Even though the concept of ‘Sick Building Syndrome’ is well-established, the means and methods to combat it are constantly evolving. Dirt and dust in a mechanical system can result in dangerous mold growth problems. The best way to keep ductwork clean during construction is to seal it and prevent the permanent building HVAC system from being used during construction. When this method is impractical, temporary filtration can be used to protect the system or it can be cleaned, or even sterilized when construction is complete, depending on its eventual usage.
The task of keeping the ductwork in a building safe from mold after installation is made easier when the duct is pre-coated with a fungicidal protective coating, or biocide. We can order bulk metal or fiberglass insulating liner with this coating already applied, or it can be applied in our shop. The choice between the two methods is made by the size of the job, as our duct fabricating system handles multi-thousand pound coils of metal.
The coating we use is a low odor, quick setting water-based surfacing material designed for galvanized surfaces or even fiberglass duct liner. It effectively prevents the spread of molds and odor causing bacteria, and guards against re-growth on the surface of the coated HVAC system or other treated components. As a result, the building owner can provide its end-users with a work area that is free of the odors and hazards associated with a contaminated ductwork system. It is non-flammable when wet and extremely fire resistive when dry, producing flame and smoke ratings below the 25/50 NFPA 90A and 90B requirements. When dry, the film stays flexible and is moisture resistant, and will not cause metal surfaces to rust.
Coated ductwork provides us with one more weapon to keep our ductwork systems safe for occupants in critical environments.
ConServ Building Services, LLC provides excellent commercial HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, and general construction services to businesses across the Southeastern United States. To learn more about ConServ, visit www.conservonline.com.