Fire protection of air ducts, ventilation and smoke removal systems. Fire retardant coating Isovent® Fire resistant insulation of air ducts

Fire protection of air ducts, ventilation and smoke removal systems. Fire retardant coating Isovent® Fire resistant insulation of air ducts
Fire protection of air ducts, ventilation and smoke removal systems. Fire retardant coating Isovent® Fire resistant insulation of air ducts
12.03.2020

PAROC FPS 14 board is a non-flammable stone wool, which is used as fire protection for steel structures, chimneys, doors, stoves. Stone wool-based slabs have fire retardant characteristics that directly depend on the density of the material, as well as the thickness of the insulation. The choice of the right product is determined by the technical specifications and regulations of the fire protection system in question. The material is easy to process, install and use.

PAROC FPS 17

PAROC FPS 17 board is a non-combustible stone wool, which is used as fire protection for steel structures, chimneys, doors, stoves. Stone wool-based slabs have fire retardant characteristics that directly depend on the density of the material, as well as the thickness of the insulation. PAROC FPS 17 has ETA (European Technical Approval) approval for use as fire protection for steel structures and a Certificate of Compliance with the fire safety requirements of the Russian Federation. The choice of the right product is determined by the technical specifications and regulations of the fire protection system in question. The material is easy to process, install and use.

PAROC FPS 17t

PAROC FPS 17t board is a non-flammable stone wool, which is used as fire protection for steel structures, chimneys, doors, stoves. Stone wool-based slabs have fire retardant characteristics that directly depend on the density of the material, as well as the thickness of the insulation. PAROC FPS 17t has ETA (European Technical Approval) approval for use as a fire protection for steel structures. The choice of the right product is determined by the technical specifications and regulations of the fire protection system in question. The material is easy to process, install and use. The fireproof board is covered with fiberglass.

Air ducts are an important component of the climate control system, responsible for supplying and discharging air into the room. Such systems are installed in residential buildings, warehouses and industrial premises, offices, shopping and entertainment complexes. The main goal of organizing ventilation and air conditioning systems is to create the most comfortable indoor climate conditions with minimal energy costs. The solution to this problem is provided by high-quality insulation of air ducts of ventilation systems. To protect air ducts, various types of insulation are used - thermal, fire, sound insulation, insulation that prevents the formation of condensation. Each type of insulation uses different materials, most of which are capable of solving complex problems.

Thermal insulation of air ducts

The use of thermal insulation for air ducts makes it possible to reduce heat loss from the room to the outside through ventilation, thereby reducing heating costs. Thermal insulation is installed on the external elements of ventilation systems to limit and control heat losses.

In various sections of air ducts, the thermal insulation device makes it possible to solve the following problems:

  • When moving warm air currents through extended sections of ventilation systems, it is necessary to ensure that their temperature is maintained at a certain level. The type of thermal insulation and its thickness are determined using thermal engineering calculations based on the technical operating conditions of ventilation.
  • Thermal insulation is also necessary for air ducts transporting cold air. This measure is necessary to protect cold air flows from heating by warm air surrounding the ventilation ducts. Without thermal insulation, the efficiency of the air conditioning system is significantly reduced. Properly installed thermal insulation makes it possible to achieve specified temperature conditions and ensures compliance with the operation of the ventilation and air conditioning system without additional settings.

In order to ensure thermal insulation of air ducts of climate control systems, the following types of insulation are successfully used: materials based on basalt fiber, glass wool, foamed rubber, foamed polyethylene, most often coated with aluminum foil, foil-coated mineral wool mats.

Thermal insulation can be both internal and external, but it makes no sense to consider the disadvantages and advantages of internal insulation - in practice, no one insulates air ducts from the inside.

The thickness of the air duct insulation is determined by temperature, humidity, aggressiveness and other environmental factors. Only qualified specialists should carry out calculations of insulation thickness. The calculation formula is specified in SNIP 2.04.14-88, which can be downloaded from the link below:

SNIP 2.04.14-88*. Thermal insulation of equipment and pipelines. .

Air duct insulation device against condensation

A serious problem during the operation of ventilation and air conditioning systems is the formation of condensation on the surface of air ducts transporting air that is colder than the air in the room.

Condensation on air ducts, especially in rooms with high humidity, causes the formation of water droplets that can damage floors, walls and ceilings. Gradually, condensation causes the air duct to fail.

The appearance of condensation can be avoided by installing an insulating layer of sufficient thickness so that the temperature of the outer surface of the insulation is not lower than the air temperature in the room. A feature of such insulation is the need for a surface vapor barrier layer, the purpose of which is to protect the insulation from moisture entering it. Most often, foil insulating coatings are used for this purpose. Basalt fiber, foam rubber and polyethylene, and fiberglass can be used as the basis of the insulating layer.

All joints of the foil insulating layer must be carefully taped with foil adhesive tape. For additional fixation of rolled insulation, use wire or steel tape.

Fireproof insulation of air ducts

Due to the fact that ventilation ducts connect different types of premises, they must be protected with a layer of fire-resistant insulating materials. This measure is necessary to prevent destruction of the air duct from external fire in the event of a building fire.

Fire insulation of air ducts can be carried out using mineral wool pierced mats and slabs, cylinders made of basalt fiber.

  • Mineral wool boards are used for square-section air ducts; during installation they are secured with studs and locking washers or special screws.
  • Stitching mats can be used for air ducts of both round and rectangular cross-sections. The mats are sewn together with wire. The length of the stitching mat for trimming is selected depending on the diameter of the air duct. The use of foil mats increases the functionality of the insulating layer and improves the appearance of the duct.

If vertically located air ducts have a significant length, fire insulation is additionally fixed to the ceiling or other building structures. For fastening, steel wire or special steel plates are used. Methods of fixing fire-retardant insulation to building elements are determined by building and fire codes.

To fix fire insulation of rectangular air ducts to building structures, various types of studs are used.

If the distance between the air duct and the ceiling made of fire-resistant materials is less than that required for placing the insulating layer, then it is permissible to leave the upper surface of the air duct without insulation. If this distance is equal to the thickness of the insulating layer, then the upper surface of the duct can be partially insulated.

Recently, to improve the fire safety of air ducts, fire retardants have been used, which are similar in appearance to paint compositions. They are applied to the surface of the air ducts with a brush, roller, or spray gun. In the event of a fire, when exposed to high temperatures, the protective coating swells to form a fire-resistant barrier.

Air duct sound insulation device

Parts of ventilation systems can become sources of unwanted noise, from which it is necessary to protect the ventilated areas of the building. The main noise generator is the blades of a running fan. In addition to the main ones, there are additional sources of sounds: dampers, valves, and other mechanisms with rotating elements. The flow's own turbulence can also create noise and, in addition, provoke resonating vibrations. Such turbulent flows appear in places where the direction and cross-section of air ducts change.

Some noise and vibration can be eliminated due to the properties of the material from which the air duct is made. This function is most effectively performed by flexible hoses, partially by ventilation ducts made of polymer materials. Noise and vibrations travel most strongly through metal air ducts. Therefore, if there are increased requirements for the noise level in the room, a sound insulation device is necessary. In some cases, installing duct silencers is an acceptable solution.

The ideal option for organizing a noise insulation layer, due to its fibrous structure and optimal density, is to use insulation based on basalt or fiberglass.

Reducing noise levels can be achieved using specially coated boards made from glass fiber non-woven material or glass fibre. Such plates are installed inside the air duct, the joints are covered with a metal profile.

Brief characteristics of materials used for insulation of air ducts

Based on the results of an analysis of the building materials market and consumer demand, we can identify a number of popular materials used for constructing the insulating layer of air ducts:

  • To insulate air ducts of small and medium diameter, materials based on polyethylene foam, consisting of polyethylene foam with a closed-cell structure, are widely used. The most progressive is polyethylene foam, covered with a layer of aluminum foil, which has a reflective effect. This material is chemically resistant, environmentally friendly, effective for sound, heat, steam and waterproofing. Foil-coated PPE may have a layer of moisture-resistant adhesive on one side, which allows the insulation to be attached to metal surfaces and other materials. Common brands of insulating material in this group are “Penofol”, “Izolon”, “Adgilin M”, “Mielterm”.
  • A modern insulating material is foam rubber, which, along with the insulation of building structures, is used to protect air ducts from heat loss. Foamed rubber has a closed porous structure and has a high resistance to water vapor diffusion. To insulate elements of ventilation and air conditioning systems, foam rubber in the form of tubes of the Kaiflex EF and Kaiflex EPDM brands is used. Insulating rubber coating can be produced in the form of rolls and sheets - “Kaiflex Protect”. These materials can be produced with foil, with a self-adhesive layer, or with a combination of foil and adhesive layer.
  • For thermal insulation of climate systems, mineral wool is most widely used, which has good heat saving properties and high fire resistance. To protect large cross-section air ducts, mineral wool mats are used, which are produced: foil, laminated, laminated, stitched. The most well-known brands of this type of air duct insulation are: Paroc, Nobasil, Izover, Rockwool, TechnoNIKOL.

All duct insulation materials differ from each other in characteristics and costs. However, it should be remembered that high-quality insulation should, if possible, provide comprehensive protection of the duct to extend the operational life of the entire climate control system.



Today our plant produces two types of fire protection for ventilation systems:

  • (with fire resistance limit EI 30 - 180) two-component integrated fire protection system consisting of rolled basalt material MBOR and fire-retardant adhesive composition Kleber.

The main advantages of fire protection for air ducts:

Aesthetics (no external fastening elements are required, except aluminum tape for sealing the joints; the material looks smooth and beautiful) and the ability to install in hard-to-reach places, for example, if the air duct is located close to the wall at a distance of 1-2 cm. In such cases, glue can be applied with the required flow rate directly onto the material, stretch the resulting workpiece between the air duct and the wall and secure it to the air duct.

  • Heat (with a fire resistance limit of EI 60 - 180) - a heat-and-fire-retardant coating, which is a pierced mat made of super-thin basalt fiber (BSF) without the addition of a binder.

The main difference and advantage of this material- improved thermal insulation properties. Where there is a large difference in ambient temperatures and the transported air in the air duct, it is better to use this material to prevent overheating/cooling of the transported air and the formation of condensation and metal corrosion. For example, if the air duct runs along the street, where in winter the temperature can drop to -30°C, and the temperature in the ventilation system should not be lower than +20°C.

Non-flammable fire protection for ventilation based on basalt fibers solves the following problems:

  1. increases the stability of structures in case of fire (fire resistance limit)
  2. the development and spread of fire in buildings and structures is prevented (loss of integrity and load-bearing capacity).

Basalt mats are flexible and, as a result, have a tight fit to the protected object. Installation of fire protection and thermal insulation of air ducts is simple and meets all SNiP and fire safety requirements.

The sizes of basalt mats are 1.2 m wide and 6 - 20 meters long. The mats have an additional lining with foil, metal mesh, glass, basalt or silica fabric. This provides the material with additional protection and, at the same time, an aesthetic appearance.

A metal mesh, a bandage made of steel wire or tape and adhesive compounds that are impervious to fire are used as fastening.

The BOS company creates safe solutions that today are trusted by large enterprises throughout Russia. Our products can be purchased in Kazan, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk, Samara, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don and other cities of the country. Large production volumes and constant availability of goods in stock allow us to maintain an optimal quality-price ratio.

If you have questions or need advice, contact the BOS manager in your region.

Fire retardant coating is used to prevent fire from entering the ventilation system and the subsequent spread of combustion products throughout the building.

Ventilation surrounding any building (from a small apartment to a huge factory) can spread combustion products in a matter of minutes, aggravating the situation. Fire retardant duct systems are used to help contain the source of a fire.

Which premises need protection first?

Premises in which it is necessary to install fire protection for air ducts are, first of all:

  1. Warehouses for fuel, lubricants and flammable materials.
  2. Places with large crowds of people: office buildings, business centers, residential apartment buildings, shopping centers.
  3. Buildings with high temperatures: baths, saunas, boiler rooms.

The ventilation system that carries air through the floors has several compartments with valves and upholstered in fire-resistant materials. In this way, isolation of each individual room is achieved.

Covering with insulating materials is required ventilation pipes, air conditioning and smoke removal systems. The latter are made to remove smoke from the building, so they need increased protection.

Why do you need fire protection for air ducts?

According to statistics, during a fire, the greatest harm to people is caused by smoke, not fire.

Since air conditioning and ventilation are an integral part of any room, they become extremely dangerous during a fire, as they quickly spread smoke. Fire protection for blowers is designed primarily to delay the time of combustion products entering the ventilation.

Its second goal is to isolate the fire so that it “suffocates” without receiving the necessary oxygen. The third is smoke removal, removal of flammable gases from the room.

The material covering the outside of the ventilation ducts foams during excessive heating, thereby creating additional thermal insulation. Fire-retardant plaster, impregnation for fabric coverings, and special paint are common. These materials are designed to protect finishing materials from fire, which tend to ignite easily and emit toxic smoke.

Rules and regulations for the operation of fire protection for air ducts

The set of rules established by the legislative act SP 7.13130 ​​of 2013 on fire safety technology regulates the installation of ventilation, heating and air conditioning systems.

When laying ventilation systems, it is allowed to use only non-flammable insulating and cladding materials “A” class. Within one fire compartment you can use low-flammable materials of class “B”. “B1” - semi-fire-resistant materials are allowed for use in air ducts that do not pass:

  • through ceilings (including suspended ceilings) and walls;
  • in corridors and escape routes.

According to these rules, the ventilation system, in addition to the fire-retardant coating, must have: air valves, fire dampers. According to technical fire safety standards, fire protection must withstand heating during the evacuation time. For each individual case, a certain time interval is calculated.

Materials must be certified according to fire resistance standards. The fire resistance of a structure is determined by the time from the onset of excessive heating to the moment of destruction of the surface. The fire protection material must withstand temperatures up to 1000º, given the average fire temperature in the room is 850º.

The use of perlite-phosphogel sheets, asbestos-cement, gypsum fiber, plasterboard, basalt slabs, special spraying and fire-retardant paint coating increases the maximum fire resistance time to 240 minutes. According to the standards, this time cannot be less than 150 minutes.

Methods and materials for protection

Now let’s look at what means can be used for fire protection:

  1. Basalt protection.
  2. Fire retardant paint.
  3. Sprayed material.

Below we will consider each option in more detail.

Balsat fire protection for air ducts

Basalt is a substance of volcanic origin, including impurities of iron, calcium, magnesium and 47% silicon dioxide. It is thanks to silica that basalt is widely used as fire protection. When exposed to high temperatures, the material does not lose its shape, solid properties and does not emit hazardous substances.

Basalt fiber, which is used to insulate pipes from fires, is created from the original rock without the participation of foreign additives that reduce its natural properties.

The most popular and reliable brands are:

  1. Rockwool (Wired Mat) . Hydrophobized heat-insulating boards, light and rigid, are available in rolls. Size of 1 roll: 800x600x50 mm.
  2. Pro-Vent. Roll dimensions: 10000x1000-1200x20-80. There are options for one-sided lining: foil, reinforced foil, glass, basalt, silicon fabric, metal mesh.
  3. TIZOL. Roll sizes: 1000-1200x500-600x40-200. Covered with fiberglass and foil. Price on average from 326 rubles/m².
  4. Buffalo. Roll size: 6000x1000x20-80. The material can be lined with basalt, silicon, glass, aluminum foil, metal mesh. Price from 200 rub/m².
  5. MBF. Maximum roll length 31000x1000-1500x5-20. The material has a foil coating. Price from 320 rub/m².

Advantages of using basalt fire protection:

  • comparatively cheap;
  • high degree of protection;
  • non-toxic;
  • non-flammability.

The main disadvantage is requirement for additional fasteners. As a rule, metal brackets are used for this, which are destroyed at high temperatures, causing the insulation to simply fall off the ventilation duct. It is safest to glue rolls of basalt protection using fire-resistant adhesives.

Other disadvantages include: comparative difficulty of installation, heavier structure.

Installation is carried out in several stages:

  1. Surface preparation. Cleaning, leveling, drying, removing rust and unevenness.
  2. Application of adhesive. One layer is enough for fire resistance of 30-150 minutes, for longer a second layer is needed.
  3. The material is glued in strips. Material consumption per 1 m² is 1.1 m². When installing double protection, the layers are offset from each other and the consumption is 2.05 m².
  4. If glue is not used, the roll is unwound over the entire surface of the pipe and secured with metal staples.

For basalt rolls, the fire resistance limit is 180 minutes with a thickness of 70 mm. The greater the thickness, the higher the protection, and vice versa. Options with foil increase resistance to heat energy. Use together with paint or sprayers provides comprehensive and most reliable protection..

Application of rolled basalt fire protection (video)

Fire retardant paint

During strong heating, when exposed to temperatures in the region of 100º, such paint foams, forming new layers of carbon fire protection and additional thermal insulation.

Popular brands:

  1. Thermal barrier. Paint consumption for minimum protection of 45 minutes is from 0.95 kg/m² depending on the thickness of the metal structure (the thicker the air duct, the less paint is required).
  2. Kedr-Met-V. Consumption averages 1 kg/m².
  3. Ecofire. Average consumption: 1.11 kg/m².
  4. CROZ. Average consumption: 1.37 kg/m².

Pros of fire retardant paint:

  • ease of application;
  • speed of repair after a fire;
  • the structure is not heavier.

The first disadvantage is that the thickness and integrity of the coating must be constantly monitored, since the paint peels off over time, falls off, and runs off. Water-based paints may not have time to foam if the fire is carbon-type (if the temperature rises sharply in the first five minutes). In this case, the paint is ineffective, and the possibility of this type of fire should be considered in advance.

Water-based paint is applied by spraying or brushes. It provides protection for 120 minutes with a thickness of 0.8 mm. The more paint is applied, the higher the fire resistance time.

The more paint is applied to a surface, the more often it needs to be revised and checked for integrity.

The result of using fire retardant paint for wood (video)

Sprayed fire retardant material

A composition applied by spraying for fire protection of surfaces. It is created from mineral microfiber substances, an inorganic binder and additives with a very high fire resistance limit (2-3 hours).

Famous brands:

  • POLINOR;
  • Thermal spray;
  • Corundum.
  • no need for preparatory work;
  • good adhesion to the surface;
  • spraying can be painted with an additional layer of protection;
  • the most durable method (the layer can remain effective for up to 50 years).

Ventilation systems, air ducts and chimneys are perhaps the most important in the building, as they allow people inside the room to breathe, provide a constant flow of fresh air and remove smoke, unpleasant odors, etc.

This section presents the fire protection of air ducts and smoke removal, which is necessary for all these systems to work efficiently and uninterruptedly.

Thermal insulation of chimneys

This section of the catalog presents fireproof materials for chimney insulation.

Fire protection of a chimney, on the one hand, protects the building and the people in it from fire, and on the other hand, it protects the chimney itself, since without reliable insulation it wears out much faster.

Insulation of a chimney in the ceiling begins with a well-organized design of the chimney and pipe itself. It is important that the temperature at the junction of the pipe and the roof does not exceed 50°C. If you want a brick pipe, then to comply with this condition, you will have to make it very thick. This is why many people prefer metal pipes.

Subsequently, it is very important to cover the entire box with insulating materials that will protect from fire and from elevated temperatures, as well as from condensation and other possible negative influences. For protection, materials such as fireproof boards Termoizol, Superizol, Silka, etc. are used. It is important that the materials are non-flammable!

High-quality fire protection for smoke removal is necessary wherever heating is carried out using stoves or fireplaces. And, of course, the insulation of the bathhouse chimney deserves special attention, since today there are saunas and baths in almost every suburban area.

Fire insulation of air ducts

Another important and extensive topic is fire insulation of air ducts. Here we are talking about almost every building, be it a residential building or a restaurant, an office center or a music club, etc.

Fire insulation of air ducts is necessary because this system, as it were, permeates the entire building, connecting various rooms, which means that in the event of a fire and lack of insulation, the air duct can be quickly destroyed, which will play a tragic role for the people in the premises.

Modern materials for fire protection of air ducts are represented by a wide group of mineral wool boards, pierced mats, rolled insulation and other products that can reliably protect these systems from fire and high temperatures.

As a rule, the price of these products is not that high, and the degree of protection they provide is simply priceless!