ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) has partnered with the HVACR department of Fortis Institute in Palm Springs, Florida, to provide comprehensive, hands-on training in the fabrication and installation of fiberglass duct board systems. “By adding a fiberglass duct board training course to our current curriculum, Fortis will provide enhanced skills to HVAC technicians, and expanded business opportunities for HVAC contractors,” said Eric Kleinert, HVACR program director for the Fortis Institute Palm Springs Campus.

Called “Duct Instruct,” the fiberglass duct board system fabrication and installation course was developed in partnership with NAIMA to provide uniform training in the proper fabrication and installation of fiberglass duct board. Upon completing the course, students will be qualified to properly fabricate and install duct systems and have an additional skill set when looking for jobs in the HVAC market.

“Today’s rigid fiberglass ducts are an excellent alternative to traditional sheet metal ducts in residential and light commercial buildings,” said Curt Rich, president and CEO of NAIMA. “When fabricated and installed correctly, rigid duct board systems provide superior thermal performance per inch of installed thickness, and superior condensation control compared to other materials.”

The course is comprised of three modules: Basics, Fabrication, and Installation. The Basics module provides a foundation, serving as a prerequisite for further training. In the Fabrication unit, students will learn basic techniques for fabricating duct sections and fittings from duct board to get the ducts and fittings ready for professional installation. The Installation module focuses on proper installation techniques in a variety of residential and light commercial buildings.

“Our classes focus on total system performance. It is critical in this market that HVAC technicians and contractors know how to fabricate, install, and repair fiberglass ducts correctly, and understand how to integrate them into the total system to maximize the performance,” Kleinert said.

For more information on the Fortis Institute Palm Springs HVAC program, click here.

For more information on NAIMA, visit www.naima.org.

Publication date: 9/15/2014

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