During the construction of any building, it is mandatory to install a heating system. The main objective of the reliable operation of the heating device, which operates both on solid, and on liquid or gaseous fuel, is the effective removal of exhaust combustion products. Therefore, any stove, fireplace or heating boiler should be equipped with a high-quality chimney.
More recently, chimneys were made mainly of brick or asbestos-cement pipes, but such structures had great weight and difficulties in operation. In the modern building materials market, flexible chimneys made of corrugated stainless steel pipes are very popular. Simplicity of construction 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 crack and crumble after long periods of use, the flexible stainless steel chimney is highly resistant to temperature changes. But this is not their only advantage, which leads to increasing popularity and attracts furnace owners.
The main advantages of stainless steel pipes include:
- long term of operation, without loss of mechanical properties;
- the ability to install systems, remove waste combustion products of any complexity;
- high mechanical strength of the pipe walls;
- high fire safety of the material;
- simplicity of installation and operation;
- resistance of the material to high humidity and dampness;
- the relatively low cost of components.
Among the shortcomings can be identified the need for insulation of pipes, which are located on the outside of the building, to prevent the formation of condensate.
Chimney construction
A flexible chimney made of stainless steel is structurally designed as a prefabricated system made up of individual modules. Such a technological solution makes it easy to repair a damaged area by replacing it with a new insert.
The use of bends of a special shape makes it possible to direct the chimney in any direction during installation of the structure without problems. In this case, the reinstallation of the heating device is not required, which is a huge technological advantage.
For the construction of an effective exhaust system for exhaust combustion products, special stainless steel pipes of the following types are used:
- single-layer steel pipe;
- two-layer stainless pipe;
- corrugated stainless steel pipe.
The use of the required type of pipes for the installation of the chimney is determined by the operating conditions of the system and its location.
Single layer pipe
Single-layer pipes are mainly used inside a heated room. A large temperature difference inside the pipe and outside leads to the formation of condensate, which significantly reduces the durability and performance of the entire heating system, as well as leads to an excess of useful energy from the heat source.
Installation of single-layer pipes outside the building should be carried out with mandatory quality insulation of the entire structure. Therefore, the low cost of a single-layer stainless steel is significantly increased by the cost of insulation material, which is a significant disadvantage of using such products for a flexible chimney.
Such a disadvantage can be easily eliminated using two-layer 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 fireproof basalt fiber.
The versatility of such products is due to the possibility of their use in the location of a flexible chimney both indoors and outdoors.
Installation of sandwich systems is carried out in the same way as single-layer pipes using special bends.
Stainless steel corrugated pipe
Such a product is widely used for a flexible corrugated stainless steel chimney with a curved design. The pipe is made of multilayer foil. At the same time, the strips are interconnected by a special method of locking type and are fixed on a steel spring. Such a constructive solution allows bending corrugated stainless steel by 120-180 degrees, while the initial length can be increased three times.
Processing the internal and external surfaces of the product with a special solution increases the life of the product up to 20 years. Moreover, this design is resistant to aggressive and chemically active substances.
Installation of a corrugated chimney should be carried out with mandatory insulation of the exhaust channels of the system. For thermal insulation, it is best to use cotton wool made of basalt material, which is produced in rolls and is perfect for mounting the system both indoors and outdoors.
The main technical characteristics of the corrugated pipe
The manufacture of a chimney from corrugated material is best done with the smallest number of joints, as this increases the tightness of the smoke exhaust system.
The most important characteristics of corrugated pipes are:
- operating temperature ranges from -50 ° C to +110 ° C;
- pressure at a maximum temperature of up to 15 bar;
- depending on the diameter of the product, the bending radius can be from 25 to 150 mm;
- coefficient of linear expansion - 17;
- ultimate 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, stringent requirements are imposed on a flexible chimney for a gas boiler. The combustion of natural gas is accompanied by the release of waste products that are completely not perceptible to humans. Carbon monoxide has a particularly harmful effect on human health. Therefore, it is advisable to entrust all chimney installation work to experienced specialists in order to properly arrange a particularly tight system for removing toxic gases.
The use of corrugated hoses allows you to create good traction and provides a high level of safety during the operation of gas equipment for many years.
Due to the special flexibility of the corrugated stainless steel hoses, the smoke exhaust device is easy to carry out in any direction, and there is no need to move the gas boiler itself.
Basic rules for installing the chimney
Strict adherence to the process of connecting a flexible chimney to a heat source is the key to safe and long-term operation of all equipment.
Therefore, when installing a smoke exhaust system, the following basic rules must be followed:
- The diameter of the chimney pipe should correspond to the cross section of the output channel of the heating device.
- The 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 should not exceed five meters.
- The length of horizontal sections 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.
- At the outlet of the chimney located on the roof of combustible material, it is imperative to install a spark arrester.
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 poisonous gases, and is also a reliable protection of the building from a possible fire. Flexible chimneys made of stainless steel meet all safety requirements.