hvac ducts

The HVAC systems in the facility have the air supply and exhaust, these are made through ductwork. To make the ducts several different types materials are needed, and each material must suit specific needs and regulation. The ductworks are categorized into two main divisions, such as rigid ducting and the flexible ducting. Most buildings utilize both types of ducting as per the suitability. We will compare the flex ducting vs rigid ducting.

Rigid Ducting.

A lot of times the rigid ducting is used in the commercial facilities. During the construction of the building, the ducting system that need to be installed should be carefully planned and is mostly available in the blueprints. This is done to make sure the installation is of good quality and any chances of error are limited. The installation of a rigid metal ducting should be done by skilled personnel who has experience as the installation is not easy unlike the flexible ducting. This is because it requires heavy planning and if there is the slightest of mistakes, it is common for the technicians to come into a spot of bother. More over the rigid ducting needs several mounting points, which again will make the installation process a lot harder.

What are the materials used for rigid ducting?

  • Galvanized steel;
  • Stainless steel;
  • PVC plastic
rigid duct

Advantages and disadvantages of Rigid Ducting.

Advantages:

  • Resists weather conditions
  • Are Durable
  • Low Resistance to air flow

Disadvantages:

  • Costly
  • Hard installation

Flexible Ducting

This type of ducting is regularly in domestic HVAC systems. It is a perfect solution for duct that run short. Some flexible ducting systems are utilized in commercial building like the office spaces, small shopping malls etc. The outlets and vents are connected to the existing rigid ductwork and a long zip tie or Jubilee clip is used. Some for the types are highly resistant to toxic liquids and acids as well. This can be a big advantage in some commercial situations. The most infamous aspects of those pipes is their flexibility, which makes them perfect for installation in tight spaces. The biggest drawback is that flexible ducting is not durable unlike the rigid ducting, and there can be puncture. The punctures can cause leakages which leads the system to not function properly. Also the leaks can make the system to loose power and the system will not be efficient.

Materials used for flexible ducting

  • Aluminium;
  • Polyurethane;
  • PVC;
  • Silicone;
  • Galvanised steel;
  • Neoprene-coated cotton fabric
flexible duct

Stainless steel is used in some flexible ducts. The kitchen extractor is connected to your ducting through the flex pipe which is made by stainless steel.

Advantages and disadvantages of flexible ducting

Advantages:

  • Inexpensive
  • Flexible
  • Easy installation

Disadvantages:

  • Not fit for mounting externally
  • High air flow drag
  • Noisey
  • Can be easily damaged ( based on the flexible ducting used)
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