Why ATS FXP™ Duct? Cost Savings
Selecting an ATS FXP™ duct system provides many direct and indirect cost savings over the short and long term.
- No need for costly sprinklers, drains or gray wastewater holding tanks.
- Accurate field-assembled components save labor and installation time.
- Innovative joining systems save time and money on future maintenance and system modifications.
- ATS FXP™ duct offers superb durability for long service life – a properly maintained ATS FXP™ duct system can provide 30+ years of satisfactory service.
- ATS FXP™ duct has lower pressure losses than standard duct saving energy costs.
| ATS FXP™ | Coated Metal | PVC | PPs | GRP Coated PVC | Regular FRP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of ownership | 1.7 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| FM 4922 approved? | Yes | Yes | Some PVC is 4922 approved, but only by virtue of the fact that it collapses, thus not spreading to other parts of building – but it is NOT approved for smoke removal NOR for use in cleanrooms | No | No | No |
| FM approved for use in cleanrooms? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Bulk delivery for site assembly? (Can it be shipped in loose components and assembled/modified easily on site?) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Can taps be easily installed on an operating system without appreciable pressure loss? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Has this product contributed to major fires? | No | No | Yes, earthquakes Japan, shattered; fires Japan, subway, deaths | Yes, 1. UICC $350 million loss, 1997, Taiwan 2. Winbond, Taiwan, 1996 | Unknown | Yes, SK Hynix $900 million loss, 2013, China |
| Sprinklers? | No | No | Yes, required | Yes, required | Yes, required | Yes, required |
| Delivery | Freight costs and lead times are greatly reduced with global manufacturing capabilities. | Ranges from good to poor depending on layout and location. If local, it is decent, but if needed to be shipped overseas, poor. | Good | Good | Decent | Good |
| Flexibility | Unparalleled | Poor | Good | Good | Decent | Decent |
| Installation time | Competitive | Competitive | Competitive | Competitive | Slow | Slow |
| Approvals | FM4922 smoke removal, FM4910 | FM4922 smoke removal, FM4910 | No | No | No | No |
| Corrosion resistance | Excellent, due to excellent joints | Excellent liner resistance but downfall is weak joints due to non-SMACNA flanges” | Excellent | Excellent | Depends on liner resin and construction | Depends on liner resin and construction |
| 100%-sealed joints available? | Yes | Not used due to high cost | Yes | Yes | Possible, but often not used | Possible, but often not used |
| Full face flanges? | Yes | Not used due to high cost | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Duct in 6 meter lengths? | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Freight costs and lead times are greatly reduced with global manufacturing capabilities. | Yes | Limited if using one supplier | Limited if using one supplier | Limited if using one supplier | Limited if using one supplier | Limited if using one supplier |
| Fire resistance | Excellent | Exterior excellent but interior melts and progressively burns in a fire | Dangerous | Dangerous | Dangerous | Dangerous |
| Contains PFOAs (Perfluorooctanoic acid)? *”PFOA has been detected in the blood of more than 98% of the general US population in the low and sub- parts per billion range, and levels are higher in chemical plant employees and surrounding subpopulations” –https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfluorooctanoic_acid | No | Questionable | No | No | No | No |