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What is the logic of BCI fittings for steam vs BMI?

Ted Huizinga
Ted Huizinga Member Posts: 2
in THE MAIN WALL
OK, what is the logic of BCI fittings for steam systems instead of black malleable iron fittings? I was taught by many old timers to always use BCI fittings on steam.

Comments

  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,578
    bci fittings

    is it because they are easier to smash, when you want to remove them? or maybe more resistant to prolonged exposure to hot moist conditions.--nbc
  • Brad White_191
    Brad White_191 Member Posts: 252
    I think it is just tradition

    Something nice about those older, more massive CI fittings that look so nice. They can be broken at repair time for sure.

    Nothing wrong with malleable (it certainly is code for gas so has other uses) but I see cast as a tradition as much as anything. I was told that CI was code in NYC for steam. I am sure there are other reasons.
  • plmbst
    plmbst Member Posts: 2


    "Smoother" flow. The I.D. of the pipe more closely matches I.D. of "steam" fitting.
  • Dan H
    Dan H Member Posts: 15


    Cheaper to buy.
  • Couderay
    Couderay Member Posts: 314
    CastIron vs. Malleable Iron

    Here in Chicago our company anyways we use malleable on everything.150# fittings on steam (low pressure)water piping,air piping,gas piping. We upgrade to 300# (AAR) malleable fittings on high pressure steam and on ALL condensate. The reason here is the availability is much greater and when using a pipewrench the malleable fittings are easier to grip. Cast iron is not around much any more and you get a lot of backorders as compared to malleable. As for breaking apart yes cast is the way to go. But having the big aluminum pipewrenches,oxy./acyt. torches and my personal favorite the metabo with the slicer wheel there isn't a fitting I havent been able to get off. So for me its malleable over cast iron then again I'm into the pipefitting end, not the plumber side.
  • Dan Sedens
    Dan Sedens Member Posts: 48
    You use BMI

    for water piping??? Doesn't that rust out in a matter of weeks. Not starting trouble! Just simply asking a question. I imagine you misspoke(typed).
    Dan
  • Tony Conner_2
    Tony Conner_2 Member Posts: 443
    All Malleable Iron Is...

    ... is cast iron that has been heat treated to remove the brittleness. As far as corrosion resistance MI & CI are virtually identical.
  • Tony Conner_2
    Tony Conner_2 Member Posts: 443
    You're...

    ... going to have to show me the math on that.
  • Couderay
    Couderay Member Posts: 314
    Rust

    Yes we use malleable on just about any thing. Just finished piping up a blowdown on a medium pressure boiler today using 300# malleable fittings. This boiler will be blown down 3 times a day (once per shift). As far as rust goes, it has never been a problem unless the joint leaks, and the pipe will rot out faster than the fitting.
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,578
    metabo

    metabo!! i need that to open some of the things i may get today.--nbc
  • Tony Conner_2
    Tony Conner_2 Member Posts: 443
    The Only Things...

    ... that you need to watch are applications that fall under the "Boiler External Piping" section of the ASME B31.1 Power Piping Code. It holds piping that falls under that classification - feedwater, blowdown, etc - to a higher standard than other pressure piping. I don't have it in front of me, but my recollections are "fittings shall be steel", and "piping shall be seamless and at least sch 80" are spelled out, depending.
This discussion has been closed.

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