ventilation for mines and tunnels

The art of
transporting
fresh air
into mines
 Our history could fill an
entire book

The foundations for Protan’s business were laid between

the wars and the production of ventilation systems started back in 1949.
We were the first in Europe to manufacture flexible ventilation ducts and over the years we have built up
extensive know-how and broad-based experience, from which our customers benefit.
We now supply several hundred kilometres of ventilation ducts a year.
Our qualities offer outstanding durability, flexibility and low weight.
The long service life of our ventilation ducts means that some of our
customers re-use them extensively.

Ventiflex qualities are flame retardant, resistant to chemicals,

quick and easy to install and maintenance free.

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 experience means reliability

The Ventiflex system is a world leader.

We have supplied ventilation systems to mines and tunnels on all the world’s
continents and offer local distribution in many countries. We carry out
exhaustive checks and quality control on all our systems before they are
delivered. Protan is a driving force in the development of ventilation systems
in mines and tunnels and a member of the ITA-AITES through the Norwegian
Tunnelling Society.

More than just ventilation.

Protan is Scandinavia’s leading manufacturer of technical textiles and PVC
roofing. Our head office and largest production facility are in Drammen,
about 40 kilometres southwest of Oslo. At our fabrication plant in Nesbyen
we make welded and customised products, tailored to our customers’
requirements.
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 Textile and coating make up a unique
fabric and the suspension system makes
the duct even stronger

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 quality means peace of mind

Our textiles, which have been developed specially for ventilation

ducts, have radial reinforcement to prevent tearing. If a hole should
nevertheless occur, our textiles are knitted precisely in order to limit the
length of the tear. Our textiles are also designed to be dimensionally stable
so as to prevent expansion under high pressure.

The PVC coating on the outside has been developed to withstand

damage and mechanical wear, and is thick enough to protect the textile.
Internally Ventiflex is designed to offer low flow resistance, which helps
save energy. Our unique coating method produces a strong structure and
also reduces the risk of delamination. The fabric also comes in a colour
that reflects light.

Fully automatic industrial welding method ensures uniformity and high

quality.

The suspension system with its plastic eyelets is also unique and
employs a strong continous suspension rib, which runs along the length
of the ducting and is welded on. The plastic eyelets contribute to the
overall strength of the system. Ventilation ducts in mines and tunnels are
exposed to extreme stress, including pressure waves caused by blasting,
which put every part of the construction to the test.

Couplings and hooks. We have a wide range of components that

Strong suspension and coupling
contribute to the great flexibility systems that are easy to fit.
and adaptability of the ventilation
system.

The duct is made from a soft, flexible

material that is flame-retardant,
resistant to chemicals and
maintenance free.
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 Fittings that count

Burst pressures for Ventiflex, safety factor n=1

Diameter
[mm] 5000FR 9109FR 9104FR 6298FR 6698FR 7198FRAS
200 220 000 220 000 280 000 420 000 520 000 436 000
300 146 667 146 667 186 667 280 000 346 667 290 667
400 110 000 110 000 140 000 210 000 260 000 218 000
500 88 000 88 000 112 000 168 000 208 000 174 400
600 73 333 73 333 93 333 140 000 173 333 145 333
700 62 857 62 857 80 000 120 000 148 571 124 571
800 55 000 55 000 70 000 105 000 130 000 109 000
900 48 889 48 889 62 222 93 333 115 556 96 889
1000 44 000 44 000 56 000 84 000 104 000 87 200
1100 40 000 40 000 50 909 76 364 94 545 79 273
1200 36 667 36 667 46 667 70 000 86 667 72 667
1300 33 846 33 846 43 077 64 615 80 000 67 077
1400 31 429 31 429 40 000 60 000 74 286 62 286
1500 29 333 29 333 37 333 56 000 69 333 58 133
1600 27 500 27 500 35 000 52 500 65 000 54 500
1700 25 882 25 882 32 941 49 412 61 176 51 294
1800 24 444 24 444 31 111 46 667 57 778 48 444
Y piece Branch 1900 23 158 23 158 29 474 44 211 54 737 45 895
2000 22 000 22 000 28 000 42 000 52 000 43 600
2100 20 952 20 952 26 667 40 000 49 524 41 524
2200 20 000 20 000 25 455 38 182 47 273 39 636
2300 19 130 19 130 24 348 36 522 45 217 37 913
2400 18 333 18 333 23 333 35 000 43 333 36 333
2500 17 600 17 600 22 400 33 600 41 600 34 880
2600 16 923 16 923 21 538 32 308 40 000 33 538
Tee Bend 2700 16 296 16 296 20 741 31 111 38 519 32 296
2800 15 714 15 714 20 000 30 000 37 143 31 143
2900 15 172 15 172 19 310 28 966 35 862 30 069
3000 14 667 14 667 18 667 28 000 34 667 29 067
3100 14 194 14 194 18 065 27 097 33 548 28 129
3200 13 750 13 750 17 500 26 250 32 500 27 250

Adapter, Subject to changes

fan section, Multi-directional
nozzle details
Fittings. We offer Y pieces, tees, bends, branches, adapters, fan sections
and nozzles in standard versions in all diameters, and also customise
fittings on the basis of drawings.

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 Shaft ducting.
Shaft ducting
Eyelets. We use plastic eyelets,
comes with steel
which are stronger than brass eye-
wires and turn-
lets. The eyelets have a
buckles fitted and
standard spacing of 0.5 metres,
with two, three or
which provides optimum flexibility
four suspension
during installation.
ribs, as required.

Suspension rib. A strong rib that

runs along the length of the
ducting and is welded on.

Duct qualities Zip coupling: Hooks. Ducts come with one hook
Ventiflex is made in various Simple assembly. per metre as standard.
thicknesses of fabric for different Flexible, quick and VF hook:
pressures and requirements. We easy to store. Standard hook.
supply diameters of 200 – 3000 mm Height to suspension
and lengths of 10 – 500 m. Velcro coupling: wire can be adjusted
Ventiflex 9104FR Simple assembly by a soft steel wire
Ventiflex 6298FR and disassembly. fitted to the hook.
Ventiflex 6698FR Flexible, quick and
Ventiflex 9109FR easy to store. LP hook:
Attaches straight onto
We also have one antistatic Ventiflex
the wire. Simple and
quality: VF coupling:
quick to fit.
Ventiflex 7198FRAS User-friendly steel
Snap hook:
coupling with
Attaches straight onto
steel ring welded in and VF com-
the wire. Simple and
pression ring on outside.
quick to fit.
Ventiflex
S hook:
LP coupling:
Quick-release
Basically the
solution.
same as the VF
coupling, but stronger. Available
with nut for tightening by machine.

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 Full control of the production
chain ensures quality

• The polyester fabrics used in Ventiflex have been developed under our
direction and we conduct systematic product development in cooperation
with leading textile producers.
• We coat the fabrics with top-grade virgin PVC in our own production
facility and carry out high-frequency welding using fully automated
machines.
• We have a high capacity in sales and sales support, and provide highly
flexible customer follow-up.
• Complete duct systems are delivered to the right place on time.
• We also offer advice, training and assistance with installation.

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 a systematic approach saves money

The entire process from production to We conduct continuous product devel- Live testing in tunnel environment
delivery is ISO-certified. opment in collaboration with leading enable us to give exact values to the
mines and tunnelling contractors. performance of our ducts.

Protan AS is approved and Laboratory Test tunnel

certified in accordance with the Our laboratory in Drammen is From time to time we perform live
ISO 9001 quality standard and where all our qualities are tests in real environments.
the ISO 14001 environmental developed and tested. Then we are able to measure air
standard. From the polyester textiles, flow resistance both to the surface
This means that the entire through the top-grade virgin PVC of the fabrics, and the different
production chain and every aspect coat, and the fabrics are all under- types of couplings offered.
of our business are quality- going a continuous development to We also do high pressure tests
controlled and operated with as conform the best combination for a to monitor the expansion and
little environmental impact a ventilation duct. behaviour of both duct qualities
possible – both locally and globally. Here we have strict routines to test and couplings.
We also have the necessary cer- tear and tensile strength, chemical All test and measurements are
tificates for supplying goods and and fire resistance and antistatic executed in order to support by
services globally. performance according to inter- facts the quality of Ventiflex
Lifecycle analyses demonstrate national standards, both before ventilation duct system.
that our fabric is a very production and continuously to
environmentally friendly product document that we are within the
that can be recycled. promised specification given.
All tests are stored so we are able
to follow a complaint all the way
back to the date and hour
manufactured in our plant.

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 Long-term peace of mind

The help we provide can take the form of assistance with installation
and maintenance, for example.
If the worst happens and the fabric is holed, we know what needs
to be done to achieve a good outcome.
We supply practical, versatile repair kits for Ventiflex.

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 technical service

Hot air welded repair.

We are equipped to deal with most repairs.

We are highly experienced when it comes to practical problem

solving in the field
During tunnelling it can happen that too little air is reaching the face. A Glued repair.
small hole may need repairing. A bend may require straightening or larger
ducts may be needed. Or perhaps another duct is required? Talk to us.
We’ve dealt with such challenges before.

Stitched repair.

If a mishap occurs, we can also use Repair box.

sleeves that fit easily round the duct
with Velcro.

Ventiflexcalc
We assist with calculating the optimum
ventilation solution. Ventiflexcalc is a
calculation tool that helps create good
solutions.

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Ventiflex Duo
Protan Ventiflex Duo is a concept that has been developed for use in
installations with limited headroom. With its two separate ducts hanging
from the same wire, it is both simple and reliable.
The most important advantages of Ventiflex Duo are as follows:

1. A larger cross-section means lower energy consumption for the fan

with the same installation height and volume of air
2. More air to the face than with the same fan output
3. No intermediate walls that might cause problems with ruptures,
vibrations, etc.

Lier Grafiske as 09/10 - 1.500 ex.

4. Two separate ducts that can function independently
5. Secure couplings with very low friction
6. Protan Ventiflex Duo can be installed very close to the tunnel roof
because the suspension system is placed between the ducts.

Protan AS
P. O. Box 420, Brakerøya,
NO-3002 Drammen, Norway
Tel: +47 32 22 16 00.
Fax: +47 32 22 17 00
Email: protan@protan.no
www.ventiflex.com