Fire Protection Design Manual - Office of Construction and Facilities ...

Fire Protection Design Manual - Office of Construction and Facilities ... Fire Protection Design Manual - Office of Construction and Facilities ...

27.11.2012 Views

SPEARS® MANUFACTURING COMPANY CORPORATE OFFICE 15853 OLDEN STREET • SYLMAR, CALIFORNIA 91342 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 9203 • SYLMAR, CALIFORNIA 91392 Telephone (818) 364-1611 • Fax (818) 364-6945 www.spearsmfg.com Potential Damage to CPVC Fire Sprinkler Systems From Spray Foam Insulation Spray Foam Insulation Systems typically used in attics to insulate from heat loss have in some cases caused damage to CPVC Fire Sprinkler Systems from either Environmental Stress Cracking (ESC) or adverse Heat Distortion. Environmental Stress Cracking In plastics, this is a crazing, cracking, or fracturing in the presence of an incompatible environment and some form of stress. Most often it is a chemical environment, thus "chemically induced Environmental Stress Cracking or simply, “ESC”. This is sometimes hard to detect until a major problem develops. The foam insulation system manufacturer must be consulted to insure full compatibility of their product with CPVC piping systems. Heat Distortion Heat is generated by the reaction of spray foam insulation with air during application. The temperatures developed can soften the material and easily result in adverse expansion or even ballooning in CPVC piping systems if improperly applied. The foam insulation system manufacturer must be consulted to insure the proper method of application is used to prevent heat distortion in CPVC piping systems. FGW-A-0408

SPEARS® MANUFACTURING COMPANY CORPORATE OFFICE 15853 OLDEN STREET • SYLMAR, CALIFORNIA 91342 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 9203 • SYLMAR, CALIFORNIA 91392 Telephone (818) 364-1611 • Fax (818) 364-6945 www.spearsmfg.com Potential Damage to CPVC Fire Sprinkler Systems From Connection to Anti-Bacterial Corrosion Lined Metal Piping CPVC piping has been successfully used in combination with copper or steel piping for many years when proper attention is given to packing or cutting oils and thread sealants used to insure that Environmental Stress Cracking (ESC) is not a problem. However, new Anti-Bacterial Corrosion coatings designed to prevent Microbiological Influenced Corrosion (MIC) that are applied as a lining to metal pipe are at the center of a major ESC problem concerning combination of CPVC with Metal fire sprinkler systems. While industry testing being conducted to determine cause has yet to be completed, reported data developed to date strongly suggests that the chemicals responsible for the fracturing of both CPVC pipe and fittings on at least one project are a part of the Anti-Bacterial Corrosion coating that lined the inside of the metal pipe. We believe this is sufficient reason to issue warning. The installing contractor must identify any chemical agents (Such as but not limited to thread cutting oils, thread pastes, packing oils, insulating foams, or anti-bacterial corrosion coatings) that may come into contact with the CPVC system and verify through the proper substance manufacturer that those chemicals will not harm CPVC plastic material in any way. FGW-B-0408

SPEARS® MANUFACTURING COMPANY<br />

CORPORATE OFFICE<br />

15853 OLDEN STREET • SYLMAR, CALIFORNIA 91342<br />

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 9203 • SYLMAR, CALIFORNIA 91392<br />

Telephone (818) 364-1611 • Fax (818) 364-6945<br />

www.spearsmfg.com<br />

Potential Damage to CPVC <strong>Fire</strong> Sprinkler Systems<br />

From Connection to Anti-Bacterial Corrosion Lined Metal Piping<br />

CPVC piping has been successfully used in combination with copper or<br />

steel piping for many years when proper attention is given to packing or<br />

cutting oils <strong>and</strong> thread sealants used to insure that Environmental Stress<br />

Cracking (ESC) is not a problem. However, new Anti-Bacterial Corrosion<br />

coatings designed to prevent Microbiological Influenced Corrosion (MIC)<br />

that are applied as a lining to metal pipe are at the center <strong>of</strong> a major ESC<br />

problem concerning combination <strong>of</strong> CPVC with Metal fire sprinkler systems.<br />

While industry testing being conducted to determine cause has yet to be<br />

completed, reported data developed to date strongly suggests that the<br />

chemicals responsible for the fracturing <strong>of</strong> both CPVC pipe <strong>and</strong> fittings on<br />

at least one project are a part <strong>of</strong> the Anti-Bacterial Corrosion coating that<br />

lined the inside <strong>of</strong> the metal pipe. We believe this is sufficient reason to<br />

issue warning.<br />

The installing contractor must identify any chemical agents (Such as but<br />

not limited to thread cutting oils, thread pastes, packing oils, insulating<br />

foams, or anti-bacterial corrosion coatings) that may come into contact with<br />

the CPVC system <strong>and</strong> verify through the proper substance manufacturer<br />

that those chemicals will not harm CPVC plastic material in any way.<br />

FGW-B-0408

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