Fire Rated Ductwork

Ductwork runs throughout many large buildings, delivering and removing both hot and cold air to maintain a comfortable climate for occupants

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Building Services Protection - FIRE DUCT SECTION

Fire rated ductwork

Ductwork runs throughout many large buildings, delivering and removing both hot and cold air to maintain a comfortable climate for occupants. Unfortunately, these vital networks also offer the perfect pathway for a fire.

Fire rated ductwork improves the safe operation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems by minimising the chance of fire spread.

Effective fire resilient insulation acts as a barrier between ducts, to slow down or prevent the passage of flames and smoke around the building.

Discover how ROCKWOOL products can increase the safety and efficiency of residential, commercial and leisure constructions.

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Why do we need fire rated ductwork?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 180,000 deaths each year are caused by fires¹. Many of these occur within the workplace and homes.

Large residential and commercial properties often use HVAC systems to create a comfortable indoor environment. In order to keep spaces cool or warm, ductwork passes every room between the walls and floors.

These ducts, however, can quickly spread fire if one should break out, transmitting hot gases and toxic smoke around the building. During such a fire, the temperature in the duct can be up to 800°C and beyond. This huge temperature raise requires high-end, specialised insulation solutions to protect the people inside these buildings.

ROCKWOOL fire rated duct products can help minimise the risk this poses, and protect lives.

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The amount of fire rated duct insulation required will depend on the size of the building’s network, and the shape of the ducts themselves.

The primary purpose is to improve the fire safety of constructions. However, ROCKWOOL’s ductwork solutions are made from stone wool, which introduces the additional benefit of reducing thermal transmission.

This improves the energy efficiency needed to keep hot and cold air at their optimum temperatures when transported around a building – reducing energy requirements and leading to financial savings.

Use our ROCKWOOL U-value calculator to determine the thermal performance of the building's walls and possible cost savings. For more details on technical specifications, visit our ROCKSPEC Specification Toolkit.

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Why choose ROCKWOOL solutions?

ROCKWOOL solutions for ductwork fire resilience have been developed and tested according to the latest European safety standards². They are all classified as A1 non-combustible – the highest possible ranking.

We offer a variety of fire rated ductwork products to suit different construction types and applications – with solutions for round, square and rectangular ducts.

Our solutions include Ductslab, Ductwrap and the latest DuctRock system. The latter provides a patented horizontal penetration detail at dry walls, which is unique in the industry.

ROCKWOOL solutions for ductwork not only protect in case of fire, but are beneficial for reducing thermal transmission and unwanted noise as well.

Benefits of ROCKWOOL solutions include³:

Fire resilience
Temperature regulation
Improved energy efficiency
Adaptable for different building designs
Acoustic blocking

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We have developed a range of fire safe solutions, specifically engineered to ensure maximum safety and minimise the risk of fire spread. Large scale fire tests at an accredited fire laboratory ensure optimal fire safety levels up to 120 minutes.

Rob Kooiker

ROCKWOOL Group Product Manager

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Installation

ROCKWOOL products are easy to handle and install, as they come with detailed installation guidelines.

Our solutions are designed for fast application in tight fitting spaces, and offer flexible installation for use with different fixing options, including:

Welded pins
Alternative joint methods
Mitre-joint fixing
Mitre-joint methods

To install the DuctRock system on rectangular and square ductwork, you need a combination of welded pins, ROCKWOOL FIREPRO Glue or Conlit Kit, and ROCKWOOL black aluminium foil tape for fast and cost-effective mounting. For optimal installation, please consult available installation guidelines and always use a certified and professional installer.

Key tips⁴:

Pick the right insulation for the right shape – certain products are better suited to round, rectangular or square ductwork.
Safely secure insulation – use effective aluminium tape to seal any gaps and secure insulation around the entire ductwork.
Use a registered installer – for peace of mind, a certified installer can assess your building, advise on the best products to use and install the products safely.

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Sustainability and energy efficiency

All of our fire rated duct insulation products are made from stone wool, which can be infinitely recycled. It’s highly sustainable and can be easily removed from a building when it is renovated or demolished, to be used again⁵.

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ROCKWOOL solutions also act to reduce thermal transmission. This can help minimise energy use needed to heat or cool buildings – enhancing energy efficiency.

8 facts about the circularity of stone wool

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Financial support

There may be local schemes and incentives in your country to support the installation of fire safety products. Contact your local office for more information.

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