Most commercial air duct systems are internally lined with fiberglass duct liners. Deteriorating fiberglass duct liner is a very common cause for indoor air quality complaints and adverse health effects.
Fiberglass Duct Liner
Fiberglass internal duct liner is commonly used in many commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Fiberglass duct liner provides sound attenuation by dampening noise from HVAC equipment, and sound from adjacent office spaces. Fiberglass duct liner provides thermal insulation for air ducts, preventing the air ducts from losing expensive conditioned air.
Fiberglass Duct Liner Deterioration
Over time internal fiberglass duct liner is exposed to varying degrees of air turbulence, temperature and humidity. These environmental changes take its toll on the duct liner, breaking down its primary seal.
The primary seal is a black gritty coating on the surface of the duct liner which locks down the fiberglass fibers. Deteriorated primary coating migrates through the ventilation system depositing within HVAC components and eventually entering the indoor air.
After the primary seal has fully deteriorated, it allows raw fiberglass fibers to be exposed to the airstream. Turbulent airstreams wick the raw fiberglass fibers through the ventilation system, creating additional deposits within HVAC components and exposing building occupants to raw fiberglass fibers.
Health Effects of Fiber Glass Fibers
Health effects from exposure to fiberglass can be different depending on the fiber size and type of exposure. Fiberglass, at a minimum, is an acute physical irritant to the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract.
- While no long-term health effects should occur from touching fiberglass. Rashes can appear when the fibers become embedded in the outer layer of the skin.
- Eyes may become red and irritated after exposure to fiberglass as occupants touch horizontal surfaces with deposits of fiberglass fibers, and rub their eyes.
- Soreness in the nose and throat can result when fibers are inhaled. Asthma and bronchitis can be aggravated by exposure to fiberglass.
- Temporary stomach irritation may occur if fibers are swallowed.
How Can Fiberglass Air Ducts Be Repaired?
If caught in the early stages of deterioration the internal fiberglass duct liner can be repaired. Fiberglass duct liner can be resurfaced with an encapsulate specifically designed for HVAC systems. Initially a commercial air duct cleaning needs to be performed to remove the foreign debris from the air duct surface to ensure for a proper bond. After the air duct system is cleaned, the encapsulate is applied to the air duct surface locking down the fiberglass fibers.
If the internal fiberglass lining to too deteriorated, the lining must be removed and replaced. If the damage is localized, new internal internal insulation can be installed within the ducting. If the damage is extensive, consider removing the damaged insulation and wrapping the air ducts with an external fiberglass insulation.
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