Texoflex AL Stretch uninsulated semi-flexible duct - diameter 160 mm

Why use semi-flexible ducts?
Compared to rigid ductwork, semi-flexible ducts offer a quicker and cheaper installation process, as they do not require separate elements such as bends to change direction. The lighter weight also means they need fewer mounting points. Another benefit is that a continuous run of Texoflex AL Stretch will have zero leaks.

Why choose Texoflex AL Stretch?
The main advantages of Texoflex AL Stretch are its excellent flexibility, corrosion and temperature resistance (up to +200º C). Texoflex AL Stretch can bend in a tight radius and can compress and stretch. Thanks to this Texoflex AL Stretch is easy to route around bends and obstacles and attach to round/oval connectors.

Where is Texoflex AL Stretch used?
Texoflex AL Stretch is suitable for residential and industrial/commercial HVAC applications. Semi-flexible ducts can be used both for supply and exhaust ventilation systems.

Exhaust ventilation
A typical example of semi-flexible ducts in exhaust ventilation and one of the most common use cases for Texoflex AL Stretch is exhausting fumes in industrial applications. It’s also ideal for kitchen fume extraction and exhausting humid air from bathrooms and laundry rooms to an outside wall grille. When possible the fan should be placed at the beginning of the duct.

Supply ventilation
Supply ventilation creates a positive pressure in the duct, which allows for longer runs. However, this does not mean that all of the standard galvanised steel and Spiro ducts can be replaced with Texoflex AL Stretch. Flexible ducting complements rigid ductwork. For example, Texoflex AL Stretch is very convenient for attaching air supply outlets or plenum boxes to rigid ductwork. 

Construction
Texoflex AL Stretch is made entirely out of aluminium with a thickness of 0,09 mm and has an accordion-like construction. Thanks to this, its bend radius is small and it can compress and stretch. As it does not contain any flammable materials, it does not burn or release toxic fumes in the event of a fire.

Installation
Texoflex AL Stretch is attached to other ventilation elements using long zip ties or metal band clamps. Aluminium tape (Alu tape) can provide additional strength if needed.

Semi-flexible ducts might not always be the best option
The disadvantages of semi-flexible ducts include their higher air resistance/pressure loss and noise levels compared to rigid circular/Spiro ductwork. The flexible construction of these ducts also means that they are less suited to negative pressure applications. In cases where it is impossible to avoid negative pressure, the duct run should be kept short.

Further considerations
While semi-flexible ducting is considerably easier to install than standard ducting, there are some considerations to keep in mind. When bending the duct, it must not become kinked. Any kinks in the ductwork will negatively affect airflow. Unlike rigid ducts, which are measured and cut to the exact length, semi-flexible ducts are often left longer than necessary. This extra length can introduce unnecessary bends and turns along the duct run. And in cases where the duct hangs from a ceiling, it will sag between the supports/mounts. All of this reduces the performance of the ventilation system.

Shipping
Texoflex AL Stretch ships in a compressed form that takes up just 1/3 of its full size, which makes its transportation and storage easier. Once unpacked, the duct extends to its standard length of 3 m.