EcoDuct Market Update 14 July 2025
EcoDuct – the essential component for sustainable, compliant and high-performance residential ventilation systems.
There are at least four very good reasons for this:
1. Tightening of insulation standards and new requirement for Class B or C fire performance (most residential ductwork insulation is currently Class E).
2. Increased use of MVHR units and heat pumps, both of which require insulated ductwork.
3. Increase requirement for Passivhaus compliance or alignment, which EcoDuct achieves – air tightness, VOCs, etc.
4. EcoDuct offers unrivalled sustainability, including a reduction in CO2 of up to 75%, a reduction in energy usage of up to 45% and optimal circularity.
More about this below, but to underline EcoDuct’s credentials, the products have been selected in two prestigious initiatives as the only HVAC ductwork:
1. The Greenest House with Office Ten Architecture – see https://greenest.house/
2. The HAUS at the Installer Show 2025 with Natural Building Systems – see https://www.installershow.com/the-haus/
Furthermore, EcoDuct is the only HVAC ductwork to be included in the UKGBC Trends in Sustainable Solutions in the Built Environment Report which is now live on the UKGBC website, and can be found at this link: https://ukgbc.org/trends-in-solutions-2024/
Ductwork insulation in domestic (residential) dwellings
We’ve never understood how it was acceptable for insulation on residential ductwork to be EuroClass E, while EuroClass C is the minimum requirement for non-domestic buildings?
This seems to imply that it was okay for people at home to be less protected from the dangers of fire and smoke than those at work, which is clearly unacceptable.
We are therefore relieved that the regulations have recently changed, and EcoDuct is leading the way in offering high quality compliant pre-insulated HVAC ductwork fabricated from the KoolDuct phenolic insulation panels, that have a EuroClass B rating.
Furthermore, the increased use of MHRV systems and heat pumps in residential dwellings all require insulated ductwork, with EcoDuct again leading the way.
Is EuroClass E insulation no longer allowed on residential ductwork?
Yes, the use of Class E insulation (a term referring to the integrity of the ductwork in a fire scenario) is no longer generally allowed on UK residential ductwork, particularly when it's not part of a fire-rated system. This is because Class E insulation is dependent on the ductwork maintaining its integrity, and if the ductwork fails, the insulation will also fail.
What are the new regulations for residential ductwork insulation?
The new regulations for residential ductwork insulation, particularly for mechanical ventilation with heat recovery systems, are mainly outlined in the Building Regulations Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) and Part F (Ventilation). These regulations aim to improve energy efficiency and reduce heat loss through ductwork systems.