A Discovery During RenovationsBig

Air duct sealing saved the day at a Big Ten university athletic facility when two deteriorating air ducts were discovered during renovations. Commercial air ducts are commonly wrapped in sheets of fiberglass insulation to prevent air loss and ensure proper air flow through the system. Although usually wrapped around the outside of the ducts, it is sometimes wrapped around the inside of the ducts instead. The problem with this approach is two-fold. First, it makes cleaning the inside of the ducts nearly impossible. Second, the insulation breaks down over time, allowing loose fiberglass fibers to enter the air when the system is turned on. When workers discovered that exact situation, and knowing that the fibers pose health risks to occupants, they called Trenchless Innovations for help.

Digging or Duct Sealing?

It was important that university officials understood the severity of the problem and the consequences of what would happen if the ducts were not repaired. A video inspection of the ducts, performed by Trenchless Innovations, revealed that although the ducts were structurally sound, their location made it difficult for a traditional excavation to occur. The ducts ran under several floors and through multiple rooms. Replacing the pipe by digging meant breaking up the floors, removing the pipe in question and replacing the old pipes with new ones. Not only a messy option, but a costly one too as this job could have run into hundreds of thousand of dollars. 

Innovative Duct Sealing to the Rescue!

Instead, Trenchless Innovations proposed an innovative alternative to the problem. By spray sealing the inside of the air ducts with a non-toxic epoxy coating, the loose fibers would be locked down for good. The only question that remained was how to apply the sealant to the ducts. The ducts were 36” and therefore, too large for traditional application methods such as using a robotic arm inside the pipe to spray or by pushing a hose into the pipe. Thinking outside of the box, and since the ducts were accessible at both ends, Trenchless realized that a technician could enter the ducts to spray them.

Once inside the ducts, our technician spray sealed the fiberglass insulation with our material, locking down the loose fibers for good and preventing any new fibers from coming off. Application of the coating was done over a two-day period while other renovations were also being completed throughout the facility – a feat that would not have been possible if a traditional dig was needed to replace the old ducts. 

A Problem Solved. Clean Air and Happy Guests.

Application of our product provides a clean and healthy breathing environment by eliminating loose fiberglass fibers that can find their way into indoor air.  Because of the innovative products and processes offered by Trenchless Innovations, the athletic facility now enjoys clean and healthy air for their students and visitors, with no worries whatsoever.