A retrofit project in a New York City apartment building aimed to install individual heat pump systems for each unit, with every system connected to the tenant’s own electric meter. This level of heating and cooling independence is uncommon in the city and introduced multiple design and logistical challenges—particularly because all outdoor units had to be mounted on the roof.
The Challenge: Rooftop Lineset Protection
With all equipment installed on the roof, the design build mechanical contractor assigned to the project, VRF Solutions, needed a durable, weather-resistant solution to protect the linesets and control wiring running from each apartment to the rooftop compressors. Beyond the elements, they had to consider foot traffic and maintenance activity that could damage the piping or degrade the insulation over time—directly impacting system performance and lifespan.
The Solution: Slimduct RD Lineset Protection by Inaba Denko
Inaba Denko Slimduct RD metal lineset cover system proved to be a perfect fit. Slimduct RD is designed specifically for rooftop applications, offering robust lineset protection against UV, weather, and physical impact. It not only protects refrigerant lines from insulation degradation but also protects the control wiring—ensuring long-term reliability and system efficiency.
“We needed something durable that could protect our linesets and our piping from not only the environment, but also people on the roof, potentially stepping on these sensitive pipes. So, we found Inaba Denko’s RD, which is just a fantastic product,” said Tom Esposito, President of VRF Solutions.
Collaboration with Marketair
Gerry Spanger, President and CEO of Marketair—the master distributor of Slimduct RD in North America—provided valuable support throughout the project. He visited the site several times to help develop a cost-effective plan that which included exact quantities of the RD parts needed and offered training for the installation crew. With his input, along with resources like Inaba Denko’s installation videos, the VRF Solutions team was able to get up to speed quickly with the RD system.
As a result, seven new team members are now trained in RD installation at VRF Solutions, and they’ve already queued it up for several upcoming projects. The product is intuitive, professional-grade, and has significantly streamlined their rooftop design approach.
Looking Ahead
“In the future, we have a lot of projects that are on the drawing board right now that have Inaba Denko’s RD and PD. But all of the projects going forward are going to be scoped with this material because it is important to protect these linesets from the environment…because you’re losing the life expectancy of the product,” said Esposito.
