Authorized Nordfab dealer
Nordfab Quick-Fit vs. other clamp-together duct
Your quote probably lists clamp-together duct from more than one maker, and on paper they look the same. Here are the nine things to check before you order, with what Nordfab publishes for each one so you can hold any other line up against it.
Why the comparison is hard
Your duct quote rarely tells you what you are comparing
You get a part count and a total. You do not get the seam type, the gauge, the seal material, or what is on the shelf when you run one elbow short during install. Those are the details that decide how the job goes, and most quotes leave them out.
That is not on you. Clamp-together duct gets sold as a commodity, so the differences never make it onto the page. Ask the nine questions below of every line you are pricing, ours included.
Side by side
Nine things to check, and what Nordfab publishes
| What to check | Nordfab Quick-Fit | Ask the other supplier |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe seam | Laser welded seams on standard duct pipe, and every welded seam gets a light test. | Is a welded seam standard, or is standard pipe lock seam with welding as an upgrade? |
| How it joins | One lever clamp joins every piece. No rivets, screws or welding. | Does every fitting take the same clamp, or do some need fasteners? |
| Standard gauge at your diameter | 22 gauge from 3 in. through 12 in. and 20 gauge from 13 in. through 24 in., in galvanized or 304 stainless. | What gauge is standard at the diameter you are buying? Small drops are where it tends to get thinner. |
| Heaviest gauge | 18, 16 and 14 gauge in Quick-Fit. Nordfab also builds heavier duct to 10 gauge, which we quote. | How heavy can you go before the part becomes a special order? |
| Seal options | Nitrile is standard, rated to 158°F constant. Silicone is rated to 400°F and ePTFE to 600°F. Stainless with ePTFE is the food processing setup. | Which seal is in the price you were quoted, and what temperature is it rated for? |
| Short runs | You cut the pipe and use an 11 in. Quick-Fit Sleeve to make up the length. | Is adjustment built into the fittings, done with a sleeve, or both? Does it still apply in heavy gauge? |
| Size range | Quick-Fit runs 3 in. to 24 in. in our store. Larger duct is flanged and quoted. | Where does clamp-together stop and flanged start? |
| Stock and ship time | Nordfab keeps its 900 most ordered Quick-Fit items in stock, two weeks deep, under its Nordfab Now program. Those can ship as quickly as the next business day once the order reaches Nordfab. Plan on 1 to 2 weeks from the day you order from us. | How many parts are stocked, which ones are made to order, and when does your order ship? |
| Published strength and leakage | Every pipe size is third party tested against collapse. Standard 22 gauge pipe from 3 in. to 12 in. held 72 in. wg of vacuum. Leakage per joint is published by diameter and pressure. Nordfab is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certified. | Can you see collapse and leakage numbers for your size and gauge, and who ran the test? |
Nordfab details come from Nordfab’s published literature: the Quick-Fit Clamp Together Ducting sheet, the Why Sell Nordfab Ducting brochure, the Nordfab Now announcement, the Nordfab Ducting General Specifications, the QFS Sealed Duct System brochure and the Nordfab Ducting FAQs.
What changes on your floor
Three places the difference shows up
Your install day
You run one elbow short, or a machine lands a foot from where the drawing put it. What is on the shelf decides whether you finish this week. Nordfab stocks 900 items and can ship them as quickly as the next business day. Ask every supplier what they stock.
Your next layout change
You can pull Quick-Fit apart to clean it, move it, and clamp it back together without tools. When a machine moves, your duct moves with it.
Your budget
You see the price on every part in our store before you call anyone. Count one clamp per component, add a sleeve wherever a run is shorter than 5 ft, and you have your number.
Straight talk
When Quick-Fit is not the right duct for you
Your duct is larger than 24 in.
Past 24 in. you are into flanged duct. We quote that to your sizes. Get a flanged duct quote
Your dust is highly abrasive
If you need wall thickness beyond 14 gauge, a standard Quick-Fit order is the wrong starting point. Nordfab builds heavier duct to 10 gauge and we quote it. Tell us what you are moving first.
You need an airtight system
Quick-Fit is not sold as airtight, and Nordfab says so. For oil mist, the QFS sealed version adds gaskets and O-rings to the same parts. For wet systems, tell us what you are moving before you order.
You need 316 stainless
Our store carries galvanized and 304 stainless. Nordfab also makes 316, and we quote it to your sizes. Get a 316 quote
You are adding to another brand
Do not assume two brands clamp together. Nordfab makes adapters to tie into existing pipe. Tell us what you have and we will match the adapter.
You need a whole system laid out
A parts list is not a duct design. If you are sizing mains and branches from scratch, start with a conversation. Book a free assessment
Questions buyers ask
Before you order
Do clamps come with the pipe?
No. Clamps are ordered separately. Plan on one clamp per component.
What if you need a piece shorter than 5 ft?
Quick-Fit pipe comes in 5 ft lengths. You cut the pipe and use a Quick-Fit Sleeve to make up the length you need. Plan on a sleeve wherever a run lands short of a 5 ft increment.
How often do you need a hanger?
Nordfab’s general rule is one pipe hanger every 10 ft.
Can you use Quick-Fit for food processing?
Yes. Order stainless steel with ePTFE clamp seals. Nordfab lists both for FDA, chemical and high temperature applications, and Quick-Fit runs in many food and pharmaceutical plants. The smooth welded seam leaves nowhere for product to hang up, and you can take the duct apart to clean it without tools.
Can you tie Quick-Fit into duct you already have?
Yes. Nordfab makes adapters to connect to existing pipe, including angle flange and machine adapters. Tell us what you are connecting to and we will point you to the right one.
Is spiral pipe a cheaper way to do the same job?
For combustible dust we do not sell it. Here is why.
Price your duct run by the part
You pick the diameter, material and gauge, and you see the price on every piece. Already have a parts list? Paste the part numbers and add them all to your cart at once.