by snapping them into place. In addition, the manufacturer said it made sure that sampling tube spacing will line up with existing models for retrofit applications. Kuester added that the range of InnovairFlex products and accessories can meet any code requirements and are backward compatible to existing Innovair products.
Therm-All Inc.(www.therm-all.com) showcased its new Reflect-R reflective insulation for ductwrap. The company said the insulation reflects 97 percent of radiant heat gain. The rigidity of the 3/4-inch core, reinforced facing, and various tab options designed for all applications will save a contractor “many man-hours on the jobsite,” said the manufacturer.
Thermo Manufacturing Inc.(www.thermopan.com) touted its Thermo Reflect 8, designed to add R-value to the insulation value of a duct system. The company said the insulation product can make duct systems more efficient by 10 to 30 percent. It is only 1-inch thick for minimal space requirements.
Tru Aire(www.truaire.com) featured its SmoothGlide registers. Blade and linkage components are individually powder-coated before assembly while rivets are installed after assembly. The end result is a register that does not stick, will not rust, and is not loose, said a company spokesperson.
Unifrax(www.unifrax.com) displayed its new FyreWrap Elite 1.5 duct insulation. It is a two-layer flexible enclosure for one- and two-hour rated commercial kitchen grease ducts and hazardous exhaust ducts including chemical fumes. The company said the core insulation blanket is completely encapsulated in an aluminum foil fiberglass-reinforced scrim covering, designed to provide additional handling strength.
Publication date:02/16/2009
