FM Approvals now tests and certifies ducts of any diameter

Large fume exhaust and/or fume and smoke exhaust ducts – those with a diameter of at least 5 ft. (1.5 m), with no upper size limitation – play a critical role in various industries where it is essential to be able to remove large volumes of air or gas.

To address this critical need directly, the requirements of FM 4922 (formerly Fume Exhaust Ducts or Fume and Some Exhaust Ducts) have been organized into three distinct standards. The requirements for the testing of ducts now span the following three standards; FM 4921 for Fume and Smoke Exhaust Duct Systems, FM 4922 for Fume and Smoke Exhaust Duct Systems for Use In Cleanrooms, and FM 4923 for Fume Exhaust Duct Systems.

All three standards include test methods that can be used to achieve certification for industrial exhaust duct diameters of unlimited sizes. With industries building facilities and infrastructure that operate at increasingly faster speeds and at a larger scale – the need for large exhaust duct installations is on the rise.

With many large exhaust duct applications exhausting corrosive materials, the updated standards allow for unlimited size exhaust ducts to be approved for use without sprinklers installed within. From a maintenance standpoint, having reliable large exhaust ducts that do not require sprinkler protection is invaluable. The need to maintain and replace sprinklers, piping, and the related components is no longer a must for these applications.

Common applications where large exhaust ducts can be found include:

• Semiconductor manufacturing – to facilitate ventilation, air filtration, and removal of contaminants from cleanrooms needed for complex processes
• Power generation – to carry exhaust from turbines to emission control systems
• Mining – to provide ventilation that allows for worker safety and equipment functionality in otherwise uninhabitable areas
• Manufacturing – to transport gases, fumes, and particles to filtration systems
• Other HVAC and air quality control – to maintain indoor air quality and improve energy efficiency

FM Approvals’ testing requirements include a 16 ft. (4.9 m) parallel panel fire test, allowing for the certification of large exhaust ducts. Moreover, the horizontal/vertical combination test has been removed from the testing requirements, making certification more attainable and – in most cases – reducing the overall project cost for these standards.

Recently, the Breffni Air Coated Duct System – a circular shaped stainless steel exhaust duct interiorly coated with a two-part ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) thermoplastic resin – became the first FM Approved duct system following successful completion of the testing requirements included in FM 4922. This significant development is another example of continued expansion in the availability of FM Approved solutions around the world. For a complete listing of FM Approved products, access the Approval Guide.

FM Approvals is recognized and respected worldwide. The 60,000+ FM Approved products listed in the Approval Guide are produced by manufacturers based in more than 70 countries. If your organization manufactures or is in search of property loss prevention products, email [email protected].