Frequently Asked Questions and Authoritative Answers on Fiber Textile Ducts

       With the rapid development of green buildings and energy-saving technologies, fiber textile ducts (also known as fabric ducts or textile air diffusers) are gradually replacing traditional metal ducts. Thanks to their advantages of lightweight construction, energy efficiency, and easy installation, they are now widely used in commercial complexes, sports venues, food factories, cold chain logistics, and electronic cleanrooms. However, many engineers, owners, and construction teams still have numerous questions when first encountering this product. This article systematically reviews 12 frequently asked questions regarding fiber textile ducts and provides professional, clear answers to help you gain a comprehensive understanding of this new ventilation solution.
1. What is a Fiber Textile Duct?
Answer: A fiber textile duct is a flexible air distribution duct made from high-density polyester fiber as the base material, processed through special textile techniques and functional coatings. It achieves uniform air distribution through surface micro-perforations or slots, integrating the functions of air supply, plenum chamber, and terminal diffuser. It can be directly connected to the air conditioning unit without the need for additional vents.
2. Will the Fiber Textile Duct get Mouldy?
Answer: Fiber textile ducts produced by正规 manufacturers undergo anti-mold and antibacterial treatments. For example, mainstream products achieve a Class 0 anti-mold rating (indicating no mold growth) according to the national standard GB/T 24346 "Evaluation of Anti-mold Properties of Textiles" by adding silver ions or organic antibacterial agents. Furthermore, the material itself is non-absorbent and does not condensate (especially in insulated models), fundamentally eliminating the environment necessary for mold growth. As long as the system is designed reasonably and long-term shutdowns with dust accumulation are avoided, the duct will not get moldy under normal use.
3. How is the Fire Resistance? Does it Comply with Fire Codes?
Answer: The fire rating of fiber textile ducts is one of the biggest concerns for users. Currently, mainstream products on the market have passed national testing certifications for building materials, achieving Class A (non-combustible) or Class B1 (difficult to ignite). Some high-end products even meet the EU standard EN 13501-1 A2-s1,d0. In practical engineering applications, as long as products with flame-retardant ratings that comply with local fire codes are selected and installed according to regulations, they can fully satisfy the fire safety requirements of public buildings.
4. How Long is the Service Life?
Answer: Under normal operating conditions (temperature -30℃ to +90℃, humidity ≤90% RH), high-quality fiber textile ducts have a designed service life of 15–20 years. They exhibit excellent resistance to aging, UV radiation, and chemical corrosion. With regular maintenance (such as washing once every 1–2 years), the lifespan can be further extended. Compared to traditional galvanized iron ducts, which are prone to rust and increasing air leakage rates over time, fiber textile ducts offer superior long-term stability.
5. Is Installation Really Faster than Metal Ducts?
Answer: Yes. The weight of a fiber textile duct is only 1/5 to 1/3 that of a metal duct, and it requires no welding, flange connections, or insulation construction. Using rails, lifting straps, or wire ropes for suspension, combined with modular design that supports rapid on-site assembly, a skilled worker can typically install 80–120 meters per day. This represents an efficiency improvement of over 50%, significantly shortening project timelines, making it especially suitable for renovation projects or those with tight schedules.
6. Is the Initial Investment Cost High?
Answer: While the unit area material price may be slightly higher than ordinary galvanized steel sheets, the overall cost offers greater advantages. Since it eliminates the need for insulation layers, silencers, diffusers, and supports, and significantly reduces labor, lifting, and transportation costs, the overall system cost is usually on par with or even lower than traditional solutions. More importantly, due to its operational energy savings (15%–25%) and easy maintenance, the life-cycle cost is far lower than that of metal ducts.
7. Is the Air Distribution Uniform? Will there be a "Draft" feeling?
Answer: This is precisely the core advantage of fiber textile ducts. Through precise CFD airflow simulation to design hole density and position, it can achieve 360° three-dimensional uniform air distribution, with wind speeds controlled within 0.1–0.5 m/s (the comfort zone). This effectively avoids the local strong winds or temperature stratification caused by traditional vents. In large spaces such as gymnasiums and exhibition halls, it can significantly improve thermal comfort.
8. Can it be Used in Cleanrooms or Food Processing Workshops?
Answer: Absolutely. For clean environments, manufacturers can provide specialized fabrics with GMP or FDA certification. These fabrics have smooth surfaces with no fiber shedding and, when paired with high-efficiency filtration systems, can meet ISO Class 5–8 cleanliness requirements. There are already numerous successful cases in industries such as dairy products, baking, and pharmaceuticals.
9. Is Cleaning and Maintenance Troublesome?
Answer: On the contrary, maintenance is extremely simple. Most products support complete removal and machine washing (industrial washing machines) or on-site cleaning using high-pressure vacuuming and wet wiping. Some high-end products also feature a self-cleaning coating, making it difficult for dust to adhere. It is recommended to perform a professional cleaning every 1–2 years, with the operation time being only one-third that required for metal ducts.
10. Is it Suitable for Low-Temperature or High-Temperature Environments?
Answer: It is suitable. Standard models are applicable for 5℃–50℃; Insulated models (with built-in rubber/plastic or glass wool insulation layers) can be used in -30℃ cold storage or for 80℃ high-temperature smoke exhaust (requires special materials). In scenarios such as cold chain logistics centers and frozen warehouses, its anti-condensation performance is far superior to that of metal ducts.
11. Is the Noise Level High?
Answer: The noise is extremely low. The fiber textile material itself has sound-absorbing characteristics, and combined with uniform low-speed air distribution, it effectively eliminates the noise caused by vortices and resonance in traditional metal ducts. Field measurements indicate that the system operating noise can be reduced by 5–10 decibels, eliminating the need for additional silencers.
12. Will it be Phased Out in the Future? Is the Technology Mature?
Answer: The technology is already very mature. Fiber textile ducts have a history of over 40 years of application in Europe and America, and in China, they have completed tens of thousands of project verifications in the past decade. With the integration of BIM collaborative design, smart sensing (such as temperature and humidity feedback control), and low-carbon materials (bio-based fibers), its intelligence and sustainability are continuing to upgrade. It represents a clear development direction for the HVAC industry.
Conclusion
       The fiber textile duct is not a "gimmick," but rather an efficient, green, and intelligent ventilation solution that has been fully validated by the market. In the face of "Dual Carbon" goals and the trend of architectural industrialization, understanding and correctly applying this technology will bring significant economic, environmental, and user experience value to projects. When selecting a supplier, it is recommended to pay attention to their technical qualifications, engineering case studies, and after-sales service system to ensure the long-term and stable operation of the system.