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UNDERGROUND DUCTWORK
Our underground ductwork
products are
classified as High
Density Polyethylene
(HDPE), which is a
closed cell plastic
material with an
additional high
thermal property. It
is unique to other
materials because it
is manufactured with
food grade plastic
 that is safe for
humans and the
environment. The
material is mixed
with a foaming
additive during
manufacturing to
achieve the density
and performance
parameter desired.
The preformed
ductwork has the
characteristic of a
smooth low friction
surface that is
resistant to mildew,
mold, and Radon;
under pressure it
will not crack and
is non-toxic and
recyclable. In
addition, the
ductwork is
self-insulating,
adjustable and easy
to install. A
thermal efficiency
performance of
TheBlueDuct™ has a test
proven equivalency
for delivery
effectiveness
comparable to
underground coated
spiral ductwork
wrapped in R10.
 
The compressed HDPE foam is
engineered to create a strong duct with thermal characteristics.
MORE ON MANUFACTURING
SEALANT PRODUCTS
Our sealing products really are the
backbone of our overall Air Quality benefits. With an air and water tight seal
our system is above the rest for consistency in installation tightness. Once
sealed you can pressure test the system.
MAXSEAL is a
butyl rubber sealant
thick tape with a
Tedlar® facing to
give it excellent
weather ability in
exterior and
interior sealing and
patching
applications. It seals
ducting
tight to 2" of w.g. pressure and has zero Volatile Organic Compounds VOC.
 OEM
Product: AK-AIRTITE - Due
to the unique
rubber/resin matrix
formed when cured,
AIRTITE has
superior adhesion
characteristics. Our
caulk seals & bonds
(for TheBlueDuct™ only)
ductwork above 10" of w.g. pressure
and has a low VOC compound, i.e.,
below 188 g/L. LEED APPROVED
WHY TheBlueDuct™?
The analysis estimates that 40% of the power consumed on hot days is wasted by
inefficient duct systems. About one half could be saved by sealing air ducts and
the other half could be saved by insulating ducts, tuning up the home cooling
systems and using smaller capacity high efficiency equipment.
EPA and DOA research reports that if 30% of duct systems were insulated and sealed
to improve the efficiency of all residential central air conditioning systems
they would:
(reference)
• Save between one and two GW (Billion Kwh) of peak power on the summer peak
• Save about 1 GW plus 60 Billion Btu/h of gas consumption during peak winter
heating.
• Save about $400 Million per year, every year (DOE Research 2007)
Until TheBlueDuct™, the materials installed in underground air systems have been
ducting with layers of toxic epoxy materials or has PVC coating. For builders
and contractors, these types of ductwork materials have been a problem due to
their thin, rigid structure. They are often susceptible to damage during
construction and are prone to deterioration and corrosion in the ground if
exposed or cracked. Additional health concerns have been raised because these
types of ductwork materials act as a food source to support fungi and mold
spores, resulting in poor Indoor Air Quality which can aggravate allergies,
asthma, and illness. Health experts have declared mold, mildew and off-gas
releases of toxic materials in air distribution systems to be serious problems
for chronic illnesses.
In contrast, without adding toxic chemicals our products resist mold growth and
radon. Furthermore, our advanced form of HDPE material is engineered into a
patented closure and connecting system (with zero VOC gasketing) to allow
installation in any underground environment, even in areas that are prone to
have a high water table. Properly installed TheBlueDuct™ provides an excellent sealed
air system needed in Green Building Design.
Other benefits: a smooth surface that creates less friction i.e., 7% CFM
increase, next is heat dissipation characteristics or heat capacity will
reduce the number of over-sized ducts in the air system, and then the ease of the
installation. These benefits taken together reduce initial cost themselves.
Another economic saving worth noting is one closely reviewed by Green Builders
(LEED) is Embodied Energy. TheBlueDuct™'s embodied energy methodology is to reduce the
number of components (R-10 wrapping, thermal composites and trench structures)
for underground air distribution, that is, TheBlueDuct™ with its least amount of
interrelated economic activities reaches a greater result than what could be
achieved by any other type material like PVC or FRP (plus R-10 wrapping, thermal
composites and trench structures).
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