ADCAS is recommending a new BSRIA guide which has been created to help clarify confusion surrounding flexible ductwork and improve building performance.
BSRIA (the Building Services Research and Information Association) has launched Flexible Ductwork - A guide to specification, procurement, installation and maintenance (BG 43/2013) in as a joint venture with the Association of Ductwork Contractors (ADCAS). The document provides guidance about legislation, product standards, specifications, installation practices and maintenance requirements relating to flexible ductwork.

Chair of the Associates Committee, Philip Johnson, said the guide answers a need within the industry to refine essential legal and best practice policies regarding flexible ductwork to raise standards within the country's buildings.

He said: 'A lack of clarity over statutory requirements, product standards and technical guidance relating to flexible ductwork has led to a wide variety of interpretations by those parties involved in the design, specification, manufacture, installation and maintenance of ventilation and air conditioning systems containing flexible ductwork.

'This means that buildings may have ductwork installations that do not meet statutory requirements and may potentially compromise building performance. The BSRIA guide clears up any confusion and is a must read for those in the industry.'

Ideal partners in the guide

ADCAS president Malcolm Moss, who provided the foreword to the guide, added: 'ADCAS's practical expertise in flexible ductwork meant we were the ideal partners to the BSRIA's engineering, technical and market research experts in producing a best practice guide.

'In preparing the guide, information was gathered from Approved Documents of the Building Regulations, British and European standards, industry guidance literature produced by organisations such as CIBSE and B&ES, manufacturers' technical guidance and a wide range of construction project specifications. We are confident that it will provide a valuable and informative reference document in the future.'

The guide was written by Glenn Hawkins of Clear Construction and designed and produced by Joanna Smith of BSRIA. Hard copies of the guide are now available for purchase at £30 or £15 to BSRIA members. PDF versions are also available for £30 + VAT or free to download for BSRIA members.

The guide focuses on metallic and non-metallic flexible ductwork in insulated and uninsulated forms only. It aims to help improve the performance of buildings by providing guidance about the legislation, product standards, specifications, installation practices and maintenance requirements relating to flexible ductwork.

Chapters focus on:

An overview of flexible ductwork

Specifying flexible ductwork

Dimensions and mechanical requirements

Installation of flexible ductwork

Reaction-to-fire-performance

Maintenance of flexible ductwork

To obtain a copy of the BSRIA flexible ductwork guide visit www.bsria.co.uk/goto/flexibleductwork