FOCUS
Material gain Should steel still be the material of choice for use in fire sprinkler systems? Will Robinson looks at the disruptive technology of a less traditional option
presents one of the biggest challenges for many installers and specifiers – that of finding the appropriate system. Steel piping for fire protection systems
W
is a traditional fixture in both new builds and retrofi t projects throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. With chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) piping providing so many advantages over traditional solutions, should steel still be considered the preferred material for fi re sprinkler systems? And if not, why not?
Tackling corrosion
In the long term, corrosion will always be an issue for metallic fi re sprinkler systems. The higher the corrosion levels inside the pipe, the more friction is created against water fl ow, potentially causing a hazard in the event of an emergency.
24 FEBRUARY 2018
www.frmjournal.com
E HEAR so much discussion these days surrounding reliable fi re protection in the United Kingdom and this
In addition to the short term savings, CPVC piping solves corrosion problems and delivers long term cost benefi ts to specifi ers and their customers, since the piping can remain free from corrosion for up to 50 years of service life. CPVC has a natural immunity to
microbiologically infl uenced corrosion (MIC), which is integral to ensuring the smoothness of the inside of the pipe, delivering a quality performance when required. The performance of the material has been
tested using the Hazen-Williams formula, which calculates the friction inside a pipe and how it affects water flow. Steel’s performance can drop by over 50% for pipes that have been in service between four and 40 years, whereas CPVC fights off corrosion, and ensures reliability and protection.
Cost savings
Considerable cost savings can be made during the initial installation of a CPVC system, as it allows reduced installation
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