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How to Install Round Sheet Metal Duct: Plenum Start Collar & Elbow

Bob Jackson
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by Bob Jackson

The sheet metal start collar is installed in the supply air plenum and adjustable elbow attached. This project is continued from How to Install Round Sheet Metal Duct – Part 1.

Sheet Metal Duct Installation: Start Collar and Adjustable Elbow

The 12 inch diameter sheet metal start collar and 0 to 90 degree adjustable elbow will be installed on the rigid duct board supply plenum. The pieces both have 1-1/2 inch wide crimps to connect the male (crimped end) to a smooth female fitting. The adjustable elbow is a four-knuckle or four-segment style where each section can rotate independently (with some fussing) to make any angle between 0 (straight) and a 90 degree turn. I really like the 4-knuckle elbow which made aligning sections of duct easy.

Sheet Metal Duct Start Collar and Adjustable Elbow
Sheet Metal Duct Start Collar and Adjustable Elbow

A flexible duct start collar cannot be used with sheet metal duct because it lacks the required 1-1/2 inch wide crimp band. The differences between the two start collar styles is shown here:

Start Collar: Flex Duct vs Sheet Metal Duct
Start Collar: Flex Duct vs Sheet Metal Duct

Remove the Flexible Duct Start Collar

The old flex duct start collar is removed by reaching inside the duct board plenum and bending up the metal mounting tabs:

Flexible Duct Start Collar Removal: Bend the Tabs Up
Flexible Duct Start Collar Removal: Bend the Tabs Up

After bending back the metal mounting tabs, pull the start collar out of the duct board plenum:

Flex Duct Start Collar Removal from the Duct Board Plenum
Flex Duct Start Collar Removal from the Duct Board Plenum

Install the Sheet Metal Duct Start Collar

The goober who originally installed the flex duct couldn’t be bothered to cut a symmetric round hole in the duct board plenum, which prevented the new start collar from fitting; the old start collar was squished out-of-round to make it fit. I center the new start collar mounting tabs over the plenum opening and traced an circle with a permanent marker pen, then evened up the hole with a serrated knife. The duct board generates a fair amount of fine fiberglass dust when cutting, so I cut on the pull stroke so dust fell outside the plenum.

The new sheet metal duct start collar is then slipped into the plenum opening:

Sheet Metal Start Collar Installation: Duct Board Plenum
Sheet Metal Start Collar Installation: Duct Board Plenum

Press the start collar against the duct board and bend the mounting tabs outward and against the duct board. I’ve bent back all but the last few tabs here:

Start Collar Installation: Bend the Mounting Tabs Against the Duct Board
Start Collar Installation: Bend the Mounting Tabs Against the Duct Board

Install the Sheet Metal Duct Adjustable Elbow

The round sections of sheet metal duct must be fastened with at least three screws per TABLE M1601.4 DUCT SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION AND SEALING (link is for State of Florida) of the residential building code:

“Round metal ducts shall be mechanically fastened by means of at least three sheet-metal screws or rivets equally spaced around the joint. Where a duct connection is made that is partially inaccessible, three screws or rivets shall be equally spaced on the exposed portion of the joint so as to prevent a hinge effect.”

I’m using Malco Zip-in Self Piercing hex head 1 inch screws with a 1/4 inch magnetic bit:

Sheet Metal Duct: Malco Zip-in Self Piercing Screws HW8X1ZX
Sheet Metal Duct: Malco Zip-in Self Piercing Screws HW8X1ZX

I turned the sheet metal elbow segments to approximate angle that I thought was needed, slipped the elbow over the start collar and leveled the elbow:

Sheet Metal Duct Adjustable Elbow Install
Sheet Metal Duct Adjustable Elbow Install

Then fastened the elbow to the start collar with 3 screws more or less equally spaced through the crimp band:

Sheet Metal Duct: Adjustable Elbow Fastened with 3 Screws
Sheet Metal Duct: Adjustable Elbow Fastened with 3 Screws

Another view of the adjustable elbow and screw attachment to the start collar:

Sheet Metal Duct Installation: Start Collar and Elbow Attachment
Sheet Metal Duct Installation: Start Collar and Elbow Attachment

This project is continued in How to Install Round Sheet Metal Duct – Part 3.

Thanks for reading,

Bob Jackson

adjustable elbowair plenumduct boardflexible ducthow to install round sheet metal duct
Bob Jackson
Bob Jackson
Technology product manager by day and a prolific handyman in the evenings and over the weekends. Bob was the founder of the original Handyman How To website and that tradition continues on this site with excellent new handyman content into the future.
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