| Flame Spread / Smoke Development
Below are the related fire code requirements for fabric
duct distribution devices. Fabriccuct systems are in accordance
with the ASTM International fire test response standard
E 84-01, Surface
Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, as both a
duct and diffuser. The National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) has concluded that the following fire
codes have been met:
? NFPA 9OA-1993, "Installation of Air Conditioning
and Ventilation Systems
? NFPA 9OB-1993, "Warm Air Heating and Air Conditioning
Systems"
? NFPA 255, "Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning
Characteristics of Building Materials"
Description of requirements
Flame spread/Smoke development must not exceed 25/50 rating.
This rating and the ASTM E 84 test
method are typical to UBC 8-1 and UL723. These requirements
are also consistent with flame/smoke
indices set by the Uniform Mechanical Code for the various
pipe insulations, duct insulations, and other
combustibles used in air handling plenums.
Considerations
Torsion, collapse, air leakage and impact are related only
to sheet metal duct. Fire code is the only relevant
requirement in most cases, except for USDA and similar applications.
UL 181 mentions fire code
and torsion/collapse/impact indices, but only the fire code
is relevant in our case as Fabircduct is “a
combination flexible air duct and air diffuser for exposed-ceiling
applications to be used as a positive
pressure air distribution component".
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