Research – Whole life costs
Rider Levett Bucknall then carried out a whole life cost analysis, considering the cost of maintaining and repairing the different ductwork specifications over time. The research suggested that the cost of maintaining The
Kingspan KoolDuct System manufactured from 22 mm thick panels, would be just over half that of the galvanised steel ductwork (£3,230 vs £6,190) whilst savings of
48% could be achieved on The Kingspan KoolDuct System manufactured from 30 mm thick panels, over the alternative galvanised steel system; the research assumed that changes and adaptations over time are less costly and ductwork fabricated from The Kingspan KoolDuct System is less likely to be damaged during routine maintenance.
The report also noted that expected energy demand for the different systems was not considered as part of this analysis. Depending on the operational parameters for the ventilation system, the enhanced airtightness of The Kingspan KoolDuct System could allow considerable energy savings to be achieved over time – further reducing operational costs.
Quality and value
It is often assumed that, in order to reduce project costs, compromises must be made in the quality of the final building. Rider Levett Bucknall’s research shows that this is not the case for ductwork specifications. By selecting pre-insulated ductwork, it is possible to reduce both initial and whole life costs and to improve the energy performance of the ventilation system over the long-term.