Editor's note: This content originally appeared in the December 2007 issue of HPAC Engineering.
Fabric duct is one of the fastest-growing segments of the HVAC air-distribution market, representing more than 5 percent of open-architecture-ductwork specification.
Fabric duct is 90-percent lighter and 40- to 60-percent faster to install than metal duct. This, combined with the fact metal prices have increased over the last year, makes fabric duct a value-engineered alternative to metal duct. Additionally, it offers a more streamlined look and is easy to maintain inside and out.
Despite the inroads fabric duct has made, many engineers are unaware of perhaps its greatest attribute: diversity of air dispersion. Fabric duct is capable of more-even air distribution than most other systems, mainly because air can flow through its pores, as well as linear vents running its entire length. This gallery illustrates five types of air dispersion possible with fabric duct.
As director of innovation and new-product development for DuctSox Corp., Nick Paschke specializes in the use of textiles in air-dispersion systems. Listed as inventor on at least seven U.S. and international patents, he holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.