Flexible duct

• Material: usually made of wire frame (e.g. spiral steel wire) wrapped with composite material (aluminum foil, polyester fiber or PVC), the outer layer may be added with thermal insulation.
  
• Advantages: lightweight, bendable, suitable for complex spatial layout; strong anti-vibration performance, can adapt to equipment vibration.
  
• Limitations: low airtightness, easy to leak in high-pressure systems; easy to accumulate dust on the surface, long-term use may breed mold (need to be cleaned regularly).

Rigid duct

• Material: mostly galvanized steel plate, aluminum plate or stainless steel, connected by welding or flange into a fixed shape (round, rectangular).
  
• Advantages: stable structure, high airtightness, suitable for high-pressure and high-efficiency air supply; smooth surface, low resistance, low long-term maintenance costs.
  
• Limitations: heavy weight, installation requires precise planning; unable to bend, need to cut and reorganize when remodeling.

Flexible duct

Low initial cost: no need for custom shapes, fast installation, 30%-50% savings in labor costs.

Hidden costs: shorter lifespan (10-15 years), high replacement frequency; insulation is prone to breakage and may increase energy consumption.

Rigid duct

High initial cost: requires professional tools for cutting and welding, long installation period; large projects may require customized molds.

Long-term advantages: service life up to 30 years or more; easy maintenance, air leakage rate below 5% (up to 15% for flexible ducts).

HVAC system

• Flexible air ducts: suitable for residential, small commercial spaces or remodeling projects. For example, when the air conditioning ducts in the attic need to bypass the beams, the flexible ducts can be flexibly adapted.
  
• Rigid duct: large shopping malls, office buildings and other places that require efficient air supply, its low resistance characteristics can reduce air conditioning energy consumption.

Industrial Ventilation

• High temperature/corrosive environments (e.g. chemical plants): stainless steel rigid ducts are the only choice for high temperature and corrosion resistance.
  
• Temporary ventilation needs (e.g. construction sites): lightweight flexible ducts allow for quick deployment and easy disassembly upon completion.

Laboratory & Cleanroom

• Rigid ducts: easy to clean surfaces and no fiber shedding, meets ISO 14644 cleanliness standards.
  
• Exception: when vibration isolation is required in animal laboratories, flexible connection sections can be used locally.
  

• Is the space layout complex? → Select Flex.
  
• Does the system require high pressure air supply? → Choose rigid.
  
• Is the budget for short-term savings or long-term investment? → Flexible for short term, rigid for long term.
  
• Is the environment corrosive/high temperature? → Rigid stainless steel duct.
  
• Do you need to remodel frequently? → Flexible is more flexible.

Flexible ducts win out with low cost and high flexibility for projects with limited budgets or complex spaces, while rigid ducts are the preferred choice for large projects and demanding environments due to their high efficiency and durability. In practice, a hybrid solution (e.g., rigid for mains and flexible for branches) may be more cost-effective.

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