attractive brass or black sprinkler heads, comparison to steel. Comparatively, under it has proven its worth for centuries in the sale price of your hooch will need to the same pressure more water can flow every type of piping imaginable, but it is increase threefold. Customers will bring through the same size CPVC pipe. CPVC labor intensive and I dare you to remove a their friends just to look at the sprinkler is lightweight, easily worked and internally section of threaded pipe from the middle system. Of course before the copper can slippery ... all good characteristics for of a pipe run. First you’ll stare, then you’ll be cut, hung and polished there are those sprinkler piping. To understand what CPVC curse, then you’ll reach for the destructive damn rules. Copper tube comes in an array might look like, think about the (usually equipment as you will have correctly of different material thicknesses but only white) PVC drainage piping in your home. concluded it can’t be done without cutting three, identified as Type K, Type L and A peek beneath your kitchen sink will give something. Whenever possible, keep Type M (from thick to thin) are approved you a good visual comparison. CPVC is the threaded pipe runs at the end of the to be used in fire sprinkler systems. Copper similar, but almost always comes sprinkler system branch lines where they has wonderful hydraulic properties, where in that same attractive can be taken apart without the like CPVC friction loss is significantly less International orange use of destructive tools than steel pipe and therefore pipe sizes when necessary. can be smaller. And what joining methods The second can be used for your aesthetically pleasing joining method is sprinkler system? There are lots to choose more industrial from. There’s the standby method everyone and cool knows and that’s to “sweat” or braze the sounding: roll joints, which essentially melts lead (or a and groove, and similar material) and “glues” the pipe into no, this is not the fittings. The problem with sweating color! the roll and groove ROLL AND GROOVE METHOD is that it isn’t always beautiful and can With all the from Woodstock, not COURTESY VICTAULIC only be used in wet sprinkler systems good things even close. This one and in light hazard occupancies. It’s not about CPVC cuts a small groove going to work for a dry sprinkler system having been mentioned, be careful when around the pipe, near the end, into which above the still. Then there’s a much considering its use. First, the CPVC piping goes a water- and air-tight gasket which more recent joining technology which is of choice has to be specifically ASTM is held in place by a bolted clamp that our favorite, a mechanically compressed approved to be used in fire sprinkler piping, encircles the pipe. Does it work? Yup, roll copper fitting formed around an approved then special consideration has to be given and groove works really well and has been gasket. When this system is done well it to temperature and exposure conditions used in every industry imaginable that uses makes your polished pipes appear to have as the upper service temperature of this pipe. The benefit is when you have to take been seamlessly fused together, and when material is around 150° F, and in many a section of sprinkler system apart, and this combined with thoughtful bending of the cases the material is not listed to be left is going to happen during your ownership of copper tubing, a great installer can add a exposed, and if left exposed, many brands a sprinkler system, roll and groove comes level of visual wonder to a safety necessity. cannot be painted … you’ll have to enjoy apart wonderfully with no destruction and Here are a few other considerations when International orange. While this is a good minimal effort, whereas the old threaded choosing piping materials. For starters, material to install within the gypsum-boardpipe methods are not so friendly. Roll and know your water and think about the future finished ceiling of your office, it’s probably groove, however, is usually only seen on of your system. CPVC, for example, is not not the piping material to use over the still. larger pipe sizes, usually pipes that are 1 affected by many “aggressive” waters that The third material option that we see, ¼ inch and larger, and the fittings seem to can eat holes in steel or copper. However, and this is for the wealthier “price is not only come in a lovely International orange CPVC pipe installed downstream in a an object” clients, is copper. Exposed color. This is likely not an issue over the sprinkler system that contains threaded copper sprinkler piping, all loading dock, but it’s probably not the décor steel fittings can bright and shiny above the you wanted above retail. The good news is tasting room, will nicely steel pipe and fittings can be painted! compliment your pot The second piping material option, and still on the other side one that we don’t see used frequently in of that very expensive commercial fire protection, is thermoplastic, window. When usually chlorinated polyvinyl chloride attractively installed (CPVC). This material is lightweight, easy to COPPER PRESS with copper fittings, work with and very efficient in that there’s TYPE FITTING BERGERON TECHNICAL PHOTO copper supports and a lot less friction inside a CPVC pipe in
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