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By: BlazeMaster EMEA on 10-Dec-2019 04:00:00
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Four Ways BlazeMaster® Fire Protection Systems Outperform PP-R

Should you be considering a non-metallic fire protection system for a new or retrofit sprinkler project, there are primarily two choices – CPVC or PP-R (polypropylene random).

Today I will demonstrate four areas in which BlazeMaster® CPVC outperforms PP-R.

Whether you are the installer or the property owner, these benefits will work to your advantage, during and after installation.

 

Advantages Throughout the Installation and Life Cycle Process

  1. Easier installation – CPVC is a lightweight material that offers fast and easy installation via a one-step solvent cement process, connecting pipes to fittings. These connections, when done properly, become the strongest part of the system. It requires no special equipment. PP-R uses a more difficult and costly installation, requiring special heating and cooling tools. While a hot works permit may not be required for PP-R, the fusion welding process does involve tools that heat up to 260°C – the temperature at which wood begins to char.

  2. Hydraulic advantage – BlazeMaster CPVC uses 56.2% less material to achieve the same pressure rating as PP-R. PP-R requires heat fusion for connections, during which small beads may form on the pipe’s inner diameter, increasing friction and reducing flow rate. BlazeMaster CPVC has a smaller wall thickness and a smooth internal pipe surface that offers the same or better flow rate than PP-R at a smaller pipe size.

  3. Specialized raw material design – BlazeMaster CPVC is UL and LPCB listed, with a tensile strength of 55MPa for high material durability. PP-R’s tensile strength is approximately half that, at 27.7, and carries no UL listing. PP-R also has issues with chlorine tolerance and exposure to UV rays.

  4. Temperature resistance – BlazeMaster CPVC offers superior flame and smoke resistance, with a Limiting Oxygen Index* of 60. PP-R requires a flame retardant layer and has a Limiting Oxygen Index of around 20 – about one-third of BlazeMaster CPVC.

    BlazeMaster CPVC has a flash ignition temperature of 482°C. That is the lowest temperature at which sufficient combustible gases evolve and can be ignited by small internal flame. As a point of comparison, wood begins to char at approximately 260°C or lower. That means BlazeMaster CPVC cannot be the ignition source of a fire.

When BlazeMaster CPVC is exposed to flash ignition temperatures, it chars or intumesces and does not drip or spread a fire. In fact, the char layer acts as thermal barrier to restrict the flow of heat into the pipe wall, reducing the rate of burning and allowing more time for occupants to evacuate and first responders to arrive. Tests have also shown that it does not contribute to flash over. In other words, BlazeMaster CPVC does not create a sudden explosive development of flame.

 

More Than 30 Years of Worldwide Global Success

BlazeMaster CPVC is the most specified nonmetallic fire sprinkler systems in the world and has more than proven itself since it was introduced in 1984 specifically for the fire sprinkler industry.

By making a critical life safety system affordable to millions of homeowners more residences than ever before are protected from the threat of fire. These reasonably-priced fire suppression systems are also significant factors in keeping firefighters out of harm’s way when responding to an emergency.

Would you like to learn more? A free guide that compares BlazeMaster CPVC to PP-R is available at your request.

Request a Consultation

*Limiting Oxygen Index is a widely-used method to assess flammability. The higher the number, the less flammable the material.