Top Benefits of Manifolding in HVAC Ductwork Fabrication

For years, Mestek Machinery has recognized the importance of manifolding (or prefabrication) — a growing trend receiving much attention in the HVAC duct fabrication industry. By leveraging BIM (building information modeling) software with duct fabrication machinery, contractors and manufacturers have been able to achieve higher efficiency during shop fabrication and construction installation. In this post, we'll explain how the ability to manifold ductwork in the shop gives contractors the ability to save not only money but also time.

How Manifolding Improves Efficiency and Profitability for Sheet Metal Contractors

Manifolding (also known as prefabrication) is the process of producing duct through a duct line and then assembling it in the shop before transporting it to the jobsite. Manifolding ductwork quickly and accurately in a controlled shop environment lends itself to controlling quality and meeting or beating tight construction schedules. In particular, the benefits of manifolding ductwork include:

• Fabricating and assembly in a controlled environment improves quality control and team member safety
• Eliminates searching for parts, missing fittings, and material handling issues
• Improved schedule performance
• Greater speed and accuracy on jobsite, leading to reduced jobsite costs
• Lower labor costs because the majority of the work is being done in-shop
• Reduced human error during the process, resulting in greater productivity and cut costs
• Better utilization of resources, resulting in reduced waste
• Improved collaboration between stakeholders with BIM integration
• Less input resulting in a greater output

Growth of the Manifolding Trend in HVAC Fabrication

The HVAC sheet metal/duct fabrication industry has seen a rapid growth for the need for pre-fabrication of HVAC Ductwork in a controlled atmosphere in lieu of jobsite production.  This methodology of sectioning duct sections, installing taps and collars and installing sealant systems in the shop atmosphere has been noted to take almost 40% of the labor out of jobsite installations. There are many reasons for adopting this technology including safety, material and labor savings, and less inventory to track on jobsites. In conclusion, manifolding allows contractors to create a seamless connection between software and hardware to deliver greater productivity and efficiency.