Ductwork
Insulate to accumulate
Whilst it might seem far removed, can a poorly insulated HVAC system actually affect employee productivity? James Hulbert at Knauf Insulation, explores the subject
Knauf’s James Hulbert R
ecently, online data analytics company Demand Logic announced it has come up with a way of
measuring loss of productivity. The firm’s web-based platform has now added a function called ‘comfort tracker’ that records space temperature – identifying areas that are too hot or cold, before calculating productivity loss. According to its studies, there is a 2% decrease in productivity when temperatures exceed 25°C, and a 4.7% decrease when temperatures fall below 21°C. Add to this statistics relating to workplace noise pollution. American studies have found that 16% of employees are affected by noisy HVAC systems; and research shows that exposure to noise such as this reduces accuracy of work by 67%. Can a well insulated HVAC system help?
There are, of course, many elements of a building’s operations that contribute to occupancy comfort and acoustic performance. However, statistics such as those above do prove that anything that
February 2017
There is a 2% decrease in productivity when temperatures exceed 25˚C and a 4.7% decrease when temperatures fall below 21˚C
achieves an incremental improvement will make a difference.
With almost 70% of office accommoda- tion using air-conditioning (or comfort cooling), choosing the right insulation solution for HVAC systems is more critical than ever. It can improve not just the comfort of occupants by helping to deliver the correct air temperature room-to-room, but properly installed it will attenuate noise transfer, reduce fire risk and offer
WOOL WORKS WONDERS
From a sustainability perspective, Knauf Insulation’s Klima range of glass and rock mineral wool insulation encompasses both KDR 033 Duct Roll and KDB 033 Duct Board that have been assessed as part of the BRE’s Green Guide to Specification, both delivering a ‘top of the class’ generic rating of A+. Its range of glass and rock mineral wool insulation differentiates itself from other mineral wool manufacturers as it features a no-added formaldehyde ECOSE Technology binder (the ‘glue’ that binds the fibres together) throughout.
Knauf Insulation produces Environmental Performance
Declarations under EN 15804 for its mineral wool products, including all HVAC products, which comply with BS ISO 14025 using life cycle analysis (LCA) according to the BS ISO 14040 series. These declarations can enhance a product’s ‘Embodied Impact’ rating under ‘Mat.04 Insulation’ within BREEAM, boosting a product’s Points/Element. It has also earned Eurofins Scientific’s Indoor Air Comfort Gold Standard certificate. The products were described as being of an “outstanding material” in respect of VOC Indoor Air Quality emissions regulations.
www.heatingandventilating.net
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