Being environmentally friendly is more than just a trend. In the case of manufacturing, the industry’s understanding of its environmental impact has become more sophisticated.
The impacts range from securing resources and the amount of energy used in the manufacturing process to the disposition of the material.
Builders, contractors, and homeowners are consciously choosing products and materials that do the least amount of damage to the environment─and that selection process extends to fire sprinkler systems.
BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection Systems support green building practices and was the first in the industry to authorize a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of its pipe and fittings.
The LCA, performed by Environmental Resources Management, an independent environmental research firm, took an in-depth look at two common piping materials used for fire sprinkler systems―steel piping and BlazeMaster CPVC piping―to determine which material’s production, use, and end of life were more detrimental to the environment.
The LCA produced key findings about the environmental impact of CPVC―specifically, that it’s a much better alternative to steel.
In the ISO-compliant study, BlazeMaster CPVC outperformed steel in 12 of 13 environmental categories including climate change, water depletion, and energy use. (View the full assessment here).
The benefits of BlazeMaster CPVC’s manufacturing process is also proven in the LCA study.
Manufacturing processes for steel produce harmful toxins that can poison water supplies and kill the vegetation or wildlife it comes in contact with. Careful disposal of these toxins is often required, which consumes energy and resources. BlazeMaster CPVC production creates less of these toxins, allowing it to score well in the environmental categories of aquatic, terrestrial, and human toxicity.
The LCA study also concluded that while both BlazeMaster and steel are produced from fossil resources, the impact of raw material use for steel piping systems has a higher fossil depletion impact. This is due to the significant weight increase of steel over CPVC and the use of coke in the manufacturing of steel.
One crucial aspect of environmental impact is product lifespan―how long will the product serve its purpose once it’s installed?
Due to its corrosion resistant properties, BlazeMaster fire protection systems are manufactured to last as long as the building they’re used in. Water can flow through the pipe for years without damaging the integrity of the system, even when chlorine is present or near salty bodies of water. Lubrizol has seen CPVC piping installations endure decades without any noticeable corrosion.
In contrast, steel fire protection systems are susceptible to corrosion―forcing contractors and building owners to replace them quicker and consume more energy and resources, significantly increasing environmental impact.
BlazeMaster CPVC can be recycled as PVC piping or window profiles, or collected on the job site and ground into pellets and granules. These, in turn, can be used for different applications such as:
While it is assumed that steel can also be recycled, as CPVC recycling infrastructure grows so has the recycling rate. Additionally, the LCA study concluded that BlazeMaster CPVC was sent to a landfill at the end of its life, and still had a lower environmental impact.
As a result, CPVC can be expected to widen its environmental performance over steel in coming years.
BlazeMaster CPVC is created with fewer resources and energy while, at the same time, producing fewer toxins. Once created, it lasts longer than steel. Post-usage, it can be recycled and used in new applications. The result is less material that’s less environmentally impactful.
This realization, thanks to the LCA produced by Environmental Resources Management, combined with the other benefits of a BlazeMaster CPVC piping system (including corrosion resistance, fast and easy installation, and lower costs) are why environmentally conscious builders choose it over steel for their fire protection needs.
Want to learn more about the environmental impact on piping systems or how BlazeMaster Fire Protection Systems can help your building earn a LEED® certification? Contact our team of piping system consultants.