An overview of the duct sealing process and operation
Preparation:
We inspect the system, looking for larger leaks and any other factors that need to be addressed before we start our operation. We isolate the run/section of ductwork to be sealed. We block off all sensing equipment, isolate AHUs/VAVs and block grilles etc with closed cell foam plugs, and cap ductwork ends/branches/VAV boxes. Fire dampers must be open. Ducts to be sealed must not be very dirty (3-4mm of debris is fine) and must also be dry and free of grease. As a general rule, vertical kitchen exhausts are fine (if grease-free), but horizontal branches to kitchen hoods are looked at on a case by case basis.
Set-up:
We need one access/injection point to the ductwork section, and usually cut an access hole (ideally 300mm), attach a collar and clamp a length (2.8m) of clear plastic tubing to connect the Aeroseal unit. This unit includes a fanbox to maintain duct pressure, manometers to measure the pressure differential across the fanbox, and thermostats and heaters to heat the sealant. Relative humidity is also monitored. An air compressor with in-line modifications connects to the Aeroseal unit, supplying additional air pressure to aerosolise the sealant. The length of clear plastic tubing between the unit and the duct injection point acts as a mixing zone for the "fog" of sealant which then enters the ductwork. We are often able to complete a sealing event using simply the Aeroseal unit connected to the duct injection point via one straight line of clear plastic tubing, but we also have a booster unit for additional pressure, added in via a "Y kit" (a "Y" formation with an extra branch of clear plastic tubing). We can also reverse the Y kit and use the two branches of the Y as two separate access points to ductwork if need be (for more complex duct constructions).
The information required for the operation of the Aeroseal duct sealing process is:
Pre-seal air leakage test:
Using our equipment at the injection point, we pressurise the duct section and run our pre-seal leakage test. This test gives the air leakage in both L/s and “centimeter squared equivalent hole size”- the total leakage area.
This airflow/leakage information is used within the software that drives the sealing process. So, while we are not independent air leakage testers, our data is very accurate. We need it to be.
If we are unable to maintain the necessary duct pressure to achieve a pre-seal leakage result, this indicates that the leakage is too high to be effectively sealed, so we discuss with our client and identify any missed grilles or larger leak sites that require manual sealing or reduce the size of the duct section and continue.
The test takes a few minutes and we then start the sealing process.
How the sealing process works:
Via our injection point, the Aeroseal equipment maintains duct pressure (up to 570Pa) and sprays in aerosolised sealant to create a “fog” which fills the duct. This fog of sealant keeps moving within the duct until it accelerates, bottle-necks and deposits at leak sites. The sealant bonds to the edges of the leak, then to itself until each leak is completely sealed. Duct pressure and remaining leakage are continually monitored by two or three onsite technicians to avoid over-saturating the duct, and where leak sites are in sensitive areas (like computer rooms), we cover any equipment and use HEPA scrubber fans to pick up any escaping sealant (overspray). It often takes less than an hour to seal a section of ducting. As long as we can pressurise the duct to a minimum of 15Pa, we can generally seal it. The fixed leaks are plugged with a sealant that looks a little like silicone and stays strong and flexible, which means duct movement doesn’t reopen the leak sites. Ducts are usually sealed in runs of about 50 metres, depending on the duct construction, configuration, diameters and leakages involved. The booster unit is used on larger/leakier sections, and while sealing 80% + of the leakage is usually considered a success, results of around 90% leakage sealed are most common, and we can also manipulate the process to achieve very high sealing rates (95% + leakage sealed).
Post-seal results:
Once ducts are airtight, we halt the sealing process and run a post- seal leakage test. We then pack down our prep work and return the ducts to service. We supply both the pre and post seal leakage test results to our clients. We guarantee the durability of the Aeroseal sealant for 10 years, and testing in the US (where Aeroseal sealant and equipment is manufactured) has shown no detectable deterioration on sealed leaks after 40 years worth of accelerated conditions.
Aeroseal:
Aeroseal technology has been used in the US for over 20 years [read US case studies] and is successful in Europe [read European case studies] and Australia.