FLAMEBAR FIRE-RATED HORIZONTAL VENTILATION SYSTEMS
FLAMEBAR OFFERS TOTAL SYSTEM COMPLIANCE IN LOW PROFILE SPACE SAVING CONFIGURATIONS
Flamebar eliminates the need for multiple complex assemblies and provides a total solution for fire-rated duct and enclosure systems. Flamebar:
- Reduces field work with single trade installation
- Horizontal assemblies preserve vertical space in busy, multi trade coordinated areas
- Replaces bulky, costly architectural fire-resistive assemblies that require shaft liner, steel studs, and multiple layers of drywall
- Replaces ceramic wrap and multi-layer drywall assemblies that are not rated and tested for up to 4 hours at 2,000 °F.
- Offers a convenient damper relocation solution
- Can be fabricated from galvanized or 304/316 stainless steel
- Can be supplied as rectangular, round, or spiral
- Can be supplied with bolted connections or welded
- Is available in an industry leading range of duct sizes, from 4” round to panelized penthouse sizes as large as 808 square feet in cross-section
- Fire-rated systems can be used in place of ceramic fire wrap insulation or application of multiple layers of drywall—something often difficult or impossible to build to withstand the required fire exposure
Flamebar systems have innovative, low profile HVAC designs that are easy to install, are cost-effective, and satisfy code requirements for both fire inside and fire outside conditions.
Specify Flamebar as Your Basis of Design
Fire-rated duct is often treated as a construction detail, finalized after the mechanical design is largely complete. That handling creates avoidable compliance, coordination, cost, and schedule risk.
Naming Flamebar as your Basis of Design puts a complete fire-rated duct system in the documents from the start. It defines the intended performance, establishes a clear technical benchmark, and allows the complete system to be competitively priced before procurement decisions and trade scopes begin limiting the options available. Your spec can still permit alternatives, with one key advantage: each one has to address a defined system scope rather than fill gaps left in the documents.
SUPERIOR DESIGN AND COMPLIANCE FLEXIBILITY
Horizontal ventilation ductwork is used to provide supply, return, pressurization and exhaust air distribution to various building compartments. Certain horizontal ducts are required to be fire-rated to prevent fire and smoke from spreading to other building compartments. Fire-rated horizontal ducts and fan enclosures must be designed and manufactured to standards appropriate for horizontal applications.
Flamebar horizontal systems offer unmatched design and code compliance versatility while providing robust fire-resistance and can readily meet the specific needs of your project. Architects find surprising levels of design freedom with Flamebar solutions, while engineers appreciate design flexibility and superior compliance characteristics. General contractors and field personnel value its quick installation and proven reliability.
BY CHOOSING FLAMEBAR, YOU ENSURE SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY FOR YOUR HORIZONTAL FIRE-RATED HVAC SYSTEMS
Horizontal ventilation ducts are typically located above ceilings in office spaces, retail areas, and educational facilities to effectively distribute air. In multi-story buildings, they are found on dedicated mechanical floors to manage air distribution across multiple levels. In high-rise buildings, horizontal ducts connect vertical shafts with various rooms, ensuring proper air circulation, or even offset connections to other shafts due to building design or routing conflict. In hospitals and laboratories, these duct systems maintain sterile environments and control hazardous fumes and are often integrated within specialized ventilation systems.
Built For Data Center Scale
Modern data center ductwork can exceed the capabilities of individual fire dampers. Damper arrays require additional space, access, controls, and complexity – while introducing multiple potential failure points. Flamebar replaces that assembly with a passive, tested and listed fire-rated duct system.
FIRE-RATED HVAC SYSTEMS FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
Flamebar fire-rated HVAC systems are ideal for a variety of commercial applications, including office buildings, higher education institutions, hospitals, and laboratories. They are particularly suited for buildings four stories and taller, offering solutions for 2-hour rated shafts, horizontal shaft offsets, mechanical floors, and air handlers.
Listed to both Type A (fire outside) and Type B (fire inside) conditions and thus conforming to the symmetry requirement of the International Building Code, Flamebar ensures your building’s HVAC system meets the highest safety standards, providing reliable fire protection and peace of mind for owners, occupants, and first responders alike.
For Type A conditions, where the fire is outside the duct, Flamebar is designed to withstand high temperatures and prevent the fire from penetrating the duct and spreading to other areas of the building. This helps maintain the fire to the compartment of origin, allowing for safe evacuation, first responder operations, and damage containment.
For Type B conditions, where the duct is handling hot gasses from a fire, Flamebar contains these products of combustion and prevents them from spreading to other parts of the building through the ventilation system. This is particularly important for ducts that run through critical areas such as egress routes, mechanical floors, and spaces with high occupancy.
Having ducts rated for both conditions ensures that the HVAC system meets the symmetry requirements of the code and does not become a weak point in the building’s fire safety plan, providing protection regardless of the fire’s location. This dual performance enhances the safety of occupants, protects property, and ensures compliance with stringent codes and standards.
To meet building code symmetry requirements, fire-rated duct systems require both Duct A and Duct B listings.
Top: Duct A – “fire outside”; duct system that passes through a fire environment without openings.
Bottom: Duct B – “fire inside”; duct system subject to fire and/or hot gases entering through openings.
Who We Work With
Flamebar fire-rated HVAC systems benefit different team members throughout the construction process. Learn more below.
Engineers
Leading engineering firms in the US and worldwide simplify their designs by using Flamebar as their holistic fire-rated solution.
Mechanical / Sheet Metal
Flamebar simplifies the installation process, saving valuable project time.
General Contractors
Conquest delivers just-in-time (JIT) multi-hour fire resistive assemblies and ductwork directly to project sites
Owners / Developers
Flamebar replaces multiple disjointed materials with one holistic solution, resulting in a lower total install cost.
Case Study
Cambridge Crossing
Cambridge, MA
Flamebar was used for the fire-rated horizontal ductwork in the Cambridge Crossing project in Cambridge, MA. This included symmetry testing and engineering evaluations on extremely large ductwork.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Flamebar is generally comparable or lower on total installed cost when framing, boarding, taping, fire caulking, multi-trade coordination, and inspections are accounted for. The value is most clearly captured when the product is specified at the design stage before material scope across the trades are committed in the budget.