Insulation industry expert Cameron Chick gives an update on the latest efforts by ADMA to bring the flexible ductwork market into line with proper standards.
The effective insulation of flexible ductwork remains at the top of the ‘to-do’ list for the Australian Duct Manufacturers Alliance (ADMA).
A key participant in the HVAC industry founded on the basic mathematical fundamentals of physics, ADMA continues to pioneer initiatives to increase the visibility and resolve the issues of performance in both the domestic and commercial sectors of the industry.
While on the face of it, flexible ductwork appears to be adequately treated by the standards and regulations governing its use, implementation and verification of compliance remains a challenge that is being answered by this industry body that is coming up to its fourth anniversary.
In keeping with the initial aims of providing a platform for industry self-regulation, ADMA has already accomplished a significant amount of groundwork to achieve this goal including providing the Australian Government (Department of Water Heritage and the Arts) an accurate report of the status of the Australian flexible duct industry.
This report confirmed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) 2006 concerns of the widespread Australian Standards non-conformance throughout the industry. The report stated the general industry’s perception that “no regulators, auditors or government departments know what they are doing or talking about as far as what happens in the real world on the ground in the flexible duct industry and anybody in the industry can say or advertise in print virtually anything they like regarding the thermal and fire rating properties of their flexible duct without chance of recourse”.
After four revisions over a 12-month period, this 68-page summary of the flexible duct industry was accepted by government. The delays experienced during this process, combined with the lack of a reaction to the report, were attributed as key factors contributing to 50 per cent of members choosing to discontinue their memberships.
This reaction was unsurprising in an industry where: “unregulated, non-compliant, non-fire rated, under-insulated flexible duct and insulation is flooding into the country from Asia and India, being imported by $2.00 companies, flexible duct installation contractors and flexible duct manufacturers alike and is being installed into our commercial buildings, schools and homes.
Noting this disparity in pricing, the report said: “an Australian-made flexible duct, with independent NATA-certified test reports to substantiate it, its fire ratings and its thermal requirements in accordance with Australian Standards for R0.6 insulation in 150mm diameter by six metre lengths; was sold last year on average for $18.00+GST.
Today it is possible to buy a no-name, no guarantee, no test report under-insulated flexible duct in the same diameter and length for $4.80+GST.”
Undaunted by its reduction in membership, ADMA resolved to implement a thermal test for insulated flexible duct that allows a finished duct to be taken from a jobsite and tested, to provide the actual thermal result for the duct as purchased by the consumer. The first round of testing commenced in Melbourne by Vipac Australia in October 2010 in accordance with the Air Diffusion Council of the US FD-72 procedure.
In addition, ADMA has successfully petitioned Australian Standards to reactivate and revise AS:4254 2002 to include mandatory labelling of flexible duct to aid in regulation and ensure consumers get what they pay for.