ALLOY SYSTEMS™ GRAY FLEXDUCT - Deterioration in Hot Locations
The first field reports we received of gray flex duct disintegration bearing the Alloy Systems brand was in 2010, reported by Eric Van De Ven, a South Florida home inspector. The Alloy Systems flex duct photos in this article were provided by Mr. Van De Ven and were taken in a South Florida home built in 1984.
Air conditioning duct system defects include a remarkably wide range of errors, from failure to supply cool air or failure to even circulate air
in the building, to health hazards such as use of asbestos material in or on duct work, to very dangerous conditions such as drawing heating
equipment combustion gases into the building cooling (or heating) air.
This article explains Alloy Systems™ brand gray flex duct failures that appear as loss of the gray plastic duct covering due to brittleness that appears to be caused by exposure to heat (such as in a hot attic), with references to product failures by several manufacturers of flexible duct work,
including
Alloy Systems™,
Goodman™ flex duct,
Owens Corning™ flex duct,
Owl™ flex duct.
We believe that none of these defective flex duct products is currently sold (2010) but both may be found in older homes. Note: not all
Owens Corning flex duct products share this defect and disintegration problem.
The loss of the protective plastic covering on flex duct poses several concerns including loss of the duct insulation, increased air conditioning system operating costs, and possibly air leaks out (if supply ducts are damaged) or un-wanted attic debris leaks in (if return ducts are damaged), and in-duct condensation in the HVAC system leading to mold and indoor air quality concerns.
This Alloy Systems gray flex duct or "flex duct" air conditioning duct work material is a defective product.
In hot attic spaces or where exposed to UV light, the plastic of this flexible air conditioning
duct material disintegrates leaving its fiberglass insulation exposed to also disintegrate, leak, or possibly blow into
the building living space.
Replacement of the duct work is required - a significant expense. - Thanks to Eric Van De Ven for these photos
of Alloy Systems gray flex duct disintegrating in an attic.
Where this duct is found in a building it should be replaced. When a heating or air conditioning flex-duct product has lost its exterior plastic covering the effects are these:
The cost of heating or cooling the building is increased due to lost insulation: because the ducts are no longer insulated from the ambient temperature in the attic or crawl space where they are located. For example, an air conditioning duct passing through a hot attic and missing its insulation will be heated by the ambient attic air, delivering warmer air to the living space than is desired.
The cost of heating or cooling the building is increased due to leaks: because damaged ducts are more likely to leak, cooled or warmed air intended for the occupied space may be lost in the attic or crawl space where the damaged HVAC ducts are located.
In addition we might see these two indirect problems developing:
Increased circulation of fiberglass particles from the duct insulation or from building insulation which may be picked up and blown into the building air supply
Mold growth in the HVAC ducts due to loss of insulation and increased in-duct condensation in some circumstances. See Flexduct Lawsuit at our references below.
Below at Technical Reviewers & References we include Flexible Air Duct Installation Manuals, standards, guidelines, and contact information for several flexible air duct manufacturers as well as access to Flexible Duct Performance & Installation Standards provided by the Air Diffusion Council.
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Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.
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Thanks to Eric Van De Ven, a South Florida home inspector, owner of Magnum Inspections Inc.,
Phone: (954) 340 6615
e mail: ev@magnuminspections.com for the discovery, reporting, photographs, and reporting of Alloy Systems gray flexduct failures. 04/15/2010.
Alloy Systems Corp Incorporated: This Alloy Systems (not the companies by similar name that provide computer services or clothing) is or was a private company categorized under HVAC, Ducts, Sheet Metal. The company was located in Melbourne, FL. Established in 1984. Other records indicate an original incorporation year of 1978 depending on the source. Alloy was incorporated in Florida, with this address on record:
6928 Vickie Cir Melbourne, FL 32904-2217 (321) 727-3513,
Incorporated by Moren, Patrick J., Alloy Systems Corp. The original Alloy Systems Corp. was incorporated on Friday, May 26, 1978 in the State of FL and is currently not active. Moren, Patrick J. represents Alloy Systems Corp. as their registered agent.
Thanks to Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, for assistance in technical review of the "Critical Defects"
section and for the photograph of the deteriorating gray Owens Corning flex duct in a hot attic. Mr. Cramer is a Florida home inspector and
home inspection educator.
Thanks to Jon Bolton, an ASHI, FABI, and otherwise certified Florida home inspector who provided photos of failing Goodman gray flex duct in a hot attic.
"Design & Installation of Residential Flexible Ductwork Systems", Georgia Department of Community Affairs, 60 Executive Park, NE, Atlanta GA 30329
- (404) 679-4940 - (800) 359-4663 [Also see the installation manuals below at JPL] - original source dca.state.ga.us/development/constructioncodes/publications/1ONE.pdf "1. This information is intended to assist contractors, installers and code officials in the proper design and installation of flexible ductwork systems. The information presented in this document comes primarily from sources in the International Mechanical Code including referenced standards and Georgia Amendments.
2. It is recommended as a guide that HVAC system documentation, including owner’s manuals, manufacturer’s installation instructions and a sketch of the duct system design that details duct size and approximate duct lengths be provided to the building owner or posted on the air handling unit or furnace. (See sample Duct System Design Sketch). Documentation should also include Manual J calculations."
"Flexible Duct Performance & Installation Standards", Air Diffusion Council, 1901 N. Roselle Road, Suite 800, Schaumburg, Illinois 60195, Tel: (847) 706-6750, Fax: (847) 706-6751 - info@flexibleduct.org - www.flexibleduct.org/ - "The ADC has produced the 4th Edition of the Flexible Duct Performance & Installation Standards (a 28-page manual) for use and reference by designers, architects, engineers, contractors, installers and users for evaluating, selecting, specifying and properly installing flexible duct in heating and air conditioning systems.
Features covered in depth include: descriptions of typical styles, characteristics and requirements, testing, listing, reporting, certifying, packaging and product marking.
Guidelines for proper installation are treated and illustrated in depth, featuring connections, splices and proper support methods for flexible duct. A single and uniform method of making end connections and splices is graphically presented for both non-metallic and metallic with plain ends."
The printed manual is available in English only. Downloadable PDF is available in English and Spanish.
Flexduct lawsuit, Richard T.D. Bethea et als, v. Song Hee Hong, et al, filed may 29, 2009, Jackson Tennessee Court of Appeals, dispute involving the contract for sale of a house. A musty odor was associated with mold contaminated flex duct in the building. The ductwork could not be cleaned because of its fragility - an Owl-flex duct product. Sellers (correctly) asserted that the ductwork could not be cleaned. The court finding includes the statement that "OWL FLEX ductwork was uncleanable". The buyers ability to terminate the sales contract was upheld.
Owens Corning Duct Solutions - www.owenscorning.com/ductsolutions/ - provides current HVAC ductwork and duct insulating product descriptions and a dealer locator. Owens Corning Insulating Systems, LLC, One Owens Corning Parkway, Toledo, OH 43659 1-800-GET-PINK™
"Flexible Duct Media Fiberglas™ Insulation, Product Data Sheet", Owens Corning - see owenscorning.com/quietzone/pdfs/QZFlexible_DataSheet.pdf "Owens Corning Flexible Duct Media Insulation is a lightweight, flexible, resilient thermal and acoustical insulation made of
inorganic glass fibers bonded with a thermosetting resin."
"Flexible Duct Performance and Installation Standards", (3rd ed.) – Air Diffusion Council, 1901 N. Roselle Road, Suite 800,
Schaumburg, Illinois 60195,
Tel: (847) 706-6750 -
Fax: (847) 706-6751 email: info@flexibleduct.org
HVAC Duct Construction Standards—Metal and Flexible (1995 ed.) – Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association, Inc. (SMACNA)
International Mechanical Code, 2000 Edition, with 2001, 2004 & 2005 Georgia Amendments
Manual D—Residential Duct Systems – Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)
Mold in the air handler or duct work is discussed at AIR HANDLER / BLOWER UNITS chapter HOW TO PREVENT MOLD: Correct the Causes of Mold and Prevent Indoor Mold or other indoor environment problems.
"Air Conditioning & Refrigeration I & II", BOCES Education, Warren Hilliard (instructor), Poughkeepsie, New York, May - July 1982, [classroom notes from air conditioning and refrigeration maintenance and repair course attended by the website author]
Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, have provided us with (and we recommend)
Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates' Technical Reference Guide to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment ($69.00 U.S.).
For more information about fiberglass as an indoor air quality concern see:
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop. The Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
"Air Conditioning & Refrigeration I & II", BOCES Education, Warren Hilliard (instructor), Poughkeepsie, New York, May - July 1982, [classroom notes from air conditioning and refrigeration maintenance and repair course attended by the website author]
Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, have provided us with (and we recommend)
Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates' Technical Reference Guide to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment ($69.00 U.S.).
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