All of these measures place significant stress on CPVC, making ultimate failure likely. There are a number of factors that can cause pipes to compress, including utilizing the wrong type of clamp, clamping pipes too tightly, and allowing CPVC pipe to make contact with other pipes. One of the most common threats to CPVC pipe failure. While most failures tend to manifest as slow leaks, they can also result in catastrophic breaks. Typically occurring slowly over a period of time, ESC is caused when a susceptible material such as CPVC pipe experiences stress or makes contact with the variety of incompatible chemicals described above. Its propensity to fracture can stem from a variety of different sources, including: Environmental stress cracking (ESC) steelĪlthough less expensive and more efficient than steel pipe, plastic is vulnerable to cracking and degrading. That’s why it is essential to include seismic bracing solutions that are specifically designed for CPVC.Īssessing the differences of CPVC vs.
While its critical to comply with code requirements, you also need to consider the impact of the use CPVC versus steel in seismic bracing applications. If proper actions are not taken to accommodate plastic’s unique specifications, sprinkler pipes can be significantly damaged - potentially leading to impairment and even catastrophic failure of critical fire systems. The properties of CPVC vary dramatically from steel, prompting a need for critical changes to bracing solutions. Yet for all of its benefits, the shift to plastic also presents a number of challenges when it comes to seismic bracing. Furthermore, plastic is more economical than steel, and is not vulnerable to fluctuating tariffs and other pricing uncertainties. Both smaller and lighter than steel, CPVC pipe also occupies less room within tightly constrained applications where space is at a premium. One of the driving forces behind the evolution to plastic is the ability to reduce the overall size of the system pipe, resulting in less friction loss when water moves through the pipe. In recent years, some portions of the fire sprinkler industry have begun to transition from steel to CPVC pipe, a move that reflects a number of advantages.