CPVC Performance | on December 13th, 2020
One question that comes up often is: “CPVC is plastic – won’t it melt in a fire?”
Emerging economies like India are used to seeing plastics as thin packing materials that ignite and melt when coming in contact with flame. Hence, we are often asked how BlazeMaster® CPVC Pipes does not behave like the other plastics and can possibly stand up to temperatures that can exceed 500° C, let alone be used as a key component of a fire sprinkler piping system.
It could seem to be a reasonable question on the surface. In truth, we have more than 30 years of successful applications worldwide that prove the efficacy of BlazeMaster® CPVC against fire. BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection System has a unique ability to not self-ignite, burn, and melt. This led to the adoption of BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection System for sprinkler piping across 60 countries since 1984 including India.
BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection System is installed in fire sprinkler piping systems across India as it provides 50 years of service life.
In India, they are used in residences, high-rise buildings, schools, hospitals, hotels, office buildings, and all other light hazard applications as listed in BIS 15105 and in some special applications at airports, data centers, and warehouses. It is also the >most specified non-metallic fire protection & sprinkler piping system in the world.
Let us put all misconceptions to rest, once and for all.
UL & BIS Test Proves Heat and Flames Are No Match for BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection System - Seeing is Believing
Underwriters Laboratories (UL), known worldwide as the product safety certification resource, lists BlazeMaster CPVC fire fighting systems in compliance with UL 1821 specifications. A fire measure that achieves peak temperatures at more than 500 ° C is included in the listing criteria.
The sprinklers were triggered during a test cycle of approximately one minute and remained activated during a total test time of 40 minutes. You can watch the test video here.
As the test progressed, BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection System used for sprinkler piping in the test did exactly what it was designed to do – continue to supply water to the sprinkler heads while forming a protective charring layer on the outside of the pipe to reduce heat conduction. By providing a thermal insulation coating, the action enables the system to remain intact and keep water flowing through the pipe. The pipe's inner smoothness is not affected. The water flowing through the pipe often cools the outside diameter of the pipe, decreasing the internal burn rate and preventing any distortion or damage to the pipe.
In a fire situation, keeping the system fully functional and operating is imperative. The UL 1821 test proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection System can take the heat. It survives and doesn’t melt at temperatures above its operating temperature too.
Similarly, BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection System is certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards-the governing body for Indian standards, measurements, and standardization, as mandated by IS 16088:2002. As a part of this approval, our fire piping system was made to pass the fire exposure test and flammability test in accordance with the guidelines laid down in IS 16088:2002.
UL, BIS, and other global organization approvals certify that the BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection System is considered the strongest fire fighting system in the world and does not melt at temperatures far above its operating temperature.
Why doesn't the BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection System melt in the fire?
BlazeMaster® CPVC, a lightweight thermoplastic made from a base PVC polymer and fortified with additional chlorine molecules (67% total chlorine). This additional chlorine with the PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which otherwise contains approximately 57% chlorine makes BlazeMaster® CPVC achieve a unique performance against direct flame over long periods to resist combustion or burning. This is the reason why CPVC are preferred over steel pipes.
It gives the best classification that can be done by a non-metal material: Bs1d0.0. The following is the way this classification translates:
- Fire behavior: B = low flammability, no flashover contribution,
- Production of smoke: s1 = low creation of smoke
- Flaming droplets: d0 = no droplets burning
BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection System also carries a Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) of 60. That means it requires an ambiance containing 60% or more oxygen to sustain burning. Given that the earth’s atmosphere only contains 21% oxygen, it does not sustain burning.
Thus, BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection System does not melt, burn, or ignite during service. It has been successfully tested by UL and BIS which provides us with peace of mind.
