Why Fiberglass is the Ideal Insulation for Ductwork [Video]

Duct insulation codes are primarily focused on energy efficiency, but the thermal, acoustic and weight properties of insulation can also influence insulation selection.

David Burd, air distribution products technical manager for North America at Owens Corning, said there’s a whole host of options to consider when determining what insulation to use in a project. However, the most available and common insulation products for HVAC duct insulation are elastomeric foam and fiberglass-based.

Both products are instrumental for improving energy efficiency across the world, but they differ from each other in cost, weight, acoustic and thermal properties, which building codes generally leave to manufacturers and industry associations to delineate for the market.

“Codes don’t take into account what is needed in a specific region for condensation control, noise control, and those types of things. Now, don’t get me wrong, it is written in code language for certain building types, where they need to meet …