When building any building, it is necessary to install a heating system. The main task of reliable operation of a heating device operating on both solid and liquid or gaseous fuels is the effective removal of waste combustion products. Therefore, any stove, fireplace or heating boiler must be equipped with a high-quality chimney.
Most recently, chimneys were made mainly of brick or asbestos-cement pipes, but such designs were heavy and difficult to operate. In the modern building materials market, flexible chimneys made of corrugated stainless steel pipes are very popular. Simplicity of design and simple installation rules attract more and more people who decide to build a country house or cottage.
Advantages of stainless steel chimneys
Unlike old brick pipes, which after long-term usecrack and crumble, a flexible stainless steel chimney has a high resistance to temperature changes. But this is not their only advantage, which causes increasing popularity and attracts the owners of stoves.
The main advantages of stainless steel pipes include:
- long service life without loss of mechanical properties;
- possibility of installation of systems, removal of spent combustion products, of any complexity;
- high mechanical strength of the pipe walls;
- high fire safety material;
- easy to install and operate;
- material resistance to high humidity and dampness;
- comparatively low cost of components.
Among the shortcomings, one can single out the need to insulate pipes that are located on the outside of the building in order to prevent the formation of condensate.
Chimney design
Flexible chimney, made of stainless steel, is structurally arranged as a prefabricated system composed of individual modules. This technological solution makes it easy to repair the damaged area by replacing it with a new insert.
The use of specially shaped bends makes it possible to direct the chimney in any direction during the installation of the structure without any problems. At the same time, reinstallation of the heater is not required, which is a huge technological advantage.
Special stainless steel pipes are used for the construction of an efficient system for removing waste combustion productsthe following types:
- Single-layer type steel pipe;
- double-layer stainless pipe;
- corrugated stainless steel pipe.
The use of the required type of pipes for installing the chimney is determined by the operating conditions of the system and its location.
Single-layer pipe
Single-layer type pipes are mainly used inside a heated room. A large difference in temperature inside the pipe and outside leads to the formation of condensate, which significantly reduces the durability and performance of the entire heating system, and also leads to an excessive consumption of useful energy from the heat source.
Installation of single-layer pipes outside the building must be carried out with mandatory high-quality insulation of the entire structure. Therefore, the low cost of a single-layer stainless steel is significantly increased by the cost of the insulation material, which is a significant disadvantage of using such products for a flexible chimney.
This disadvantage can be easily eliminated by using two-layer type pipes.
Double-layer pipe
Such double-walled pipes have a simple name - a sandwich system. A two-layer pipe consists of pipes of different diameters, in the middle of which there is a layer of insulation made of fire-resistant bas alt fiber.
The versatility of such products is due to the possibility of their use when the flexible chimney is located both indoors and outdoors.
Installation of sandwich systemscarried out in the same way as single-layer pipes, using special bends.
Stainless Steel Corrugated Pipe
This product is widely used for flexible stainless steel corrugated chimney with curved design. The pipe is made of multilayer foil. At the same time, the strips are interconnected by a special locking method and are fixed on a steel spring. Such a constructive solution allows bending the corrugated stainless steel by 120-180 degrees, while the initial length can be increased three times.
Processing the inner and outer surface of the product with a special solution increases the service life of the product up to 20 years. At the same time, this design is resistant to aggressive and chemically active substances.
Installation of a corrugated chimney must be carried out with the obligatory insulation of the exhaust channels of the system. For thermal insulation, it is best to use bas alt wool, which is produced in rolls and is perfect for mounting the system both indoors and outdoors.
Main Specifications of Corrugated Pipe
The production of a chimney from corrugated material is best done with the least number of joints, as this increases the tightness of the smoke exhaust system.
The most important characteristics of corrugated pipes are:
- working temperature iswithin the range from -50 °С to +110 °С;
- pressure at maximum temperature up to 15 bar;
- depending on the diameter of the product, the bending radius can be from 25 to 150 mm;
- linear expansion coefficient – 17;
- maximum pressure - 50 atm.
High resistance to aggressive components makes the corrugated pipe indispensable for ventilation in hazardous areas.
Chimneys for gas boilers
As with all equipment, there are strict requirements for a flexible chimney for a gas boiler. The combustion of natural gas is accompanied by the release of waste products that are completely unnoticeable by humans. Carbon monoxide has a particularly harmful effect on human he alth. Therefore, it is advisable to entrust all work on the installation of the chimney to experienced professionals in order to properly arrange a particularly sealed system for the removal of toxic gases.
The use of corrugated hoses allows you to create good traction and ensures a high level of safety during the operation of gas equipment for many years.
Due to the special flexibility of the corrugated stainless steel sleeves, the smoke extraction device can be easily installed in any direction, without the need to move the gas boiler itself.
Basic rules for installing a chimney
Strict adherence to the technological process of connecting a flexible chimney to a heat source is the key to safe and long-term operation of all equipment.
Therefore, whenwhen installing a smoke extraction system, the following basic rules must be observed:
- The diameter of the chimney pipe must match the cross section of the outlet channel of the heating device.
- Flexible hoses must be fastened with special clamps of the appropriate size.
- When passing through floor slabs, it is necessary to enclose the pipe in a special fireproof casing.
- The height of the entire flexible chimney must not exceed five meters.
- The length of the sections of the horizontal direction is not more than one meter.
- If the chimney is made of non-combustible material, the distance of the structure from the wall is at least 50 mm.
- Connection to the boiler is carried out vertically in compliance with the tightness of the joint.
- A spark arrestor must be installed at the outlet of a chimney located on a combustible material roof.
Compliance with these simple rules will contribute to the long-term and safe operation of the heating structure.
Remember that a high-quality and reliable smoke removal system can protect a person from poisoning by toxic gases, and is also a reliable protection of the building from a possible fire. Flexible chimneys made of stainless steel meet all safety requirements.
