Norfab may not make sense for most hobbyist’s shops. In a commercial setting, Norfab tends to make a lot of sense. Norfab’s ability to be quickly reconfigured is an advantage that has already been discussed. This advantage potentially applies to both commercial and hobby shops. Suppose you know you’ll be moving your shop across town in a couple of years. Spiral pipe CAN be reused, but not as easily as Norfab. Maybe Norfab would make sense in such a case. Or, suppose you’re in your first phase of building your dream shop. In another few years, you hope to add on phase 2 (which will not be just larger, but will result in rearranging much of your equipment). And, a few more years will bring phase 3, etc. Again, Norfab might makes sense as part of your phase 1 build-out.
In addition to the ease of reconfiguration, Norfab is easier to clean than other ductwork. For most of us, that’s not much of an issue. In a commercial setting, it can be a huge issue. Ducts aren’t just used to remove waste, they’re also used to deliver stuff. In the food industry, such ducts may need to be cleaned very frequently. In the chemical industry, the ducts may need to be cleaned between jobs.
My point is just because a product doesn’t have any appeal to you, doesn’t mean the product has no reason for being. I drive a half-ton pickup truck because I have no need for a 3/4 ton or heavier truck. I don’t tow very often and when I do, the trailer is not too heavy. That doesn’t mean my neighbors are idiots for buying a 3/4 ton truck! The same reasoning applies to duct work. For some of us, Norfab makes sense. I just installed a bunch of spiral pipe because Norfab didn’t make sense for me.
David Walser
Mesa, Arizona