Choosing the Right Ducting for the Job

Ducting is low pressure by nature. It's not carrying fluid under pressure; it's moving air or material through a ventilation or extraction path. But that doesn't mean specification doesn't matter. The wrong ducting material fails in ways that range from premature collapse to chemical attack, fire risk, or simply not moving the volume of air you need.

PVC is the standard material for general ventilation and extraction. It's cheap, flexible, and available in a wide range of diameters. Temperature is the main limitation; standard PVC loses its shape above around 60°C. For hot air, fumes, or anything above ambient temperature, you need something better rated. Learn more in our article: What is Ducting? A Guide.

Polyurethane ducting is more abrasion resistant than PVC, which matters in applications where material is being conveyed through the duct as well as air. Woodworking extraction, grain handling, and similar applications put wear into the duct wall that PVC won't handle long-term.

Silicone ducting handles the high-temperature applications, engine bay extraction, oven ventilation, and industrial process air at elevated temperatures. Where PVC gives out, silicone keeps going.

Diameter and wall construction determine how much resistance the duct introduces to the airflow. Undersizing the duct for the fan output results in noise, vibration, and reduced extraction performance. Match the duct diameter to the equipment specification.

Orders over £200 to England and Wales qualify for free delivery, with same-day dispatch on most in-stock lines.