One component instead of two. How a pre-insulated glass-wool duct compares with galvanised duct and lagging on weight, installation, airtightness and thermal performance.
A conventional duct run is built twice. The sheet-metal installer hangs the galvanised duct, and a second trade returns to wrap it in insulation. A pre-insulated glass-wool duct is formed from the insulation board itself, with the facings already applied, so the duct and its insulation arrive as one component and go up in one visit.
Weight
Board sections weigh a fraction of galvanised duct plus lagging: more than half less. That carries through the whole installation, reducing the hangers needed, the lifting on site and the load on the ceiling structure.
Airtightness
The aluminium foil outer face and taped joints achieve airtightness class D to EN 13403, the highest class. Air that would otherwise leak out of the run reaches the room, so less fan energy is spent making up for losses.
Thermal Performance
The 25 mm glass-wool core has a thermal conductivity of 0.033 W/m·K at 20 °C. It holds the supply-air temperature along the run and limits the risk of condensation on the duct in Gulf humidity.
Acoustics and Hygiene
The absorptive core damps fan and airflow noise. Where rooms are noise-sensitive, a black glass-fabric inner face, as on CLIMAVER neto, gives the highest absorption. The inner facings are smooth enough to withstand mechanical cleaning methods and do not support mould or bacterial growth.
Fire Performance and Listings
Glass mineral wool does not burn. The board systems carry Euroclass B-s1,d0 reaction-to-fire ratings, with A2-s1,d0 variants, and CLIMAVER Plus R UL is listed to UL 181 Class 1.
Where It Is Used, and Where It Is Not
Pre-insulated ducting is used for low- and medium-pressure air distribution: supply, return and fresh air.
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Pressure | Up to 800 Pa, with a safety factor of 2.5 |
| Air velocity | Up to 18 m/s |
| Air temperature | Up to 90 °C |
It is not used for kitchen extract, smoke extract or high-pressure systems. Those stay with a different duct system.
Fittings Come From the Same Board
Elbows, reducers and branches are cut from the same board as the straights, so everything on the duct schedule arrives together instead of waiting on specialised metal fittings.
How Technics Supplies It
Technics supplies CLIMAVER, made by KIMMCO-ISOVER, the Saint-Gobain ISOVER licensee for the GCC. Sections and fittings are prepared to the duct schedule, labelled with the drawing reference and delivered palletised to site. A duct schedule is enough to prepare a cutting list and a quotation. Installation is by the MEP contractor, with installer briefings and site support from Technics.
