N.Y.C. Admin. Code § MC 604: Section MC 604: Insulation

604.1 General.

Duct insulation shall conform to the requirements of Sections 604.2 through 604.13 and the New York City Energy Conservation Code.

604.2 Surface temperature.

Ducts that operate at temperatures exceeding 120°F (48.9°C) shall have sufficient thermal insulation to limit the exposed surface temperature to 120°F (48.9°C).

604.3 Coverings and linings.

Coverings and linings, including adhesives where used, shall have a flame spread index not more than 25 and a smoke-developed index not more than 50, when tested in accordance with ASTM E 84 or UL 723, using the specimen preparation and mounting procedures of ASTM E 2231. Duct coverings and linings shall not flame, glow, smolder or smoke when tested in accordance with ASTM C 411 at the temperature to which they are exposed in service. The test temperature shall not fall below 250°F (121.1°C). Coverings and linings shall be listed and labeled.

604.4 Foam plastic insulation.

Foam plastic used as duct coverings and linings shall conform to the requirements of Section 604.

604.5 Appliance insulation.

Listed and labeled appliances that are internally insulated shall be considered as conforming to the requirements of Section 604.

604.6 Penetration of assemblies.

Duct coverings shall not penetrate a wall or floor required to have a fire-resistance rating or required to be fireblocked.

604.7 Identification.

External duct insulation, except spray polyurethane foam, and factory-insulated flexible duct shall be legibly printed or identified at intervals not greater than 36 inches (914.4 mm) with the name of the manufacturer, the thermal resistance R-value at the specified installed thickness and the flame spread and smoke-developed indexes of the composite materials. Duct insulation R-values shall be based on insulation only, excluding air films, vapor retarders or other duct components, and shall be based on tested C-values at 75°F (23.9°C) mean temperature at the installed thickness, in accordance with recognized industry procedures. The installed thickness of duct insulation used to determine its R-value shall be determined as follows:

1. For duct board, duct liner and factory-made rigid ducts not normally subjected to compression, the nominal insulation thickness shall be used.

2. For duct wrap, the installed thickness shall be 75 percent (25 percent compression) of nominal thickness.

3. For factory-made flexible air ducts, the installed thickness shall be determined by dividing the difference between the actual outside diameter and nominal inside diameter by two.

4. For spray polyurethane foam, the aged R-value per inch, measured in accordance with recognized industry standards, shall be provided to the customer in writing at the time of foam application.

604.8 Lining installation.

Linings shall be interrupted at the area of operation of a fire damper and at not less than 6 inches (152.4 mm) upstream of and 6 inches (152.4 mm) downstream of electric-resistance and fuel-burning heaters in a duct system. Metal nosings or sleeves shall be installed over exposed duct liner edges that face opposite the direction of airflow, and all exposed edges, joints and seams shall be sealed.

604.9 Thermal continuity.

Where a duct liner required for thermal insulation or condensation control has been interrupted, a duct covering of equal thermal performance shall be installed.

604.10 Service openings.

Service openings shall not be concealed by duct coverings unless the exact location of the opening is properly identified.

604.11 Vapor retarders.

Where ducts used for cooling are externally insulated, the insulation shall be covered with a vapor retarder having a maximum permeance of 0.05 perm (2.87 ng/(Pa • s • m

2

)) or aluminum foil having a minimum thickness of 2 mils (0.051 mm). Insulations having a permeance of 0.05 perm (2.87 ng/(Pa • s • m

2

)) or less shall not be required to be covered. All joints and seams shall be sealed to maintain the continuity of the vapor retarder.

604.12 Weatherproof barriers.

Insulated exterior ducts shall be protected with an adequate weatherproof barrier.

604.13 Internal insulation.

Materials used as internal insulation and exposed to the airstream in ducts shall be shown to be durable when tested in accordance with UL 181. Exposed internal insulation that is not impermeable to water shall not be used to line ducts or plenums from the exit of a cooling coil to the downstream end of the drain pan.