Duct Liner vs Duct Wrap
Both duct liner and duct wrap serve similar purposes. They are meant
to insulate HVAC ductwork, preventing air leakage and condensation.
Both are common methods of insulating duct, and in many applications
either one can perform effectively.
But let’s take a closer look.
Duct Wrap
- Prevents air leakage, condensation, and energy loss
- Can be retrofitted onto existing duct systems
- More expensive (including labor) than duct liner
Duct Liner
- Prevents air leakage, condensation, and energy loss
- Available in specific NRC values for acoustical performance
- Installed into the duct during fabrication, saving you field labor time
- Optional Double wall systems for high negative pressure applications
When it comes to the basic function of insulating duct,
both duct wrap and liner function well. Choosing the correct one for
a specific job is about understanding the needs of your project. If
the mission is to retrofit a warehouse, where a substantial portion
of old duct will be left in place, then the only approach is duct
wrap.
For commercial buildings where occupants engage in professional jobs
and interact with the public and co-workers, the answer is duct
liner. The main reason is acoustical performance.
The elastomeric foam or
fibrous glass liner used to insulate the interior of ductwork offers
acoustical insulation and vibration dampening properties.
Duct liner is often sold with specific Noise Reduction Coefficient
(NRC) values. For a given design, the thicker the insulation, the
higher the NRC value.
Duct Liner Density
Once the choice has been made to go with duct
liner, the subject of liner density is often the next concern. For a
specific job, how will the weight and thickness of duct liner impact the
performance for a given job. Is thicker better?
The answer is not as easy as it once was.
Today, advancements in materials technology make density alone less
important to thermal and acoustical performance. In the mid-1980s,
the performance-based ASTM C1071 duct liner standard was established
for fibrous glass duct lining insulation. Instead of relying on
density, this standard relies on thermal and acoustical properties
of interior duct liner material.
Where density still must be considered is
during installation and hanging. Density is directly related to
weight, such that the denser the lining material, the more stress it
will place on the duct supports, especially over the lifetime of the
project.
Double Wall Insulation
Double wall lined duct takes the idea of
duct insulation to its highest level, achieving several key
qualities that are in demand by the HVAC industry today.
- Double wall lined duct delivers the highest energy efficiency and
tightest air seal
- Reduces noise from airflow, fans, and connectors, and vibrations
- Installation efficiencies, saving time often taken up by the
application of external insulation.
The sheet metal interior wall protects the insulation from airflow
while it stops fiberglass erosion. This keeps particulate build up
from happening inside the ductwork which can give mold spores and
microbes in the airflow a chance to take hold.
Built In for Affordable, Cutting Edge
Performance
Duct wrapping must take place on the job site and requires an
unknown quantity of labor. It may or may not be done well, depending
on the experience of the labor and the configuration of duct
supports on site.
Liner built into the duct adds cost to the fabrication process, but
is entirely predictable, completely consistent in quality, and adds
no time to the installation process. Therefore, when calculating the
probable cost of wrapping duct with insulation, the additional cost
of lined duct often balances out, ultimately delivering a better
result for the same cost.
Interested in learning more about ZEN
Industries and our capabilities in HVAC duct fabrication?.
Give us a call at 877-600-0274,
or visit our
Contact Us page today.
Partner with ZEN to Do More and Earn More
Let ZEN Industries be
your partner in the HVAC Industry as an experienced, high-quality
manufacturer of HVAC duct of all types. Our goal is to partner with
our customers in ways that make the entire workflow from order to
installation a seamless exercise in time and cost savings.
As an experienced fabricator of HVAC duct for over 22 years, ZEN
Industries supplies traditional
Rectangular Ductwork
as well as
Spiral Ductwork,
Double Wall Spiral,
,
PCD Ductwork, and
Industrial Welded Ductwork.
Success is All About Great Service
Founded in 1999 on a set of unbreakable core principles, ZEN
strives to provide top-quality fabrication, advice, and planning for
our customers.
The quality of our HVAC duct work is of the highest caliber and
our price is competitive with the best in the industry. Of course,
ZEN Industries Inc. gains its edge with unbeatable service, and
service means people - it's about our experienced personnel and the
relationships we build with each and every customer.
At ZEN Industries, we believe success is all about great service.
Our affordable HVAC shop drawings, estimating services, and duct
fabrication can be reached at 877-600-0274, or visit our
Contact Us
page today!
Learn more at
www.ZENindustries.com
