Delivering value for money with specifications is more important than ever in the current economic environment. When assessing building services options, it is important to consider not only the initial cost of materials and labour, but also the cost of maintaining the system across its lifespan. New research from Rider Levett Bucknall has shown that the installed cost of pre-insulated ductwork fabricated from The KoolDuct System can be up to 22.0% lower than traditional insulated metal ductwork, whilst whole life cost savings can be as much as 48.7%.
Traditional galvanised steel ductwork can present a number of challenges for installers. The weight of the materials mean that the installation is labour intensive, with ductwork typically needing to be installed in short sections and requiring a number of hangers and supports of significant size and thickness to hold it in place safely. The steel sections are also difficult to modify onsite if late or unexpected changes have been made to the final building construction and, once installed, must be lagged in a separate operation, adding further time and labour to the installation process.
