Specifying Armacell systems for education building’s mechanical systems is fundamentally smart. Either in construction or renovation, our insulation products and accessories are trusted by schools around the world. The fiber-free, formaldehyde-free, and low volatile organic compounds (VOC) formulation in our foam insulation provides energy efficiency, protects against condensation, and preserves indoor air quality making it the right choice for any learning environment.

Energy efficiency is an area where administration can easily make improvements by insulating or upgrading mechanical systems. Avoiding HVAC inefficiencies and unnecessary plumbing maintenance can be achieved by properly insulating ducts, vessels, boilers, and  pipes. 

Preserving indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools requires a contaminant and fiber-free environment. IAQ is especially important in ductwork, where fibrous material can get caught up in the air stream exposing school occupants to airborne particulates. This is also true of systems in which the insulation needs to ensure that the air passing over it remains mold-, dust- and fiber-free. Using the wrong insulation product could particulate fibers or off-gas VOCs into the indoor air, creating poor breathing conditions for students, teachers and other occupants. 

Cold-systems and air-handling systems are prone to moisture issues and condensation problems if not properly insulated. Controlling condensation is critical because moisture can compromise a mechanical system and its insulation, leading to mold and mildew growth, thermal loss, and costly repairs. Even worse if this moisture goes unnoticed, corrosion under insulation (CUI) can occur causing concern for education facilities’ budgets and tight resources. Most closed-cell elastomeric foam insulation products have the structure to prevent moisture from wicking and does not require a separate moisture-vapor retarder. 

Many acoustical problems can arise in classrooms such as background noise, loud voices, reverberation, and mechanical disturbances. In the U.S. alone, classrooms can typically have speech intelligibility ratings up to 75%, which means every fourth word is not heard or understood. This is a communication concern that must diligently be addressed through soundproofing advances and acoustical solutions like elastomeric foam insulation and mechanical thermal decoupling acoustical tape, to ensure learning transfer is occurring in quieter classrooms. 

Armacell continuously works to improve testing standards and our products to meet strict building codes, and state codes and regulations, as well as the requirements from organizations like the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE, which develop model building codes and performance standards. For school applications requiring flame and smoke ratings, many of our solutions are plenum-rated and meet ASTM E 84 at 25/50 for 1-1/2” and 2” thicknesses. ArmaFlex® Ultra is the first elastomeric insulation Classified by UL to UL 723 at flame/smoke rating of less than 25/50. While our products meet many compliance standards it is important to note that building codes can vary from state to state and municipality, so specifiers and installers should be sure to select products that are compliant in their region.

Facility: Apex Friendship Elementary School
Location: Apex, NC
Products: AP/ArmaFlex® 

Facility: Kulanihakoi High School
Location: Kihei, HI
Products: AP/ArmaFlex

Facility: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Location: Cambridge, MA
Products: AP/ArmaFlex Black Lap Seal®

Facility: Princeton University
Location: Princeton, NJ
Products: AP/ArmaFlex Black Lap Seal

Facility: Southern Connecticut State University
Location: New Haven, CT
Products: AP/ArmaFlex and ArmaFlex Ultra

Bringing more than half a century of science, expertise, and innovation to foam technology, Armacell has the expertise to create specialized solutions to meet the strict requirements of the education industry. Our advanced insulation product portfolio includes a variety of school building solutions to support HVAC applications, cold lines and chilled water lines, mechanical systems, chillers, boilers, UV, and high temperature areas, and also includes accessories like pipe hangers, adhesives, and tape. Armacell’s Solutions Packages offer a wide range of products tailored to code-compliance, performance, and budget.