Smooth Surfaces For The Superdome

摘要

After Hurricane Katrina struck, the New Orleans Superdome sustained $193 million in damage. The hurricane tore off a part of the Superdome's roof, leaving the large ductwork, known as the "gladiator ring," largely exposed. The sheet metal ductwork inside of the "gladiator ring" is a 10 × 10-ft area with a catwalk inside for accessibility. The duct, along with the fibrous insulation inside, was infiltrated with mold and none of the material was salvageable. The contaminated materials had to be removed and replaced with a new duct liner and sheet metal. The Associated Design Group Inc. (ADG) was the lead mechanical and electrical engineering firm chosen to repair the damage and select a new duct liner for the replacement duct. ADG partnered with Mechanical Insulation of Baton Rouge to complete the project. The firms selected AP Armaflex closed-cell duct liner from Armacell for the project. By using the closed-cell insulation, extra precautions were unnecessary during reconstruction of the Superdome. Even after exposure to the weather, the liner's closed-cell construction made it resistant to moisture penetration, which usually is common in the Louisiana climate.