Manufacturers have their guidelines, and the air diffusion council. Some of the leakiest ducts ive tested have been made of sheet metal, not flex. How to install flex duct properly green building advisor. Product description aluminum flexible duct is seperated by insulated and noninsulated, which is used for air conditioning system and other heat insulation system. Flexright works with all brands of commercial and residential flexible duct. But the path for the final branch of the ductwork treethe one that runs from the trunk or plenum to the outlet registeris typically chosen by the subcontractor. Conduits greenbook underground conduits 062288 page 2 of 23 rev. Nov 28, 2012 stumpy, the flex duct amputee, is the relic of a poor duct retrofit. Follow the manufacturers instructions, but in case they get lost, here is a list of best practices for. The length of the runs of flex duct should be kept short to avoid static from building up and reducing air flow.
Thermaflex is a global leader in the flexible duct product industry for both commercial and residential hvac applications. Often, they find themselves competing to find space to run the ducts among all. Indoor air quality becomes a bigger concern everyday. Ducts conforming to nfpa 90a or 90b shall meet the following requirements. Build right products, llc develops new products for license, manufacture, and distribution. Proposal to limit use of flexible duct has many in hvac. Preferably 2 people extend the duct to its full length. Premeasured marks on the ground are best but a tape measure will also suffice.
Kflex usa closed cell, elastomeric insulation products improve thermal performance and condensation control on mechanical systems in commercial buildings. My answer was no but that we need better quality control. Our awardwinning products are sold and shipped domestically and internationally. Is it such a bad product that even the best hvac installers cant do it right. The second is that flex duct is costeffective because it is inexpensive and insulated to help with rising energy costs. This will avoid possible damage of the flexible duct by the edge of the metal collar. The versatile fdc3 flex duct tool is actually three tools in one. Stumpy, the flex duct amputee, is the relic of a poor duct retrofit. Flex ducts are lightweight, fully insulated, easy to install, and high quality. Here are three things to look for so you can see if your flex ducts look ok. Another major accomplishment of adc was the creation in 1998 of the certified rvalue program. When you arrive simply sign the white invoice and leave it on the clipboard and take your materials and the yellow copy of the invoice. Regular flex duct can be run vertically but must be supported every 6 feet and straps must be a minimum of 1.
Whispergreen select incorporates an integrated dual 4 in. Use the minimum length of flexible duct to make connections. The association sells a 28page green book outlining proper installation and use of flexible ductwork. Each 90 degree bend, if properly made equates to about ten feet of flex duct, so this little arrangement would normally equal 30 feet of flex duct.
Buy flexible duct at wholesale prices with fast shipping. The sixth edition of this standard referred to as the green book will be available in early 2016. Support the duct between a metal connection and bend by allowing the duct to extend straight for a few inches before making the bend. But without proper support, ducts can develops sags or kinks that reduce airflow 4a, 4b to prevent problems, use saddles or straps to support at regular intervals 4c, 4d. Every flex duct part or supply we carry is highquality and made to withstand years of use. Thermaflex flexible duct has been awarded greenguard certification by the greenguard environmental institute gei. Flexright increases air flow to save energy and improve room comfort by eliminating flexible duct kinks and restrictions common to most homes and buildings. Everclean is a safe, dependable duct system perfect for use in any home. There is not an ongoing program to replace the material. A connection to rigid duct or equipment shall be considered a support joint. There are many resources available that show contractors how to properly install flex duct.
Express pick up express pick up is available at all of our locations. Classification for purposes of this standard, a method of identifying, marking and specifying flexible duct as related to listing category, physical style, positive pressure class and velocity type. Sadly, this was not the work of a diyer but an hvac professional. Flex duct hvac supplies flex duct for hvac systems. Flexible duct is quality duct and has become the most popular type of duct used in hvac systems. This duct has not been sold since the early nineties and as such is long since past the warranty period. Ducts like this are the key to maximizing the efficiency of hvac units. Looking for atco noninsulated flexible duct, 12 flexible duct inside dia. Industry trade group the air duct council, which says it represents the manufacturers and suppliers of 95 percent of the flex duct used in north america, said the product can last as long as a home stands if installed properly. Ive written a lot about duct problems, especially those in flex duct because theyre so abundant. Call amistee today at 2483498877 or visit our contact us page for more information. It is a strategic flex duct cleaning process that the technicians at amistee have perfected in order to give you the confidence that the flexible duct was cleaned properly.
It is not recommended that excess length of ducts be installed to allow for possible future relocations. Because it is flexible, it is easy to run around and through obstacles in the. I should point out that the adc lobbied heavily to keep this data out of the book, but in the end. Ll building products mif12x300 duct pipe, 12 x 25 3. Flexright is used with diffusers, air devices, duct collars, and hvac equipment. The air duct council formerly the air diffusion council represents. These products are fundamental to energy efficiency. Jul 21, 2005 there are many resources available that show contractors how to properly install flex duct.
This program resolved any confusion or questions concerning the true thermal resistance r. So why not use superior hvac products that deliver much more than your moneys worth. Given the crimping at the lower left, its probably 100 feet or more. Insulated flexible duct r8 silver jacket is used in standard heating and air conditioning hvac systems and some venting applications. Order the green book today in hardcopy or digital format. To earn certification, thermaflex products went through a series of rigorous emissions tests to confirm the level of volatile organic chemicals voc emitted. According to david butler, the adc lobbied heavily to keep this data out of the book. At ce, we carry a vast array of hvac flex duct to make sure you can always have the ductwork necessary for every job. Flexright is manufactured adjustable and universal to fit flexible duct sizes 4 through 16 102mm 406mm. Any recommendations for a book that covers residential hvac duct installation. Choose the products you are requesting spec sheets for. After selecting store pickup you will need to choose express pick up on checkout.
Supporting shall be provided so that the maximum centerline sag is. Adc green book 4th edition 041204 web page flexible duct. A couple of years ago, i even wrote an article about whether or not flex duct should be banned. The duct has r8 insulation which contains 50% more insulation than the standard r4. Dont kill your air flow with this flex duct disease.
Sometimes the best route for a flexible duct run is up and over an obstruction. The order will be billed once it is ready for pickup. Id like to find something thats tothepoint but contains all the common cases like attic, basement, sheet metal, flex, etc. This additional insulation provides greater thermal efficiency to save energy.
Many flex duct installations leave a lot to be desired. Our inventory includes insulated flex duct, uninsulated connectors, sleeves, and more. When i updated and reposted the article recently at green building advisor, jack lagershausen, the executive director of the air diffusion. Flex duct should pulled tight to reduce inner air resistance. Flexible duct a preformed, flexible, tubular passage. The hard pipe photo you see below is one that i tested and sealed. The shortest component insulation, core or jacket would be considered the measured duct length. Resistance to flow through bends is expressed in feet of straight flex duct. Allows for normal vibration in large duct systems without inhibiting the effectiveness of the flexible duct connector. Able to perform a wide variety of lifting, the duct jack is ideal for hvac installation and maintenance applications. Noninsulated black lightproof flexible aluminum duct clamps, 12 inch. Trim flex duct and tighten nylon ties with one tool. Rdss must be used when waterproofing a subsurface transformer enclosure is required.
Something like the hvac equivalent of peter hemps plumbing a house which tells you just what you need to know to do your own. It should be supported with straps that are a minimum 1. The duct measurement will be made applying approximately 25lbs of tension to the insulation, core and outerjacket. Flexible duct is quality duct and has become the most popular type of. Something like the hvac equivalent of peter hemps plumbing a house which tells you just what you need to know to do your own plumbing on a new house and nothing that you dont. There are also some very important precautions to take when using flex duct in an hvac system. Both add friction to airflow, reduce overall energy efficiency, and hurt cooling and heating efficacy and operating costs. Should flex duct be banned by green building programs.
Quality duct is essential to maximize the efficiency of central air conditioning units. Product description aluminum flexible duct is seperated by insulated and noninsulated, which is used for air conditioning system and other. North americas leading manufacturers of flexible air ducts and air connectors. Because it is flexible, it is easy to run around and through obstacles in the building. This program resolved any confusion or questions concerning the true thermal resistance rvalue of an insulated flexible air duct. The finely honed doubleedged knife blade cleanly pierces through the outer skin, insulation and liner construction of flexible round duct and cuts in either direction. Greenbook underground conduits 062288 page 2 of 23 rev. Insulated flexible duct from the duct shop is perfect for residential and light commercial heating and air conditioning systems. It is easy to cut to desired length and light weight for easy installation. To support flex duct properly, use straps that are at least 1.
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