HVAC Duct Insulation
HVAC units are responsible keeping workers, families, individuals, children at school, and many others comfortable. They are built into just about every large or institutional building in the country. HVAC units are heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units. They are made up of coolers, heaters, and ventilators combined into one large, efficient system. The units provide the climate control and ventilation for a central air-handling unit along with two duct systems. One duct system draws the air out and another provides a new flow of air into the building.
These types of systems are considered to be not just the most cost effective, but the most efficient systems there are and they are used almost everywhere. A key to HVAC systems efficiency is the quality of the insulation. When HVAC technology first came on the scene, asbestos was a popular choice for the duct insulation in these systems. The mineral was certainly affordable and it is remarkably heat and fire resistant.
But studies going back decades have shown that there have been reported deaths resulting from the exposure to the asbestos in the HVAC systems. In fact about 10,000 people die every year in our country due to asbestos exposure and these numbers are growing. Even though the asbestos in HVAC ducts breaks down over time and with use, making it easy for people to inhale or ingest the fibers, property owners are often slow to replace the material because of the expense.
Reference: