Compressed Air Piping Materials

Unlike gas and water lines air compression lines don t require perfect joints so don t worry if they leak a tiny bit.

Compressed air piping materials.

Plastic compressed air piping is cheap lightweight easy to install and non corrosive. Hardware stores will cut and thread the ends for you. Traditionally steel sometimes referred to as black iron and galvanized steel piping have been a common choice for compressed air systems. Moisture and oxygen in compressed air makes rust and corrosion inevitable.

May 15th 2020 at. Owners of compressed air piping systems tend to focus on the compressor and think of the piping as less of a concern. Guide to compressed air piping systems last updated on. Cleaner than black iron pipe.

Iron pipe is available in galvanized or raw black form. The presence of air compressor oils in the line and heat from the compressed air accelerates the degradation of pvc. For plastic there is a whole range of plastic types all with their own characteristics. Nowadays there are many different steel and non steel types of piping.

In the old days compressed air pipes where made of plain steel. Non metal pipe is commonly called thermoplastic pipe. However these materials suffer from some significant limitations. Rapidair products deliver safe compressed air.

As with most decisions the choice in piping material comes down to tradeoffs between cost performance longevity and aesthetics. It is lighter than most metal and easier to handle. In our experience thermoplastic should be used only in some air compressor inlet piping situations which are not. Plus osha has banned the use of pvc piping for compressed air in above ground applications.

However just as hearts can fail due to clogged arteries compressors can fail due to poor piping. It can be installed with no special tools such as welders threaders etc. Installation is straightforward or can be done by a plumber and fittings are available at your local hardware store. Black iron pipe creates rust silt and sediment which can ruin your equipment.

Non metal pipe commonly called plastic pipe has been offered for many years as compressed air piping because. Measure the pipe runs and buy exact lengths. Iron pipe is one of the oldest compressed air piping materials used. It is also an osha violation to use pvc for compressed air distribution which means you could incur a hefty fine.

For steel pipes we have plain steel stainless steel copper and galvanized steel pipes that are often used. Compressed air piping materials can be divided into two basic types. Using pvc for compressed air is a safety liability you don t want to gamble on. These failures combined with air under pressure are potentially fatal due to the airborne razor sharp shrapnel.