Clean-Air are certified Aeroseal Duct Sealing providers, having used this advanced method of sealing ductwork in HVAC systems for over 10 years.
Early Australian adopters, including Design Consultants, EEC and Commissioning Consultants, advocate for this test and seal service because it works, but we’ve still yet to see its full potential capitalised on in the Australian market. So far awareness and the demand for the technology still seems low on Facility Managers’ priority lists, however with carbon and climate initiatives in more sharper focus than ever Aeroseal can serve as an important factor for gaining higher performance efficiencies in commercial buildings, and demands more spotlight.
“We’re early adopters at Clean-Air, whether it be our induction of Aeroseal in 2012, Germicidal UVC, Corrosion Protection, or the utilisation of Multibot in 2022, we endeavour to lead our industry, testing and employing the latest innovations.”
Geoff Kelly, DIRECTOR AT CLEAN-AIR
With Australia’s environmental conditions being so extreme, installing Aeroseal is a highly cost effective solution for optimising a building’s HVAC efficiency and comfort. Measurements taken in pre-sealing tests in Australian (new and old) buildings shows that duct leakage averages from 15% to 40%. AS4254.2 states that rigid ductwork should not leak more than 5% at an airflow of 3000l/s and above, and this is the standard we work to at Clean-Air. Aeroseal is now our tried and tested solution, durable and proven to last for decades and we supply formal certification detailing the exact reduction in leakage when sealing is complete.
The Formula.
Energy costs are reduced by increasing the efficiency of the HVAC fans and by eliminating excess ventilation loads.
15% Less Leakage + 40% Less Fan Requirement
= $1000s energy savings each month
60% of a building’s HVAC energy goes to its fans. Studies show reducing leaks 15% drops fan requirements by 40% or more – saving thousands of dollars every month.
Aeroseal ROI dramatically improves BMS performance. We see more and more case studies out of the U.S with compelling results for efficiency and cost saving metrics.
“New Jersey Building Owners Achieve $34,000 (USD) Annual Energy Savings Using Aeroseal®”
Owners of Northgate II, a Section 8 community in Camden, New Jersey, were looking to reduce energy costs associated with its 308-unit apartment high-rise. To receive upgrade funding through the State’s Multifamily Weatherization Assistance Program, they had to prove that upgrades would result in substantial energy savings and a payback period of ten years or less. Energy auditors were hired to evaluate and recommend an effective course of action. They specified multiple changes to be made to the building’s electrical and mechanical systems. They also insisted that Aeroseal duct sealing be used to seal leaks throughout the high-rise’s entire air duct system. See case file
“Sealing Air Ducts in Miami Valley Hospital South Helped Facility Administrators to Reduce HVAC Fan Speed, Increasing Energy Efficiency, Lowering Utility Costs $5,278 (USD) annually”
Located in Dayton, Ohio, Miami Valley Hospital South includes a 60,000 sqft medical office building (MOB), a state-of-the-art cancer centre, and a main hospital unit. During routine commercial HVAC maintenance, the facility’s test and balancing (TAB) experts found that duct leakage was leading to significant HVAC performance issues. With an ongoing mandate to reduce energy use, hospital administrators knew that by fixing the leaks, they could potentially save a substantial amount of energy. See case file
Energy Rating Standards
In Australia, we’ve seen demand for the technology to help raise building scores; energy ratings and 'green' building credentials are issued by accreditors for built environments, the GBCA (Green Building Council of Australia) and NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System). This Darling Harbour building in Sydney is an example of that, where our team at Clean-Air used Aeroseal to help them achieve a 5.5 stars NABERS Energy rating. See case file
Clean-Air commissioned testing for an approved, Australian-recognised fire rating for the use of Aeroseal sealant in accordance with AS1530.3 and it passed, giving another green light for project commissioners. See details here: "Aeroseal passes certification for smoke generation in accordance with AS1530.3, gaining approval for Hospital Duct Sealing and avoiding major disruptions for the healthcare provider"
Efficiency and Costs
“Sustainability makes good business sense – Energy efficiency in property not only saves money on power costs, it also can boost the value of office buildings by improving their NABERS rating, which is short for the National Australian Built Environment Rating Scheme.” [2]
Aeroseal, as seen by the case studies above, is proven to save energy costs by lowering HVAC energy requirements.
Carbon Emissions
Higher energy efficiency means lower carbon emissions. In the U.S Aeroseal is also commonly used for sealing whole domestic houses, using the Aerobarrier methods, something we don't see being used here in Australia. The U.S CEO of Aeroseal says, “We are doubling our focus on innovation to make our technologies even easier and more cost-effective to deploy throughout the world. Whether we are enabling net-zero home construction or improving energy efficiency on existing buildings, Aeroseal can help any building reduce its carbon footprint.”
“Our team can reach its goal of shrinking carbon emissions by 1 gigaton [annually],”
Amit Gupta, CEO of Aeroseal
The technology has been recognised by energy investors and received a $22m boost to “Shrink Carbon Emissions by 1 Gigaton Annually” [1]
“More often we are seeing Aeroseal commissioned for its non-invasive process, fast delivery and minimal disruption to commerce. it includes other benefits, solving humidity issues and controlling mould growth.”
MUNI KUMAR, Indoor Air Quality Expert at Clean-Air
Improving IAQ
Sealing leaks means air is not being drawn from undesirable sources, like toilets exhausts, factory production and waste management areas. Aeroseal stops contamination (VOCs, odours) being introduced into the HVAC system and being distributed within the building.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology estimates that – 50% of all illnesses are caused by poor indoor air quality [3]
This also helps with humidity issues. Sealing air returns blocks humid and unconditioned air from entering the systems and eliminates mould growth inside ducting. This also provides financial savings by cutting remediation costs and hygiene maintenance requirements, keeping ductwork cleaner for longer.
With more than 150,000 buildings sealed across the globe, including everything from hospitals and military facilities to schools and hotels, Aeroseal is proven safe and effective. [4]
When it comes to indoor air quality, climate and health priorities are absolutely compatible, but attention needs to be paid to both in order to accomplish that
Brett Singer, Environmental Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory [5]
Summary
Overall, we believe that Aersoeal has a greater potential in our market, we should reconsider this technology as a tool to help with achieving energy targets, while an equally important application for improving IAQ standards and we will continue to lead this “tight building” speciality practice, raising Aeroseal’s profile here in Australia.
[1] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210622005371/en/Aeroseal-Raises-22-Million-to-Shrink-Carbon-Emissions-by-1-Gigaton-Annually [2] https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/making-buildings-more-energy-efficient-on-top-of-list-20180930-h1624o [3], [4] https://aeroseal.com/ [5] https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/23377638/buildings-indoor-air-quality-pollution-toxic-sick