Local Business uses Breakthrough Duct Sealing Technology to Reduce Ventilation Leakage from 800 CFM to under 10 CFM
The goal was 10 CFM (cubic feet per minute) or less. When designing and building a new dorm building for graduate law students at Syracuse University, the contractor, Hayner-Hoyt Corporation was looking to meet high standards for energy efficiency. To qualify for the NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development) program put on by the government of New York State for new construction projects they would need to exceed SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors of North America) standards, do better than LEED for homes certification criteria and meet a 10 CFM per floor requirement. In comes Aeroseal.
In Brief
Building: Syracuse University Campus West
Engineer: Hayner Hoyt Corp.
Duct Specialists: Century Heating and AC
Goal: Win $170,000 rebate under NYSERDA
Before Aeroseal: Average of 120 CFM
(cubic feet per minute) of leakage
After Aeroseal: 10 CFM of leakage or less
The new building, 4 stories and 200 rooms for graduate students has massive duct work consisting of seven individual rooftop energy recovery ventilation systems. Both the outside air supply and bathroom exhaust ductwork extended both horizontally and vertically to each water-source heat pump HVAC unit and bathroom. Each shaft if completely sealed by drywall and protected with fire smoke dampeners.
Knowing it was going to be difficult to meet the tough requirements for air duct leakage for the bursary, Century Heating and Air Conditioning carefully constructed the new duct system. Regardless, post-construction tests showed levels of leakage that weren’t up to par with what they needed for the bursary. After exhausting all other options, Century decided the only viable solution was to use Aeroseal to seal the buildings ductwork form the inside. The company invested in training and did the Aeroseal job themselves. Once started the work on the entire building’s duct system was completed within a few days.
Quotes:
“Aeroseal provided the lowest leakage rates we’ve seen for any duct system anytime, anywhere. Energy conservation guidelines are only getting tougher and the most stringent requirements today will soon become standards for all future buildings. We’ve found Aeroseal duct sealing to be an absolute necessity to meet today’s toughest energy conservation programs and I believe the technology will soon become standard practice used in all new constructions.”
-David Wildrick, engineer, Century Heating and Air Conditioning. Syracuse New, York
“As energy efficiency standards become increasingly stringent we will need to turn to new technologies like Aeroseal. It was a game-changer for this project and a key to our ability to meet NYSERDA requirements.”
-Sam Doss, project manager, Hayner Hoyt Corporation
“Century heating and Air Conditioning realized that Aeroseal is quickly becoming a mainstream solution for energy efficient construction and will play a vital role in helping contractors to meet the ever-increasingly stringent standards for compliance. The company first used Aeroseal to qualify for a substantial rebate program and is now considering it in every job that they do.”
-Robert Seals, Aeroseal LLC