WHY USE FLAMEBAR FIRE-RATED DUCT?
OMIT OR RELOCATE DAMPERS AND REPLACE BULKY ASSEMBLIES AND WRAP
Designing fire-rated HVAC systems often relies on managing bulky drywall assemblies, coordinating multiple dampers, and adding layers of fire-resistant wraps. These solutions consume valuable space, complicate installation timelines, and increase material costs. The need for compact, efficient systems becomes even more urgent in high-rise buildings and densely packed mechanical rooms where every square foot matters.
Damper Omission
Shaft offsets often require fire/smoke dampers, which can complicate design and installation and require costly regular maintenance for the life of the building. Installing dampers within a duct system demands careful placement, adds to project costs, and extends timelines. Flamebar allows dampers to be omitted from shaft offsets and can also be used on exhaust lines where the code does not allow dampers to be installed. This removes damper installation and ongoing maintenance costs, as well as the need for coordination between multiple trades. Flamebar duct makes your installation simpler and faster.
Alternative to Rated Gypsum Assemblies
Traditional rated drywall assemblies require multiple layers of materials, taking up valuable space in installations and adding significant weight to the structure. This can lead to costly architectural adjustments and limits design flexibility.
Damper Relocation
Positioning dampers at specified locations in fire barrier walls (like shafts) can complicate duct layout. Relocating them further from shaft walls to a more convenient location alleviates these complications. With Flamebar Fire-Rated Duct, relocate dampers away from shaft walls, freeing up shaft space and simplifying access for maintenance and compliance. Move dampers to more convenient, accessible locations while maintaining fire separation.
Compact 1hr and 2hr Shafts
Standard 2-hour rated drywall shafts are space-intensive and difficult to fit within tight layouts, especially in high-rise buildings or congested spaces. Constructing these shafts requires significant materials, specialized labor, and increased coordination, impacting project budgets and schedules.
Replacing Ceramic Fire Wrap
Traditional ceramic fire wraps are cumbersome and labor-intensive to install, requiring additional insulation layers that add bulk to the ductwork. Ceramic wraps can also limit design flexibility and occupy more space, making it difficult to fit wrapped systems in tight areas or structures with limited ceiling heights. This wastes space and increases project costs.
Replace traditional, bulky assemblies and replace or relocate dampers with Flamebar fire-rated ductwork. This simple solution saves time, reduces material costs, and meets fire safety regulations while seamlessly integrating into the building’s design.
VERSATILE FLAMEBAR APPLICATIONS
Flamebar provides integrated performance for applications up to 4 hours. Use Flamebar for tailored solutions across HVAC applications to save time, space, and materials, all while ensuring compliance.
- Flamebar Shaft-in-Shaft: For vertical risers, avoid complex internal partitions. Flamebar provides fire separation and flexibility in MEP layout, simplifying logistics.
- Flamebar Horizontal: Achieve 2-hour rated shaft offsets for pressurized stairwells and elevator shafts without additional dampers or bulky assemblies.
- Exhaust Solutions: For Type 1 commercial kitchen hoods, dishwashers, laboratories, toilet, or hazardous vapors, Flamebar eliminates the need for dampers or rated assemblies.
- A2L Refrigerant Fire-Rated Enclosures: Safely ventilate A2L refrigerant shafts with compact, fire-rated designs that comply with stringent safety codes and save space.
- Damper omission is achievable without the use of an assembly for transformer/stack vault, and in-line fan enclosures including VFD.
DUCT A AND DUCT B SYMMETRY COMPLIANCE
Flamebar fire-rated HVAC systems are listed to both Type A (fire outside the duct) and Type B (fire inside the duct) conditions, satisfying the symmetry requirement of the International Building Code. This dual listing ensures continuous, uniform fire protection regardless of where a fire originates—preventing ducts from becoming a weak point in the building. By conforming to both conditions within a single tested system, Flamebar simplifies design, supports AHJ approval, and ensures code-compliant fire protection for vertical shafts, horizontal offsets, mechanical floors, and air handlers in mid- and high-rise buildings.
Bottom: Duct B – “fire inside”; duct system subject to fire and/or hot gases entering through openings.