For years, the New York Islanders hockey team played at the Barclays Center, an arena primarily built for basketball. This arrangement led to obstructed views for fans who often had to watch the game from the scoreboard, and poor ice conditions and unfavorable gameplay for players were caused by the old piping system. The team finally caught a break in 2017 when they were awarded a new 17,000-person arena: the UBS Arena at Belmont Park.

When it came time to select a sheet metal subcontractor for the UBS Arena, many companies competed for the job. Ultimately, Triple S Air Systems, a Long Island-native company, won the bid. The project presented a significant challenge: installing a large amount of spiral ductwork in the arena’s “bowl,” with some pieces reaching massive sizes of 96″, 86″, and 76″. To add to the difficulty, the ducts had two inches of internal insulation.

Fortunately, Triple S was no stranger to large-scale ductwork. In 2016, they successfully installed 76″ spiral ductwork during the enclosure of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, the project during which they first used Ductmate’s Spiralmate system. They were impressed with the product’s one-bolt closure and self-sealing flanges, which made installation quick and easy.

Normally, large-diameter spiral pipes require expensive companion angle rings for reinforcement. However, during the bidding phase, Ductmate proposed an innovative solution: using Spiralmate alongside a similar product called Ventmate. Traditionally used in mining and tunnel applications, Ventmate features a wider closure band with an integrated neoprene gasket. This design allows for a secure seal even when duct runs are slightly misaligned. For the UBS Arena project, this wider band made installing the larger ducts significantly easier and eliminated the need for a separate gasket on the mating face of the flanges.

Triple S Project Manager Greg Cross had nothing but praise for Spiralmate and Ventmate. These systems enabled a significantly smoother assembly process compared to traditional angle rings. The team was able to pre-build sections of ductwork in their shop, installing the outer and inner rings before bringing them to the job site. This process, combined with the one-bolt closure band, allowed workers to avoid climbing on top of the ductwork to secure connections, resulting in significant labor savings and a safer installation environment.

Construction on the arena was underway when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, halting all non-essential projects in New York City. Despite the jobsite closure, Triple S continued to manufacture the necessary ductwork. Cross commended Ductmate for its ability to meet lead times and maintain a steady supply of materials, while many other suppliers faced significant supply chain disruptions.

In the end, the project utilized 643 Spiralmate and Ventmate three-piece systems and 752 2″ inner rings.

Cross’ final recommendation speaks for itself, “I would 100% recommend Ventmate and Spiralmate for future projects where a large-diameter duct is going to be utilized.”