The gathering of companies involved in the production and installation of spiral ductwork featured an overview of the research by Pat Brooks of Eastern Sheet Metal and the association’s technical director.

His presentation resembled a college-level mathematics class, with long formulas, graphs and charts. Behind all the figures, Brooks said, was the fact that flat-oval ductwork offers superior airflow performance in many situations.

He and SPIDA are hoping the study will convince the Sheet Metal and Air-Conditioning Contractors’ National Association to incorporate the findings and flat-oval duct into its upcoming revised manual on duct construction standards.

SPIDA is hoping to have an educational session during the 2017 AHR Expo in Las Vegas focusing on flat-oval duct as part of the effort to teach HVAC construction engineers about its performance.

“If we educate everybody, we’ll be fine,” Brooks said.

In other meeting news, Ryan Barnes of Sheet Metal Connectors said an overdue overhaul of the SPIDA website, www.spida.org, is underway. He hopes to release the new version soon.

Members heard from Greg Bell, a former college basketball player turned motivaltional speaker and author. Bell explained how unleashing human potential is a slow but deliberate process, similar to the way a bamboo plant grows.

Also included were roundtable discussions on industry issues and a presentation from manufacturer Johns Manville on what products it offers for spiral duct.
In between and after seminars, attendees had the chance to sample local wines, beers, coffee and doughnuts, and tour a winery and take a river cruise.