CPVC vs. Steel | on February 7th, 2021
Steel pipes have been the preferred material for fire water distribution ever since fixed fire sprinkler piping systems were introduced and adopted in the late 19th century. After all, steel is strong, durable, and stands up well to intense heat.
Galvanized Iron and Mild Steel are two sprinkler piping material variants that are widely used in India.
Today, Blazemaster® CPVC, a lightweight thermoplastic made from a base PVC polymer and fortified with additional chlorine molecules, is becoming the preferred fire sprinkler pipe and fitting system of its type in India, due in part to its significant advantages over steel.
With positive thrust of BIS 16088:2012 ( Specifications for CPVC Pipes for Automatic Sprinkler Fire Extinguishing System) , authorities having jurisdiction in India have taken a right and forward step in accepting CPVC as an alternate material to steel.
As a matter of fact, BIS 16088:2012 states that, ‘CPVC pipes are lightweight, easy to carry and install, corrosion resistant with very high life expectancy. They possess better hydraulic characteristics having Hazen William C factor of 150 as against 120 of steel pipes. As such it is an ideal choice for any designer to prefer CPVC material over metal for fire sprinkler systems. In case of fire it is self extinguishing because of its high Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) of 60 and it requires a very high percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere to keep burning.
CPVC pipes have already replaced steel pipes for installation of automatic sprinkler fire extinguishing systems in most of the countries across the world and are successfully rendering trouble free service since 1986.’
Let’s now see three of the many advantages of Blazemaster® CPVC over steel for water distribution in automatic fire sprinkler piping systems that has made authorities having jurisdiction in India to be optimistic about this innovative material.
BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection systems - Advantages over others
BlazeMaster® CPVC Saves Cost
Labor Savings
Steel pipe is heavy and usually requires special equipment to move around a job site. That also means two or more installers working in the same area. Not only do BlazeMaster® CPVC pipe and fittings weigh significantly less than steel, but installation too is faster, saving labor.
Material Cost Savings
Piping and pipe accessories can be more than 60% of the total material cost of a fire sprinkler system, and that’s being conservative. BlazeMaster® CPVC pipe and fittings are much cheaper than steel, especially considering that smaller diameter pipe can typically be used (more on that later).
Add to this, the spiraling cost of steel in the last 10 years in India. Real estate projects in India generally take 2 to 4 years to complete from design to handover. Uncertain cost of a major material used in the project disrupts the ability to build a project escalation cost based on price fluctuations. Have no doubt- any increase will ultimately be built up in the cost of the system and will be passed on to the consumer.
Using BlazeMaster® fire piping material over steel can provide a competitive advantage to contractors when bidding for a job and/or even increased profit- thanks to its stable and predictable prices!
BlazeMaster® CPVC Resists Corrosion
Steel piping systems in any application, including fire sprinkler systems, are susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion degrades the interior of a pipe, which creates more friction along its surface and ultimately reduces water flow, inhibiting the fire sprinkler system’s ability to perform the tasks for which it was designed – save lives and protect property.
It is a known fact that Galvanized Iron - supposedly having better corrosion resistance than Mild Steel can start to corrode rapidly from their welding points- as the intense heat of welding burns off the protective zinc coating and exposes the nascent inner steel layer- thus accelerating corrosion.
In fact, VdS, a German fire safety firm, found that 73% of dry steel systems have significant corrosion issues at 12.5 years old and 35% of wet systems have significant corrosion issues after 25 years. However, these damages can occur “as soon as two years after installation.”
BlazeMaster® CPVC will never corrode, allowing safety and peace of mind, and not to mention less service interruptions, for all.
BlazeMaster® CPVC Eases Installation
Installing fire safety pipe systems with BlazeMaster® CPVC pipes has its own advantages.
Fabrication
Fabrication of CPVC pipes is considered as a safe and hassle free process. When we talk about fabrication in metal sprinkler piping it requires hot welding and noisy threading machines. These create fire hazard situations and difficult working conditions that may eventually result in accidents. This adds to cost and time overruns.
BlazeMaster® CPVC pipe and fittings are joined together with solvent cement and are cut to length without the need for special tools. BlazeMaster® CPVC systems are fabricated on the spot, leading to faster installation.
Flexible CPVC
Steel pipes are heavy & rigid, creating installation issues in tight spaces or hard to reach areas and high-rises. Unlike steel, BlazeMaster® CPVC is light and provides more flexibility upon installation in those difficult spaces and overall. For high-rise buildings, BlazeMaster® CPVC is a boon for the installers- it is 5 times lighter than steel- and it will not be entirely incorrect so say that it is 5 times easier to fabricate and install.
In a nutshell, a BlazeMaster® CPVC fire sprinkler system is:
- Cleaner, quieter installation.
- On-the-spot fabrication, even in tight spaces.
- A suitable product for high-rise projects
BlazeMaster® CPVC Reduces Maintenance
CPVC sprinkler systems have low maintenance hassles because it is free of general issues such as corrosion and scaling. Corrosion and scale buildup are a primary maintenance concern for a steel fire protection system. Removing the scale can be quite the chore, and depending on the levels of water hardness, may be frequently required. BlazeMaster® CPVC resists scaling and corrosion, saving maintenance frequency and costs. In addition, if piping repairs are needed or a sprinkler head or drop needs changed out, BlazeMaster® CPVC fire protection system can be easily cut out and replaced with minimal interruption or damage to the property.
Solving sprinkler piping challenges
It is time the team of consultants, developers and contractors to look for new yet time tested technology in sprinkler piping materials to address issues that plagued fire sprinkler piping for ages but were never seriously acknowledged.
