Is It Prophylactic? (What To Role Instead)

You are more than than excused for beingness confused virtually duct record utilisation. It’sec called duct record, and so assuming that you lot tin can function it on ducts is logical.

However, it turns out that the advert is horribly misleading. To make matters fifty-fifty more than confusing, in that location really is duct tape; it’s but non called duct tape.

Duct record cannot be used on dryer ducts because it is not UL 181A-compliant. Duct record does non adhere good to HVAC systems and can go a fire gamble when it dries out.

Regular Duct Tape Cannot Be Used

The International Residential Code (IRC) is a set of building requirements that is used worldwide to fix a measure of edifice condom.

The IRC has specific requirements for the installation too sealing of ducts, as well as, despite the misleading advert, duct record is non a textile that can live used on ducts according to these requirements.

Section M1502 of the IRC covers dryer exhaust venting, including duct structure. Section M1502.4.two says that ducts take to live sealed in accordance with Section M1601.4.ane.

Section M1601.four.i says:

“Tapes as well as mastics used to seal fibrous glass ductwork shall live listed in addition to labeled inwards accordance with UL 181A in addition to shall live marked “181A-P” for pressure-sensitive tape, “181A-thousand” for mastic or “181-H” for heat-sensitive record.”

UL 181A tape is especially designed for use on HVAC systems. It has been tested to ensure proper adhesion to ductwork in addition to to boundary fire hazards.

Before a tape tin live classified equally UL 181A compliant, the tape is tested on its:

• Fire resistance





• Pressure resistance





• Tension





• Leakage





• Performance inwards high/depression temperatures





• Mold increment inward humid weather

Also, retrieve to bank check your local edifice codes for more than specific regulations. The IRC is used every bit a template, simply local edifice codes may add on additional requirements. 

Problems With Using Duct Tape on Dryer Ducts

Duct tape is non a UL 181A-compliant tape. It fails to meet the necessary safety requirements to live used on dryer ducts.

Duct record is a textile-backed tape alongside rubber adhesive. Although this record is very potent, it is far from the ideal option for dryer ducts.

Dryer ducts bear the hot air produced past the dryer. When the dryer is not operating, the ducts are at more moderate temperatures. In addition, they lead outside, which makes them partially subject area to outside temperatures.

All of this way that the dryer ducts tin feel a large temperature fluctuation throughout whatever given solar day and throughout the twelvemonth.

In an experiment conducted past a lab inward Berkeley, CA, they constitute that the adhesive on duct tape was degraded past the temperature fluctuations in addition to failed to remain attached to the ductwork.

This is hardly going to be a solution to your job!

The material that duct tape contains as well poses a take a chance to inhabitants if it is used on a dryer duct. If the duct record adhesive dries out, the textile becomes a highly flammable textile. 

These ii characteristics of duct record make it ineffective inward well-nigh all of the requirements for UL 181A-compliant record.

• It is a burn down adventure.





• It performs poorly inwards varying temperatures in addition to therefore falls off ventilation.





• Falling off ventilation leads to the risk of leakage around the duct tape.





• It has piteous force per unit area resistance equally the record adhesive is degraded because whatever pressure level will drive the compromised seal to interruption.

Perhaps a quote from Max Sherman, the caput of the Energy Performance of Buildings Group inward the Berkeley lab, can dispel whatever last doubts of the inefficacy of duct record for this role:

“We tried equally many dissimilar kinds of duct sealants as nosotros could become our hands on. Of all the things nosotros tested, solely duct record failed. It failed reliably in addition to oftentimes quite catastrophically,” 

You likewise should not live using duct record inwards the dryer.

UL 181A-Listed HVAC Tape Must Be Used

UL 181A-listed HVAC record must live used for dryer vents, every bit per IRC condom regulations. Tapes categorized every bit UL 181A are specially created for use on HVAC systems. 

They must be made of either aluminum or an aluminum alloy foil, in addition to they must be at least 2.five″ (half dozen.35 cm) inward width. 

The aluminum textile of these tapes allows them to properly adapt to temperature changes because the metallic will expand as well as contract with the duct.

A width of at to the lowest degree 2.5″ ensures that the record is wide plenty to encompass the seam with plenty extra record on each side to make a strong seal.

UL 181A-listed tapes are classified as having a Flame Spread Index (FSI) of less than 25. An FSI of less than 25 puts UL 181A tapes inward the Grade A category (0-25 FSI), pregnant they make not burn down easily or apace.

These tapes must also accept a Smoke Developed Index (SDI) of less than fifty. The SDI measures how much smoke is produced equally an object burns. At less than l SDI, UL 181A-listed tapes make non create excessive concentrations of smoke, even when ignited.

The FSI too SDI ratings are of import because, without proper precautions, ducts tin can get highways for fume and burn, carrying it throughout your dwelling earlier y'all are even aware of it.

Most UL-181A-listed tapes include labeling on the actual record. Look for aluminum foil tape with 181A-P printed on it.

Brands such equally Shurtape, Nashua, StegoDIYTape, Uline, too Duck make carry UL-181A-listed tapes.

Duck Tape Sells a Specialized Tape for Ducts

You may know the brand Duck Tape for its traditional duct record products (too for the countless arguments caused amongst people—is it ducT tape or ducK tape?), simply they also sell a UL 181A-compliant tape _{^{(amazon link)}}.

Unlike their duct tape products that are made of prophylactic adhesive as well as textile fibers, this production is a foil record. It meets fire spread in addition to fume evolution requirements too has a large temperature range in which it tin be used.

Make sure to buy the correct record for your dryer duct, every bit we have discussed inwards length in a higher place how using duct tape on HVAC systems is not rubber.

Sources

http://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov/doc_flamespread.html 

https://pstc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Krupa_David.pdf

https://tapeuniversity.com/products/foil-tapes/ul181ap-ul181bfx/

https://www.mrhandyman.com/weblog/2016/november/yous-shouldn-t-function-duct-record-on-your-ducts/

https://www2.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/duct-tape-HVAC.html