Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) Phenolic Duct Construction Standards and KoolDuct a Brief History

Phenolic foam panels that can be fabricated into duct segments have evolved over the past 25 years with KoolDuct revolutionizing the industry.

In 2001, a product known to the US market as “KoolDuct” emerged as a leader of efficiency in the HVAC market. Thousands of HVAC systems employing KoolDuct are in service today and saving the owner’s millions of dollars in operating costs by providing a more energy efficient air distribution system due to high R-value and low air leakage.

In 2009 SMACNA began to study phenolic duct construction and by 2012 had assigned a task force to use industry experience to develop a standard for construction of phenolic ductwork. SMACNA submitted these standards to ANSI (American National Standards Institute) to achieve accreditation for an approved material and construction standard. In February of 2015 ANSI Accreditation was awarded which opens the door for KoolDuct and Thermaductphenolic ductwork to become specified by architects, engineers, and owners without the risk of using a product that lacks these attributes.

Bringing a new product to market often receives scrutiny. When meeting with engineers to have KoolDuct specified, often times the first question asked is “What does SMACNA say about Phenolic Ductwork?” SMACNA Contractors answered that question with the help of SMACNA’s Eli Howard, setting standards that would guide the Phenolic duct industry. In early 2015 SMACNA Phenolic Duct Construction Standards were published. This was an important step for the Phenolic industry not only for those who fabricate, but for the engineering community and opened up the market a better option of energy efficient distributions systems.

Close cell phenolic foam is uniquely suited for air distribution because it offers fire safe air distribution meeting the UL181 Class 1 ductwork requirements. KoolDuct phenolic foam is unique in that it employs a closed cell foam content greater than 90%...meaning it is highly resistant to water intrusion and thus explains the years of success in the US market for the past 15 years.

KoolDuct demonstrates the technology of the new SMACNA Phenolic Duct Construction Standards. To learn more, call us at 844-KOOLDUC or email us at info@airflow.guru.