neilestrick Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 I've been testing a black thermoplastic vent ducting for more than 2 1/2 years now, and it's held up great. You can get it at McMaster-Carr HERE (link is for 3" but you can get it in any size). It's rated for 250F, so plenty high for kiln venting. I've used it for at least 550 firings and it's still as soft and flexible as the day I installed it, even where it connects down under the kiln. It costs about 4 times more than the aluminum semi-rigid ducting that comes with most vent systems, but it's way more durable and last a lot longer. You can actually step on it without hurting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick White Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 What does the fire department inspector think of it? In our coop studio we installed longer runs of standard plumbing DWV plastic pipe for a main exhaust network with shorter links of the metal flex to each kiln. The fire department choked, said the plastic could ignite and provide a channel for the fire to spread. So we had to replace the plastic sections with much more expensive solid metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 Fire departments sometimes get nuts-just my thoughts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted November 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 My fire department hasn't seen it, but since it's rated for higher than the max temp that the vent manufacturer says will be going through it, I think my fire marshall wouldn't care. He's pretty cool about that kind of stuff, and generally defers to the manufacturers if it's not a system he's familiar with. It's also only a 3 foot run. Orton actually ships a plastic vent hose with their vents. The flexible metal ducts get hole in them, and get mangles when people bump them with their feet. Those holes cause a major air quality problem, which I think is a much bigger deal than the odds of the hose catching fire. Does your venting network go through any walls? That could definitely be a problem with anything flammable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 I wasn't happy with what I installed, this looks better. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 Thanks Neil. I'm not happy with my flexible metal duct because they wear out so fast. Will definitely give this a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 I like my fire marshall to stay in the station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 I agree with you Mark, when I had my wallpaper store, they would come in and search until they found something they could write you up on. It may have been okay with the last inspector but they weren't satisfied. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted November 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 The fire marshall comes into my shop once a year and checks the emergency exit lights and fire extinguisher, and makes sure I don't have too much crap piled by the back door. That's all. He inspected the kilns when I opened the shop, so I guess he figures that's done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 Thanks for this Neil. I have taped my flexible ducting I dont even know how many times. It wears out so fast. I have been looking for an alternative and was trying to decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.