Factory Mutual Duct
Factory Mutual Approved PVC Duct
Prior to the availability of KCH's PVC duct, a company purchasing fire insurance requiring "Factory Mutual" ratings had little choice in the material of construction for pollution control, fume exhaust duct. To meet the requirements of insurance companies, most companies had to purchase fiberglass ducts with extensive internal water sprinkler systems.
When KCH introduced poly-vinyl chloride duct, the insurance companies had no test results to reference as proof of the self-extinguishing properties of PVC. KCH Services, Inc. took it upon themselves to perform the needed tests, and were very successful. The test results showed that KCH's unplasticized PVC Ducting does not burn readily. It also softens and melts under the heat of fire. Therefore, a flame inside the duct causes the PVC duct to collapse onto itself, starving the fire. This is in stark contrast to the FRP duct, which acts as a wind tunnel, feeding and spreading the flames.
As a result of these tests, KCH obtained "Factory Mutual" Approval on their P.V.C. duct, completely negating the need for fire sprinklers in their duct. KCH Model Firesist™ FM Approved PVC Duct has the following results per the ASTM E 84 Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics: Flame Spread = 15