Plastic Vs. Cast Iron Drain Pipe

Tony Conner_2

... authority for boilers & pressure vessels your jurisdiction will also likely have restrictions regarding PVC pipe in compressed gas service. It's specifically banned here (Ontario), unless it's underground.

Tony Conner_2

Something For The Plumbers...

...out there. Here's a write-up on a European test comparing plastic drainage pipe to cast iron in a fire situation.

http://www.saint-gobain-pipelines.co.uk/soildrain/news2.cfm?newsID=139&latest=1

I suspect that with the amount of plastics currently used in construction and furnishings, the gases emitted from the plastic pipe would represent a pretty marginal amount, in the grand scheme of things. However, the difference in the spreading of the fire...

Constantin

Hmmm...

... I wonder if Saint-Gobain doesn't manufacture cast iron drain pipes? I know they make a lot of car glass.

Most homes in the US seem to have plenty of combustibles lurking behind the blueboard, drywall, whatever - we don't need PVC to spread fire up and down throughout a house. Prevent the fires from happening in the wall system, and you also avoid the potential mess that Dioxins and other PVC-combustion-related gases can do to your home.

Even if the test has any merit (which it may), I would prefer a press release that is a little less breathless and fear-mongering than this one. Instead of FUD, I would prefer a through discussion on how CI pipes in vertical applications do a great job of keeping the noise down. In horizontal applications, well-insulated CI sections make a lot more sense, IMO, since they won't rot, they have a very low friction coefficient, etc. Each material has it's place, in other words.

Tony Conner_2

It's...

... just an "FYI" as far as I'm concerned. I'm not a plumber, and have no plans to get into that line of work. As far as plastic piping melting or burning and leaving holes in floors & walls for fire to spread, I don't think that there's much room for debate there.

This came up on another board, on a string about PVC for compressed air piping. (I DO get involved in that - don't use PVC for compressed air.) I have a deep dislike for most things made of plastic, as far as industrial piping is concerned. PVC piping has it's place in a few industrial piping services, but those applications are very much the exceptions.

Larry (from OSHA)

Tony

Greetings Tony,

Would you mind sharing the address for the other board. I also have a problem with the use of PVC in compressed air applications. If you have ever seen the results of a PVC airline exploding, you would not want to be anywhere near it!

Thanks,

Larry (from OSHA)

Tony Conner_2

The Main...

... board is www.eng-tips.com - there are a lot of forums within it though. The specific link to the string is:

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=122826&page=1

Aidan (UK)

Plastic Vs. Cast Iron Drain Pipe

"... I wonder if Saint-Gobain doesn't manufacture cast iron drain pipes?"

How did you guess?

They do make CI drainage systems, if you look at their products. Very good stuff it is too and not cheap. You can get intumescent collars for plastic drainage pipes which are supposed to seal the holes left after the plastic has melted. They're running a campaign in the trtade press about the advantages of CI. The main problem is the passage of smoke & toxic fumes between floors.

Robert O'Connor_12

PVC vs. CI

PVC can't be used in commercial applications in New Jersey where the ceiling is being used a return air plenum. It can be used in the walls if properly fire stopped. Many jobs we do use both, PVC in the walls and cast everywhere else. I prefer cast iron and have installed it in my own home.

ps..Great idea for the urinal manufacturers.

Robert O'Connor/NJ

Dave_4

Great idea for the urinal manufacturers

I think there used to be a bee transfer on some of the Victoran English urinals. It was a schoolboy joke then; the Latin for bee is apis. You could say you were going for apis.