Kingspan KoolDuct achieves lasting results at National Library

Over two decades after it was first installed, The Kingspan KoolDuct System is still delivering excellent thermal comfort, humidity control and ventilation performance at Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru (the National Library of Wales).

Situated on Penglais Hill above the town of Aberystwyth, the library is home to over four million books including a number of rare Welsh and Celtic volumes. Since it was first opened in 1911, the library has been regularly extended to provide more space for its collections. One of the most significant expansions was completed in 1996 with the opening of the Third Library Building, offering office and server space, along with storage facilities for many of the library’s most valuable materials.

The Kingspan KoolDuct System was fitted during the building’s construction in 1995. The HVAC specification took full advantage of the system’s slimline design, concealing it beneath corridor floors. In addition, The Kingspan KoolDuct System was also used within the main ground floor plant room and as part of four risers, traveling from the lower ground floor to the fourth floor. No issues and no relevant maintenance have ever been recorded with the ductwork and a recent inspection showed that the system was in good condition and performing as expected.

In addition to its proven longevity, The Kingspan KoolDuct System can also facilitate fast-track installation programmes. Its pre-insulated design eliminates the need for a separate lagging stage and allows ductwork to be fabricated in lightweight sections up to 2.95 metres in length. This ensures greater ease of handling whilst minimising the need for supports.

Ductwork fabricated from The Kingspan KoolDuct System is also well suited to projects targeting high standards in energy efficiency. The system panels have been assigned a highest possible BRE Green Guide Summary Rating of A+. In addition, their jointing system can reduce air–leakage rates to a fraction of those typical of rectangular sheet metal ductwork by achieving the best airtightness Class C and D.

Research from Sweett (UK) Limited has revealed that in combination with its low-maintenance design, this can lead to “whole life” HVAC savings of over 25% compared with traditional galvanised sheet metal ductwork which typically lose much more air than it is supposed to and may not achieve the basic airtightness Class A.

The Kingspan KoolDuct System is UL Listed as a Class 1 Air Duct, to Standard for Safety UL 181 (Underwriters Laboratories: Factory Made Air Ducts & Air Connectors), when fabricated to a specification clearly defined by UL.