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