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Building Services Engineering l September/October 2021
Major cost savings of fabric air dispersion systems The renowned FabricAir® range of air dispersion systems is now available from Core Air Conditioning Ireland Ltd. Solutions can be devised for any type of project, even where air distribution without noise or draughts is essential. Using FabricAir systems also offers design flexibility and significant savings in installation and operational costs. Difference between air socks, sox and fabric ducting? The simple answer is nothing. A sock is a ventilation duct created in fabric instead of sheet metal or pvc pipe. The technology is widely used throughout the world, and so, is a technology with many names. Regardless of what term is used, fabric ductwork has unique technological characteristics that set it apart from steel ducts, spiro ducts and other HVAC ducts in sheet metal. It can be used anywhere exposed ductwork is applicable. In addition, the cost of a ventilation system in metal is typically five times as high as the price of an air sock solution. Thus, the savings potential in switching from metal to fabric is huge.
Advantages of fabric over metal Condensation is quite a common concern in HVAC ducting. However, socks do not have the same natural tendency toward sweating as other HVAC ducts do. Permeable textiles prevent the formation of ductwork condensation, which is why fabric ducting does not require insulation. Eliminating the need for insulation provides significant time savings on a project that also impact the price. The savings potential also includes materials and the transportation and storage of these during the building project. A textile-based ventilation solution fits into just a few boxes rather than the truck loads of materials required to
FabricAir installation in a challenging indoor aquatic environment. In addition to performance excellence, it also adds an aesthetic feature and, in this instance, provided branding opportunities.
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create a metal duct solution. This also means reduced shipping costs. Fabric air dispersion solutions are made from fireproof materials and all FabricAir textiles are UL certified. Fabric ducts can even be made from noncombustible fiberglass. A hygiene advantage of fabric ducts is the elimination of condensation, which in turn prevents bacteria, microbial growth and mould. Sox, like regular socks, can be machine-washed if they get dirty; some textile ducts can even be autoclaved. That cannot be done with conventional ventilation ducting. Finally, fabric ductwork offers unique sound-suppression properties. Thus, air socks are the better alternative in noise-sensitive applications such as theatres and libraries.
Cost-saving features Air socks do not require accessories such as grilles or diffusers because the air dispersion happens throughout the length and circumference of the entire ductwork. Its lightweight nature and flexibility means it is easier to install than steel ducts, spiral ducts and stock pipe, or even pvc pipes, fiberglass duct board panels and aluminium ducts. The ease of installation means significant savings on the man-hours involved in the installation process, so the overall project cost is reduced. FabricAir dispersion technology also enables energy savings of up to 40% on the running costs of the system due to the minimal internal pressure losses. A conventional metal duct solution requires balancing and sometimes on-site attenuation, insulation and painting. Fabric ducts are “plug-and-play” solutions that do not require any of these on-site adjustments. Air sock systems are made-to-measure and ready to use straight from the shipping box. The “add on” effect of fabric ducting is that, due to its minimal pressure drop, AHU selection is smaller and less expensive because of the reduced total static pressures in the system. Contact: Core Air Conditioning Ireland’s HVAC sales team – Sean Gorry or Carol Malone. T: 01 - 409 8912; E: carol@coreac.com; sean@coreac.com Q
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