The following pages of data and physical properties are provided as references in the use and

application of Spiral pipe and fittings.

The complexity of air system design engineering
has changed dramatically since the 1950s even
though the basic formulas have still remained
the same. There have been significant additional
theories added with new extremely complex
and systematic formulas needed to satisfy these
computations and provide for further enhancement
of the overall systems of today. We have tried to
give you the basic information needed for both
methods. The old rule of thumb method seems to
be the simplest method for smaller and moderate
jobs. For complex jobs, we still recommend a
certified engineer.
The new method of static loss calculations is far too
complex for the average Joe. Therefore, we have
given you the quick reference chart approach to
simplify and speed up the process.
Basic Definitions
The following are used to describe airflow and will
be used extensively in this catalog. Standard air
is defined at standard atmospheric pressure (14.7
psia), room temperature (700 F) and zero water
content; its value is normally taken to be 0.075 lbs/
ft3.
The volumetric flow rate, many times referred to as
volumes, is defined as the volume or quantity of
air that passes a given location per unit of time, i.e.
(cfm). It is related to the average velocity and the
flow cross-section area in ft2 by the equation
Q=VA
where Q = volumetric flow rate or cfm,
V= average velocity or fpm, and
A= cross-sectional area in ft2.
Given any two of these three quantities, the third
can readily be determined as follows:
Q=VA or V=Q/A or A=Q/V
There are three different but mathematically related
pressures associated with a moving air stream.
Static pressure (SP) is defined as the pressure in
the duct that tends to burst or collapse the duct
and is expressed in inches of water gage (wg).

Engineering Data

Velocity pressure (VP) is defined as that pressure

required to accelerate air from zero velocity to
some velocity (V) and is proportional to the kinetic
energy of the air stream. Using standard air, the
relationship between V and VP is given by

VP will only be exerted in the direction of airflow

and is always positive.
Total pressure (TP) is defined as the algebraic sum
of the static and velocity pressures or TP=SP+VP.
Total pressure can be positive or negative with
respect to atmospheric pressure and is a measure
of energy content of the air stream, always
dropping as the flow proceeds downstream through
a duct. The only place it will rise is across the fan.
Total pressure can be measured with a pitot tube
pointing directly upstream and connected to a
manometer.
Principles of air flow
Two basic principles of fluid mechanics govern
the flow of air in industrial ventilation systems:
conservation of mass and conservation of energy.
These are essentially bookkeeping laws which state
that all mass and all energy must be completely
accounted for and it is important to know what
simplifying assumptions are included in the
principles discussed below:
1. Heat transfer effects are neglected. However,
if the temperature inside the duct is significantly
different than the air temperature surrounding
the duct, heat transfer will occur. This will lead to
changes in the duct air temperature and hence in
the volumetric flow rate.
2. Compressiblity effects are neglected. However,
if the overall pressure drop from the start of the
system to the fan is greater than about 20 wg, then
the density needs to be accounted for.
3. The air is assumed to be dry. Water vapor in the
air stream will lower the air density, and correction
for this effect, if present, should be made.
4. The weight and volume of the contaminant in
the air stream is ignored. This is permissible for
the contaminant concentrations in typical exhaust
ventilation systems. For high concentrations of
solids or significant amounts of some gases other
than air, corrections for this effect should be
included. (Continued on page 54)

50

www.spiralmfg.com

Engineering Data

Static Pressure (SP) Loss for 90 and 45

Die-Formed Elbows

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Table 51-1: Duct Pressure Loss Results for Stamped (1.5CLR) Elbows @ 4000 ft/min with .999 (VP)
Size

10

12

14

Straight Duct Loss (inches Water):

10.15

7.04

5.31

4.22

3.49

2.95

2.55

2.24

1.79

1.48

Total Duct Loss (wg) 900 Stamped

10.30

7.18

5.46

4.37

3.63

3.01

2.70

2.39

1.94

1.63

0.15

Total Duct Loss (wg) 45 Stamped

10.22

7.11

5.38

4.30

3.56

3.14

2.62

2.32

1.86

1.56

0.075

Flow Rate: SCFM

192.5

342.3

534.8

770.2

1068

1396

1732.5

2140

3080

4194

Elbow
Loss Factor

Based per 100 feet duct length viscosity (cP).018 Inlet pressure (psig) 0 Temp (F) 70 Galvanized metal roughness (ft) .0005 Flow region Turbulent, 4000fpm
friction factor 0.02 velocity pressure .999

51

11419 Yellowpine Street N.W. Minneapolis, MN 55448-3158

Phone: 763-755-7677 800-426-3643 Fax: 763-755-6184

Engineering Data

Static Pressure (SP) Loss for 90 and 45,

5-Gore and 3-Gore Elbows
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Table 52-1: Duct Pressure Loss Results for Gored (1.5CLR) Elbows @ 4000 ft/min with .999 (VP)
3

10

12

14

Straight Duct Loss (inches Water):

Size

10.15

7.04

5.31

4.22

3.49

2.95

2.55

2.24

1.79

1.48

Total Duct Loss (wg) 900 5 Gore

10.39

7.25

5.55

4.46

3.72

3.19

2.79

2.48

2.03

1.72

0.24

Total Duct Loss (wg) 450 3 Gore

10.32

7.21

5.48

4.39

3.65

3.21

2.72

2.41

1.96

1.65

0.17

Flow Rate: SCFM

192.5

342.3

534.8

770.2

1068

1396

1732

2140

3080

4194

Elbow
Loss Factor

Based per 100 feet duct length viscosity (cP).018 Inlet pressure (psig) 0 Temp (F) 70 Galvanized metal roughness (ft) .0005 Flow region Turbulent, 4000fpm
friction factor 0.02 velocity pressure .999

52

www.spiralmfg.com

Engineering Data

53

Static Pressure (SP) Loss in

90 Tees & Conical Tees

11419 Yellowpine Street N.W. Minneapolis, MN 55448-3158

Phone: 763-755-7677 800-426-3643 Fax: 763-755-6184

Engineering Data

Static Pressure (SP) Loss in 45 Laterals

& Branch Entry Loss

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Branch Entries
Outlet

Branch 1

Branch Angle
Branch 2

(Continued from page 50)

Conservation of mass requires that the net

change of mass flow rate must be zero. If the
effects discussed on page 51 are negligible, then
the density will be constant and the net change
of volumetric flow rate (Q) must be zero. Therefore, the flow rate that enters a hood must be the
same as the flow rate that passes through the
duct leading from the hood. At a branch entry,
the sum of the two flow rates that enter the fitting
must be equivalent to the total leaving the fitting.

Note that branch entry loss is assumed to

occur in the branch for calculations. Enlargement regain should not be included in branch
entry enlargements. Any losses due to acceleration of combined flow should be added
to the calculations in the outlet pipe.

Table 54-1: Equivalent Resistance in

Feet of Straight Duct
Size

300

450

Size

300

450

20

18

28

22

20

31

24

22

34

26

24

37

10

28

26

40

11

30

28

43

13

32

29

45

10

14

34

31

48

12

11

17

36

33

51

14

13

20

38

35

54

16

15

23

40

37

57

18

17

26

42

39

60

54

www.spiralmfg.com

Engineering Data

Equivalent Resistance & Friction Loss

Quick Reference Charts

Table 55-1: Elbow Equivalent Resistance In Feet Of Straight Pipe By Center Line Radius (CLR)

1.5 CLR
0

2.0 CLR
0

2.5 CLR
0

Size

90
Elbow

60
Elbow

45
Elbow

30
Elbow

90
Elbow

60
Elbow

45
Elbow

30
Elbow

90
Elbow

600
Elbow

450
Elbow

300
Elbow

12

13

10

15

10

10

12

20

13

10

14

11

14

25

17

13

17

11

16

30

20

15

10

21

14

11

18

36

24

18

12

24

16

12

20

41

28

21

14

28

19

14

22

46

31

23

15

32

21

16

11

24

57

38

29

19

40

27

20

13

30

74

50

37

24

51

34

26

17

36

93

62

47

31

64

43

32

21

40

105

70

53

35

72

48

36

24

48

130

87

65

43

89

60

45

29

3
2

4
35

73

49

Losses in Elbows and Fittings. When an air stream undergoes change of either direction or velocity, a dynamic loss occurs.
Unlike friction losses in straight duct, fitting losses are due to internal turbulance rather than skin friction. Hence roughness of material has but slight effect over a wide range of moderately smooth materials. Fitting losses can be expressed as
equivalent length of straight duct; or as a fraction of velocity pressure; or directly in inches of water gage (wg).

Table 55-2: Friction Loss In Inches Of Water (WG) Per 100 Feet Of Spiral Pipe
Velocity FPM

Duct

Velocity FPM

Velocity FPM

Dia.

3500

4000

4500

5000

Duct
Dia.

3500

4000

4500

5000

Duct
Dia.

3500

4000

4500

5000

7.75

9.99

12.50

15.27

17

0.93

1.20

1.51

1.84

44

0.29

0.38

0.47

0.58

5.46

7.03

8.80

10.75

18

0.87

1.12

1.40

1.72

46

0.28

0.36

0.45

0.55

4.16

5.36

6.70

8.19

20

0.77

0.99

1.23

1.51

48

0.26

0.34

0.42

0.52

3.33

4.29

5.36

6.55

22

0.68

0.88

1.01

1.34

50

0.25

0.32

0.40

0.49

2.76

3.55

4.44

5.43

24

0.61

0.79

0.99

1.21

52

0.24

0.31

0.38

0.47

2.34

3.02

3.78

4.61

26

0.56

0.72

0.90

1.01

54

0.23

0.29

0.37

0.45

2.03

2.62

3.27

4.00

28

0.51

0.65

0.82

1.00

56

0.22

0.28

0.35

0.43

10

1.78

2.30

2.88

3.51

30

0.47

0.60

0.75

0.92

58

0.21

0.27

0.34

0.41

11

1.59

2.05

2.56

3.13

32

0.43

0.56

0.70

0.85

60

0.20

0.26

0.32

0.39

12

1.43

1.84

2.30

2.81

34

0.40

0.52

0.65

0.79

13

1.30

1.67

2.09

2.55

36

0.37

0.48

0.60

0.74

14

1.18

1.53

1.91

2.33

38

0.35

0.45

0.56

0.69

15

1.09

1.40

1.75

2.14

40

0.33

0.42

0.53

0.65

16

1.01

1.30

1.62

1.98

42

0.31

0.40

0.50

0.61

This equation gives the friction losses, expressed as wg per 100 feet of pipe, for standard air of 0.075 lbm/ft3 density flowing
through average, clean, round galvanized pipe having approximately 40 slip joints per 100 feet (k = 0.0005 ft.).

55

11419 Yellowpine Street N.W. Minneapolis, MN 55448-3158

Phone: 763-755-7677 800-426-3643 Fax: 763-755-6184

Engineering Data

Static Pressure (SP) Loss for Spiral Pipe

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56

www.spiralmfg.com

Compression & Deflection Properties

of Spiral Pipe, Static Pressure (SP) Loss in
Flexible Rubber Hose

Engineering Data

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57






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11419 Yellowpine Street N.W. Minneapolis, MN 55448-3158

Phone: 763-755-7677 800-426-3643 Fax: 763-755-6184

Engineering Data

Diameter, Gauge & StrengthProperties;

Collapsing & Bursting Pressures
Diameters, Gauge, and Strength
Properties of Spiral Pipe
Nominal
Diameter
(inches)

Bursting Pressure
(Seam Failure)
P.S.I

Steel Guage
Std.
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
42
48

Max.
22
20
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18

Std.
*
500
350
275
220
175
150
135
115
95
85
80
72
65
58
53
47
41
48
42
37
33
30
28
27
29
25

Max.
*
*
*
*
*
460
375
325
275
240
220
185
170
160
145
140
120
100
87
78
68
60
55
52
48
37
32

Calculation of wall thickness to diameter ratio:

Internal Negative
Pressure To Collapse
Standard Pipe
In. wg
**
**
**
**
**
**
304
193
111
83
66
47
44
39
36
35
33
33
33
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***

PSI
**
**
**
**
**
**
11.0
7.0
4.0
3.0
2.4
1.7
1.6
1.4
1.3
1.25
1.2
1.2
1.2
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***

Example: For 24 gauge steel and duct diameter of 13.

/ = .0296/13 = .0023
Above reference, for lower charts, to predict
bursting and collapsing pressures.

Gauge

Mean Thickness

16

.0635

18

.0516

20

.0396

22

.0336

24

.0276

26

.0217

1 PSI = 27.7 wg

1 wg = .0361 PSI

Properties are approximate, based on both

empirical and extrapolated data

*Did not fail at 500 PSI ** Did not fail at -14.7 PSI (-407 in. H2O)
*** Less than 1.2 PSI

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58

59

176.715

201.062

226.981

254.470

314.160

380.134

452.390

530.930

615.754

706.860

804.250

907.922

1017.878

1134.118

1256.640

1385.446

1520.534 10.5593

1661.906 11.5410

1809.562 12.5664

1963.500 13.6354

2123.722 14.7481

2290.226 15.9044

2463.014 17.1043

2642.086 18.3478

2827.440 19.6350

15

16

17

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

32

34

36

38

40

42

44

46

48

50

52

54

56

58

60

11419 Yellowpine Street N.W. Minneapolis, MN 55448-3158

Phone: 763-755-7677 800-426-3643 Fax: 763-755-6184

5891

5504

5131

4771

4424

4091

3770

3462

3168

2886

2618

2363

2121

1892

1676

1473

1283

1106

942

792

655

530

473

419

368

321

236

164

133

105

80

59

41

26

15

300

6872

6422

5986

5567

5162

4772

4398

4039

3696

3367

3054

2757

2474

2207

1955

1718

1497

1290

1100

924

764

619

552

489

430

374

275

191

155

122

94

69

48

31

17

350

7854

7339

6842

6362

5899

5454

5027

4616

4224

3848

3491

3150

2827

2522

2234

1964

1710

1475

1257

1056

873

707

631

559

491

428

314

218

177

140

107

79

55

35

20

400

8836

8257

7697

7157

6637

6136

5655

5193

4752

4330

3927

3544

3181

2837

2513

2209

1924

1659

1414

1188

982

795

709

628

552

481

353

245

199

157

120

88

61

39

22

450

EXHAUST GRILLES

9818

9174

8552

7952

7374

6818

6283

5771

5280

4811

4363

3938

3534

3153

2793

2454

2138

1844

1571

1320

1091

884

788

698

614

535

393

273

221

175

134

98

68

44

25

500

10799

10091

9407

8747

8111

7499

6912

6348

5808

5292

4800

4332

3888

3468

3072

2700

2352

2028

1728

1452

1200

972

867

768

675

588

432

300

243

192

147

108

75

48

27

550

650

700

750

800

900

1000

HORIZONTAL SUPPLY DUCTS

1200

11781

11009

10263

9543

8849

8181

7540

6925

6336

5773

5236

4725

4241

3783

3351

2945

2566

2212

1885

1584

1309

1060

946

838

736

641

471

327

265

209

160

118

82

52

29

12763

11926

11118

10338

9586

8863

8168

7502

6864

6254

5672

5119

4595

4098

3630

3191

2779

2397

2042

1716

1418

1149

1025

908

798

695

511

355

287

227

174

128

89

57

32

13745

12843

11973

11133

10324

9545

8796

8079

7391

6735

6109

5513

4948

4414

3910

3436

2993

2581

2199

1848

1527

1237

1103

977

859

748

550

382

309

244

187

137

95

61

34

14726

13761

12828

11928

11061

10227

9425

8656

7919

7216

6545

5907

5301

4729

4189

3682

3207

2765

2356

1980

1636

1325

1182

1047

920

802

589

409

331

262

200

147

102

65

37

15708

14678

13683

12723

11798

10908

10053

9233

8447

7697

6981

6301

5655

5044

4468

3927

3421

2950

2513

2112

1745

1414

1261

1117

982

855

628

436

353

279

214

157

109

70

39

17672

16513

15394

14314

13273

12272

11310

10387

9503

8659

7854

7088

6362

5675

5027

4418

3848

3318

2827

2376

1964

1590

1419

1257

1104

962

707

491

398

314

241

177

123

79

44

19635

18348

17104

15904

14748

13635

12566

11541

10559

9621

8727

7876

7069

6305

5585

4909

4276

3687

3142

2640

2182

1767

1576

1396

1227

1069

785

545

442

349

267

196

136

87

49

59

23562

22017

20525

19085

17698

16363

15080

13849

12671

11545

10472

9451

8482

7566

6702

5891

5131

4424

3770

3168

2618

2121

1892

1676

1473

1283

942

655

530

419

321

236

164

105

27489

25687

23946

22266

20647

19090

17593

16157

14783

13470

12217

11026

9896

8827

7819

6872

5986

5162

4398

3696

3054

2474

2207

1955

1718

1497

1100

764

619

489

374

275

191

122

69

1400

29453

27522

25656

23857

22122

20453

18850

17312

15839

14432

13090

11814

10603

9458

8378

7363

6414

5531

4712

3960

3273

2651

2364

2094

1841

1604

1178

818

663

524

401

295

205

131

74

1500

EXHAUST MAINS

QUANTITY OF AIR FLOWING, IN CFM

600

SUPPLY FLUES AND RISERS

EHAUST RISERS AND VENT STACKS

35343

33026

30788

28628

26547

24544

22620

20774

19007

17318

15708

14176

12723

11349

10053

8836

7697

6637

5655

4752

3927

3181

2837

2513

2209

1924

1414

982

795

628

481

353

245

157

88

1800

39270

36696

34209

31809

29496

27271

25133

23082

21119

19242

17453

15752

14137

12610

11170

9818

8552

7374

6283

5280

4363

3534

3153

2793

2454

2138

1571

1091

884

698

535

393

273

175

98

2000

43197

40365

37629

34990

32446

29998

27646

25390

23230

21167

19199

17327

15551

13871

12287

10799

9407

8111

6912

5808

4800

3888

3468

3072

2700

2352

1728

1200

972

768

588

432

300

192

108

2200

47124

44035

41050

38170

35395

32725

30159

27698

25342

23091

20944

18902

16965

15132

13404

11781

10263

8849

7540

6336

5236

4241

3783

3351

2945

2566

1885

1309

1060

838

641

471

327

209

118

2400

GASES AND FUMES

Reproduced in part by permission from Handbook of Air Conditioning Heating and Ventilating, The Industrial Press, New York.

9.6212

8.7267

7.8758

7.0686

6.3050

5.5851

4.9088

4.2761

3.6870

3.1416

2.6398

2.1817

1.7672

1.5763

1.3963

1.2272

1.0690

0.7854

0.5454

0.4418

153.938

63.617

0.3491

14

50.266

0.2673

78.540

38.485

0.1964

113.098

28.274

0.1364

12

19.635

0.0873

0.0491

10

7.069

12.566

Sq. Ft.

AREA

Sq. In.

Dia.
In.

Velocity FPM

Q = CFM
V = VELOCITY
A = AREA IN FT2

Q = VA

Capacity of Round Pipe 3 to 60 Inches Diameter, 300 to 2400 FPM

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