Plus osha has banned the use of pvc piping for compressed air in above ground applications.
Compressed air piping materials.
Installation is straightforward or can be done by a plumber and fittings are available at your local hardware store.
These failures combined with air under pressure are potentially fatal due to the airborne razor sharp shrapnel.
Compressed air piping materials can be divided into two basic types.
Nowadays there are many different steel and non steel types of piping.
In our experience thermoplastic should be used only in some air compressor inlet piping situations which are not.
Cleaner than black iron pipe.
Guide to compressed air piping systems last updated on.
Iron pipe is available in galvanized or raw black form.
Black iron pipe creates rust silt and sediment which can ruin your equipment.
If you don t want to solder use galvanized or black steel pipe.
Using pvc for compressed air is a safety liability you don t want to gamble on.
Non metal pipe commonly called plastic pipe has been offered for many years as compressed air piping because.
Unlike gas and water lines air compression lines don t require perfect joints so don t worry if they leak a tiny bit.
Owners of compressed air piping systems tend to focus on the compressor and think of the piping as less of a concern.
Moisture and oxygen in compressed air makes rust and corrosion inevitable.
Hardware stores will cut and thread the ends for you.
In the old days compressed air pipes where made of plain steel.
For steel pipes we have plain steel stainless steel copper and galvanized steel pipes that are often used.
Rapidair products deliver safe compressed air.
However just as hearts can fail due to clogged arteries compressors can fail due to poor piping.
However these materials suffer from some significant limitations.
May 15th 2020 at.
It can be installed with no special tools such as welders threaders etc.
Here are some of the most common materials used for compressed air piping and the pros and cons of each.
Traditionally steel sometimes referred to as black iron and galvanized steel piping have been a common choice for compressed air systems.
Non metal pipe is commonly called thermoplastic pipe.
For plastic there is a whole range of plastic types all with their own characteristics.
Iron pipe is one of the oldest compressed air piping materials used.
It is also an osha violation to use pvc for compressed air distribution which means you could incur a hefty fine.
As with most decisions the choice in piping material comes down to tradeoffs between cost performance longevity and aesthetics.
Measure the pipe runs and buy exact lengths.
It is lighter than most metal and easier to handle.
