Australian Duct Manufacturers Alliance ADMA

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT supports Australian Duct Manufacturers Research Initiative

View ADMA's Final Report to DEWHA [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 4.33 MB]

The Australian Duct Manufacturers Alliance (ADMA), with support from MPMSAA was successful with its submission to the Federal Government's Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency formerly DEWHA, for funding support to undertake research and implement strategies towards "self regulation" of the industry.

The project's focus will be to Review Current Practice and "The Development of Best Practice for the Manufacture And Thermal Performances of Flexible Ducts In accordance with the BCA and Australian Standards".

ADMA was supported by the experience of the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia ( MPMSAA) and Heating and Cooling Association of Australia (HCAA) and the MPMSAA Greenplumbers program.

The ADMA was set up to represent duct manufacturers/assemblers/distributors.

20 companies across 5 states representing more than 80% of duct manufacturers in Australia were the Founding members of ADMA in 2008.

An independent consultant was appointed who contacted Duct Manufacturers, Regulatory bodies and key stakeholders over 3 months to the end of August 2008 of a research project and ADMA presented a report to the Australian Government.

A Review of Current Practice and Barriers

Identify Australian duct manufacturers, key stakeholders and develop guidelines and make recommendations for best practice in the industry.

Assist duct manufacturers to produce duct in accordance to BCA and Australian Standard requirements by providing a forum for exchange of ideas, advice, support and access to credible duct testing methods.

Research existing codes, standards, technical solutions, proposed and existing test methods, published reports, and consult with the duct manufacturing industry.

The next stage of the project involved the development of a:

Credible duct testing process that establishes the thermal rating of duct at a point of sale or once installed, including mandatory information printed directly onto the product

System of random testing to ensure that flexible duct complies with the relevant standards, thereby protecting consumers from bogus claims made by duct manufacturers.

National random testing process for all duct manufacturers/assemblers.

For further information and membership of ADMA contact Peter Kikos at MPMSAA (03) 9321 0795 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Welcome to ADMA

- MAPS Outlining NEW BCA Requirements State by State

Australian Duct Manufacturers Alliance (ADMA), supported by the Federal Goverment have embarked on raising the standard of the industry.

As you may be aware, the standards for flexible duct have been in a state of flux in recent years. Over an extended period, there have been concerns raised over the consistency and quality of flexible duct in relation to construction, fire standards, labelling and thermal performance.

At a meeting in Melbourne in 2006, hosted by the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO), in conjunction with ACCC, ABCB and Trades Practices Organisation, the Flexible Duct Industry was advised that they were aware of the widespread national lack of conformance and regulation regarding the thermal performance of flexible duct.

These bodies advised the flexible duct industry to self regulate as they did not have the expertise or an understanding of the many complexities involved with the thermal values of flexible duct.

Following discussions with the AGO, the Heating and Cooling Association of Australia (HCAA), as part of the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia ( MPMSAA), recently set up a not-for-profit company, the Australian Duct Manufacturers Alliance (ADMA), to represent duct manufacturers / assemblers. ADMA has elected a committee consisting of representatives from duct manufacturers and the MPMSAA.

alt The main aims of ADMA are to:

Develop an industry wide standard test to determine the "effective composite duct thermal resistance" (Rt or R_EFF) for assembled flexible duct, and implement a system for random testing of duct to ensure compliance with the BCA and Australian Standards.
Develop an ADMA self regulated system of addressing non compliance to the required standards for ADMA members.
Represent the flexible duct manufacturing industry via a single voice in lobbying submissions to the Government, Australian Greenhouse Office, Australian Building Codes Board, Australian Standards and other regulatory authorities.