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Healthcare

The Prescription for Healthcare Fire Sprinkler Systems

Healthcare facilities encounter unique obstacles when it comes to setting up effective fire protection systems. BlazeMaster® CPVC, approved for use in light hazard occupancies, presents a solution that not only saves money but also potentially saves lives, all while simplifying the installation process.

When it comes to protecting patients and caregivers in a wide range of healthcare facilities, BlazeMaster CPVC offers the best material for ensuring performance while reducing costs and streamlining installation. BlazeMaster pipe and fittings are UL listed for use in light hazard occupancies as defined by NFPA 13, such as:

  • Ambulatory surgical centers
  • Hospitals
  • Hospices
  • Imaging and radiology centers
  • Medical and dental offices
  • Mental health and addiction treatment centers
  • Nursing homes
  • Rehabilitation facilities
  • Urgent care sites

It's also the right choice for special settings unique to healthcare that house sensitive equipment. CPVC is less likely to interfere with wireless connections in healthcare settings.

Here are six reasons healthcare facilities are choosing BlazeMaster CPVC:

Saves Lives

BlazeMaster CPVC has reliably protected people and property from fire for nearly 40 years. More than 2 billion feet of BlazeMaster CPVC pipe has been installed globally – it’s the most specified non-metallic piping system in the world.

Saves Money

Depending on the type and size of the healthcare project, BlazeMaster CPVC can save up to 30% compared to a steel system, including materials costs and labor. For instance, CPVC offers superior hydraulics compared to steel, which means designers can specify smaller diameter pipe to reduce overall material costs.

Meet Tight Installation Timelines

BlazeMaster CPVC is much easier to install than steel pipe, which shortens the installation time in addition to reducing labor costs. With lightweight BlazeMaster CPVC, one person can cover an area using basic hand tools along with a quick, one-step solvent cement welding process. By comparison, special equipment and extra workers are needed to simply move steel pipe around the site. Torches and loud threading machines are needed to fabricate and join the system. Parts of steel systems may require off-site fabrication, which can slow the installation process.

Keep Long-Term Maintenance Costs Low

Steel systems are prone to costly repairs due to corrosion and scaling (mineral buildup). Hospitals are filled with expensive equipment and leaks due to corrosion can be very costly. BlazeMaster CPVC eliminates the threat of sprinkler leaks due to corrosion.

With steel pipe, the combination of water, treatment chemicals and oxygen can cause corrosion to start within two years. About one-third of wet sprinkler systems have significant corrosion issues after 25 years, according to a study by a German fire safety firm. In contrast, CPVC naturally resists corrosion and scaling over the life of system, even in demanding settings with salt air or fluctuating pH balances in the water. Repairs are simple if needed, unlike steel pipe that requires hot work and messy cutting oils.

Minimize Disruption for Patients and Staff During Retrofits and Repairs

BlazeMaster CPVC’s easy installation is also cleaner and quieter, which creates minimal disruption for building occupants. That’s important in healthcare retrofits to reduce noise that could create an unpleasant environment for patients. By contrast, installing and repairing steel pipe requires open-flame torches and noisy threading machines that cause disruption for occupants.

Deliver Superior Sustainability Metrics to Support Green Building Practices

Eco-friendly building techniques are important in healthcare, and CPVC offers significant advantages over steel pipe. An ISO-compliant lifecycle assessment found that BlazeMaster CPVC is much less harmful to produce and has half the climate change impact of steel pipe. BlazeMaster CPVC outperformed steel in 12 out of 13 categories, including human toxicity, mineral and water depletion, nonrenewable energy use and others.