FlowGuard® Pipe and Fittings Blog
Product information, material comparisons, installation best practices, design considerations, safety information and more from the pioneer in CPVC plumbing technology.
Totally pure water is nonexistent. All water supplies contain additives designed to protect, and bacteria and chemicals which may cause harm in vast quantities. But a healthy background knowledge of what’s inside your water can help you to prepare your plumbing system to provide safe water to your family for many years to come.
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Find straightforward answers to questions about: joint reliability, drinking water safety, service life and more.
In order to facilitate a switch to CPVC that satisfies everyone involved, it’s important that you can tell your team and customers what they need to know. What’s being installed, what they can expect during installation, what their new system has in store for them and most importantly, why, at the heart of it all, is FlowGuard CPVC.
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Home owners considering a life changing investment into FlowGuard CPVC need to know what they should expect from their experience. For answers, they look to the professionals that install it and the Traders who supply this exciting product to a competitive market.
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Biofilm: The Back Story Any plumbing professional knows that there is more going on inside those pipes than many people realise. But while we may assume that there is little chance of biofilm building up inside a new water system any time soon, in some wet environments, biofilm can be formed and colonised by bacteria in just a few hours. This can happen inside water distribution systems, too. So it’s important to know what’s happening inside those pipes, and the risks involved.
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Good Clean Water is Good Clean Business
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Experienced installers of FlowGuard® CPVC pipe and fittings for plumbing and HVAC projects know: a high standard of workmanship in the joining method depends on following the directions for solvent cement welding to the letter.
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Homeowners, building owners and contractors demand reliable, high-quality piping systems that deliver safe, clean drinking water over the long term. FlowGuard® CPVC pipe and fittings have a reputation for quality and 60 years of proven performance to exceed homeowner and contractor expectations.
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Every piping project begins with an assessment of how to ensure the integrity of the system over its lifecycle and limit future liability. What are the steps you can take to ensure the pipe material you use is not exposing your project to unnecessary risk? First and foremost, you need to be informed on proper installation and handling of the material. To help educate installers avoid potential risk, FlowGuard® CPVC provides industry leading training resources on installation, safety and even how it compares to the competition. We encourage builders to contact us with any installation questions prior to beginning work.
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FlowGuard® CPVC pipe and fittings are designed to meet the temperature and pressure requirements of hydronic applications and withstand the internal stresses that result from conveying fluids over time at various temperatures. Adhering to the following guidelines will help ensure CPVC thermoplastic piping systems are designed and installed correctly for reliable performance in these complex projects.
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One of the most important attributes one should consider when choosing pipe material is how well it can withstand impacts, or a suddenly applied load. The demanding applications for pipe placed in plumbing or HVAC systems require specific performance characteristics. Before the pipe even goes into service, it is stored, handled and installed. Damage to the pipe during transport or from falling items on the job site can be costly to the project and cause potential delays.
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In 2015, ASHRAE issued a voluntary consensus standard that establishes minimum risk management requirements for buildings with complex water systems, including cooling towers. Also now an ANSI standard, ASHRAE 188, “Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems,” recognizes that biofilm as a pathway to harmful microbial growth in piping is an industry concern that must be managed proactively.
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Thinking ahead to your next HVAC piping project? Did you know there’s a code-compliant non-metallic option that: Will never pit, scale or corrode Resists biofilm growth Is lightweight Can cut your labor costs in half?
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A pipe pressure rating tells a system designer how well a thermoplastic material will withstand the internal stresses placed by the fluid being conveyed over time at various temperatures. When working with FlowGuard® CPVC pipe, designers should know that the pressure bearing capability of the pipe has been proven in a rigorous data collection and analysis process that has been established by the Hydrostatic Stress Board of the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI).
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A question commonly asked about CPVC piping is what makes it susceptible to failures once in service. It is not necessary to have a materials science degree to gain an understanding of the factors involved. Essentially, certain conditions must be present for a failure to be set into motion. In this post we will look at what these conditions are and how they may interact with each other.
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With all eyes on the future of our planet, concern about sustainable building materials and solid waste disposal grows every year. Plastics typically are criticized for not being “biodegradable” and for having a high environmental footprint on that basis alone. While this might be a solid line of reasoning for single use plastics, it is not valid for CPVC. CPVC is recyclable into other useful products.
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Combating waterborne public health problems that can arise from the potable water supply is a complex and ongoing challenge for any water utility and desalination plant. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who defined the guiding principles, the main objectives are to:
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For decades, the environmental movement and the green building emphasis that grew out of it, focused heavily on the contribution of manufacturing processes that emitted waste byproducts to the air, water and land. However, today one of the primary aspects of assessing sustainability in building materials is acknowledging their resource efficiency and how they perform during the use phase of their lifecycle. Products that are durable, energy efficient and have a long service life by definition have a reduced environmental footprint when compared to products that are made from non-renewable materials, or that corrode and are susceptible to early failures, requiring land disposal.
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CPVC Performance | Installation
When designing a new plastic piping system, it is crucial to keep in mind that the success of that system depends on a number of key factors: the quality of the parts manufactured ; the stresses imposed from operating conditions and installation issues; and the chemical substances in contact with both the outside and inside of the system. Every one of these aspects can affect the performance of the system during its service life.
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A question piping specifiers often ask is how does CPVC fare in the presence of high intensity solar radiation and prolonged sunlight exposure coupled with temperatures as high as 50° C in summer? They want to know how using a thermoplastic material makes sense in such punishing conditions.
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In several occasions this blog has proved how FlowGuard® CPVC meets or exceeds the necessary safety, performance and quality assurance requirements of key international agencies. Many specifiers may still question whether they should design with CPVC on residential and commercial projects that handle corrosive desalinated drinking water.
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As with any aging process, CPVC plumbing pipe that has been functioning for years can change in appearance with the passage of time. Discoloration can happen, but if the pipe is FlowGuard® CPVC, that will not affect the life expectancy of the piping system or its pressure bearing capabilities under normal use conditions.
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Plumbing specialists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must balance numerous variables in ensuring they provide a superior system of pipes and fixtures that distribute water for use in a building. As part of that analysis, the merits of smooth interior pipe surfaces should not be downplayed in promoting the delivery of drinking water that is safe. Surface smoothness is in fact a primary factor in preventing biofilm formation and should represent one critical aspect when choosing a piping material for your home.
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CPVC FlowGuard | Health and Safety
A common reference for CPVC materials used in potable drinking water applications is its compliance with NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water Systems Components – Health Effects. Being defined as standard since 1988, NSF/ANSI 61 establishes minimum requirements for the control of adverse human health effects in materials, components, products and systems that have direct contact with drinking water (from source to tap) or drinking water treatment chemicals.
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Hundreds of details go into the planning process for a luxury residential development or other high-end construction project. The inclusion of differentiating features and building amenities characterize these types of developments, which are built to exacting standards of quality matching the level of investment the buyers make. A common belief is that “expensive” is synonymous with “quality”; it is not unusual, therefore, for the material selected for the hot and cold water piping system to be copper. Designers would do well to consider some facts to protect the final owners’ investment.
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In recent years, interest in alternative materials for water distribution pipe has led to a lack of clarity on when it’s best to specify one material over another in plumbing applications. This post will offer some information comparing single-layer CPVC to multi-layer composite pipes.
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Health and Safety | Installation
For many years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia faced challenges from a lack of water resources. While KSA’s cities have addressed this issue by relying on alternative methods to meet supply needs, including seawater desalination and private household underground water tanks, further challenges have emerged in providing water for residential and commercial usage that is safe.
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We have already shared the fundamentals for the proper installation of FlowGuard® CPVC piping systems that can deliver system reliability for 50+ years. Mastery of these fundamentals is so simple that, once trained in proper techniques, plumbers find that most projects can be completed with only a few handheld tools. But can FlowGuard CPVC be integrated into existing systems of copper, stainless steel, carbon steel or galvanized steel with the same ease?
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When a building is heated and cooled by means of the forced circulation of hot water, chilled water and/or steam, that HVAC system is referred to as “hydronic.” Hot water and steam are generated with boilers, and chilled water with chillers.
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All plumbing systems must past a series of third-party tests and evaluations to be used in homes and businesses. There are a number of national and international associations, as well as insurance companies that subject piping to various tests in order to advise end users on what materials and products are considered safe and reliable. FlowGuard® CPVC is often recognized as one of the safest, most reliable piping systems available. Our material meets or exceeds the safety, performance and quality assurance requirements of key international approval agencies, including: Saudi Arabian Standard Organization (SASO) ASTM International NSF International Kiwa Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) British Standards (BSi) These key international agencies have developed different standards and approvals for manufacturing CPVC, performance and installation, many of which FlowGuard CPVC satisfies.
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Known for its unique resource-efficient chemical composition, FlowGuard® CPVC is notable for its uniquely low environmental footprint in several areas when compared to metallic and other polymeric piping materials. For more than 55 years FlowGuard CPVC pipe and fittings has been attentive to limiting its impact on the environment.
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CPVC plumbing systems are some of the most reliable on the market, thanks in large part to their strong pipe and fitting seams. CPVC is welded together using solvent cement, which is much different than glue and heat fusion. Glue simply sticks a pipe and fitting together, and heat fusion melts the adjoining materials together. These methods weaken the material resulting in a less reliable seam. On the other hand, solvent cement chemically fuses the pipe and fitting together, creating a seam that once dry becomes the strongest part of the system. So, how exactly does solvent cement join CPVC?
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Health and Safety | Installation | Material Comparison | System Design
The safety and reliability of any material used within the home should be the most important consideration for any homeowner. The material used to distribute drinking and bathing water throughout your house is no exception. FlowGuard® CPVC is one of the safest piping materials in the Saudi Arabia market. That said, our representatives are often asked important questions about its quality and safety. Below, we’ve listed answers to some of the more frequently asked questions.
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Installation | Material Comparison
Installing a brand new plumbing system or upgrading an existing one can be a costly venture. That’s why price-conscious plumbers, contractors, and homeowners turn to materials that can save money, like CPVC. When compared to PPR, FlowGuard® CPVC pipe and fittings decrease material costs and labor costs, and ultimately result in long-term savings.
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Installation | Material Comparison
While a strong, durable material, FlowGuard® CPVC can be damaged if mishandled or improperly stored. For this reason, plumbers should keep the following suggestions in mind when bringing CPVC piping onto the job site.
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A survey of piping material purchases in Saudi Arabia revealed that the primary hot and cold water piping material is CPVC, and that FlowGuard® CPVC is the most requested brand. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, CPVC has captured 60-70% of the total residential plumbing market. Only 30-40% of the country uses PPR or an alternative. FlowGuard CPVC commands 30-40% of the total residential plumbing market and more than half of all CPVC in use.
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Health and Safety | Material Comparison
Heat is used to shape and mold plastics, including CPVC and PPR, into the pipes and fitting used throughout a home or villa’s plumbing system. After processing, how a plastic material reacts to exposure to heat, mainly from hot water and the surrounding environment, differs based on the type of plastic and how it was processed. When choosing the plastic piping material for your plumbing system, it is important to consider how heat, specifically hot water can affect it.
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FlowGuard® CPVC pipe is the preferred choice for today’s residential plumbing systems. Our material meets the highest international standards, combining durability, reliability, safety and cost savings. FlowGuard CPVC outperforms all other plastic piping, including green pipe, or polypropylene (PPR). When comparing FlowGuard CPVC with PPR, our material withstands higher temperatures and pressures and produces less smoke than other plastics in a fire.
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Curing is a critical step of the installation process because the solvent cement must dry completely before you fill the pipes with water and test for leaks. If you were to pressurize and test the system before allowing the solvent cement to fully evaporate, you increase the chance of inadvertently damaging joints. To help avoid this issue, this resource explains what’s happening as a joint cures, how long you should wait to pressure test a system, and some variables that can affect cure times.
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A reliable and lasting plumbing system demands specific performance characteristics from its pipes and fittings. One of these, IMPACT STRENGTH, predicts whether your pipes will be stored, handled and installed without breaking.
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Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipe and fitting installation is quick and cost-effective. Pipes are joined with an easy solvent cement welding process and inexpensive and readily available tools. Additionally, CPVC installation is much safer than green pipe (PPR) because it does not require heat fusion techniques or torches, which allows for easy installation in tight, confined spaces. Following best practices for FlowGuard® pipe and fittings installation will ensure a reliable, long-lasting plumbing system. The tips highlighted below do not replace the manufacturer’s instructions, but provide a list of helpful dos and don’ts.
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FlowGuard® Pipe and Fittings are made of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC). CPVC is a long-lasting thermoplastic with a history of reliable performance in residential plumbing applications.
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Health and Safety | Material Comparison
All piping materials and products have an effect on the environment. These environmental impacts range from securing raw materials needed to make different piping, to the energy required to manufacture the piping, to the ultimate disposition of the material. Because of this, homeowners must carefully consider the products that make up their plumbing system. No matter the material—chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) or the green pipe (PPR)—both impact the environment during production. However, the extent of this impact is dependent on the type of material.
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One of the advantages of the CPVC installation process is that it can be done in hot or cold temperatures. While the FlowGuard® Installation Guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to properly install CPVC piping for plumbing systems, contractors should take the following special considerations when installing FlowGuard pipe and fittings in hot temperatures. By following these simple guidelines, reliable solvent welds can be formed in temperatures exceeding 35°C.
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Health and Safety | Installation | Material Comparison
Installation is a significant factor in the time it takes to complete a project, the long-term reliability of the plumbing system, and the overall job cost. Each of these factors contributes to your ability to win a plumbing job, and its profitability. For this reason, plumbers can benefit by being more proactive with their piping material recommendations to home and building owners.
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Assessing resistance to biofilm growth in plumbing pipe is one of the most important specification considerations an engineer can make. That resistance is essential to keeping potable water safe and free of bacterial contaminants that can lead to serious health problems.
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Health and Safety | Installation
With any construction project, there are inherent risks and liabilities. For example, falling objects, powerful machinery, and heat used near flammable materials all create opportunities for injury and property damage. Contractors, building owners, and occupants all stand to benefit by limiting the number of hazards located around a job site. One way to accomplish this is through the selection of plumbing system material.
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Every construction project, whether a new home or repair job, has its challenges. And when it comes to plumbing, one of the most common is trying to install piping in confined or cluttered areas. Piping is somewhat flexible, but generally speaking you can’t bend or contort it in any way. Fortunately, this challenge can be easily overcome by going through obstacles (e.g. floor joists) or configuring the system to go around them. The bigger challenge of working in tight spaces is the method required to join pieces of pipe together. The piping material you select can make a significant impact on the reliability of a weld and the amount of work required to complete it—which directly impacts time and cost.
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Health and Safety | Material Comparison
Over 16,000 residential fire accidents were reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2015. As a homeowner, your plumbing system probably doesn’t come to mind when you think about fire hazards. However, the material of your pipes plays a critical role in flammability. Electrical shorts or power overloads can cause a fire to ignite near your plumbing pipes. Depending on the material of the pipe, your plumbing system can actually make the fire worse and spread it throughout the home. While some thermoplastics like polypropylene (PPR) aren’t built to withstand heat or fire, that’s not the case for all. Specifically, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) is engineered to limit flammability and smoke generation. In fact, FlowGuard® CPVC has been tested in accordance with EN 13501-1:2002 (a test of how well a material will react to fire) and earned the best possible fire resistant rating a non-metal material can receive. So, what are the fire resistant properties that make FlowGuard CPVC one of the most trusted materials for residential plumbing systems?
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Health and Safety | Installation
Homeowners and plumbers need to be cautious of the damaging effects UV rays can have on piping materials. Ultraviolet light generates free radicals within thermoplastics. For thermoplastics like polypropylene (PPR), which are particularly susceptible to UV, the free radicals can begin to chemically break down the material. This leads to early deterioration of the pipe and shortens its service life. Fortunately, this is not the case with chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC). Below, we address the impact UV light has on thermoplastic pipes and explain how FlowGuard® CPVC is designed specifically to withstand these effects.
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The most important chemical in creating clean, potable water? Chlorine. An article in Scientific American shows how chlorine and chlorine-based compounds “kills a large variety of microbial waterborne pathogens” and are “widely credited with virtually eliminating outbreaks of waterborne disease in the United States and other developed countries”. The graph below shows a decline of typhoid fever since the introduction of chlorine: So, to varying extents, the water supply in your home will carry a certain level of chlorine. While that means your water is safe, it can also cause problems―specifically, corrosion of the materials that carry it.
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Thermal expansion and contraction is a property of all piping materials. As the water and environmental temperature increases or decreases, the pipe length will fluctuate. The longer the run, the more significant the change.
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All piping materials expand and contract with temperature changes. The more significant the change, the more a pipe’s length can change. If not accounted for in a plumbing system design, the compressive stress can damage the pipe, shortening its lifespan or causing leaks. To avoid these issues, deflection configurations need to be designed into the plumbing system. Essentially, deflection configurations take advantage of the pipe’s inherent flexibility and spread the compressive stress of an expanding or contract pipe over the length of the connecting pipe piece. However, for these configurations to be effective, they need to be long enough so that the pipe doesn’t bend beyond its limits.
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Clean, potable water is arguably the most critical element for human well-being, and the adverse effects of contaminated water can be seen across the globe. FlowGuard® CPVC pipes and fittings are less susceptible to bacterial buildup and resistant to the chlorine that water treatment facilities use to kill bacteria and disinfect water supplies, making it a more viable solution than other piping materials for preventing microbial water contamination.
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Unlike green pipe (PPR) and metal pipes, which require heat and flame to weld joints together, FlowGuard® CPVC pipe and fittings use a process called solvent cement welding.
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Chlorinated polyvinyl chlorinated (CPVC) pipe is an easy-to-cut material that allows for onsite fabrication without the need for special equipment or electricity Using only simple hand tools, installers can quickly cut CPVC pipe on-site for proper installation of a FlowGuard® plumbing system.
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Health and Safety | Installation | Material Comparison | System Design
CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) is a strong, durable material that has been successfully used in plumbing applications around the world for more than 50 years. Originally developed by Lubrizol Advanced Materials, CPVC’s inherent chemical resistance, reliability and ability to stand up to high heat and pressure make it an ideal material for residential, commercial and even industrial piping and fire sprinkler systems. In fact, FlowGuard® CPVC residential hot and cold plumbing systems installed more than 50 years ago are still reliably delivering clean, safe water to families around the world.
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Health and Safety | System Design
FlowGuard® CPVC is a thermoplastic material specially designed for plumbing system piping and fittings. It has been successfully installed in residential homes, apartment complexes, commercial buildings and government buildings since 1959. Many of the early installations are still functioning safely and reliably today. Why FlowGuard® CPVC for Residential Plumbing Systems View the infographic below to discover where CPVC can be used in the home, and the significance of the following advantages: Superior and safer water quality Durability and reliability Cost effectiveness International certification and approval
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Started nearly 30 years ago, the National Guard housing project is regarded as one of the best residential projects in terms of standard and quality. The project to construct a new National Guard Family Compound focused on providing National Guard personnel with comfortable living facilities and services.
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Initiated in April of 2014, the development of the SANG Hospital chain included the construction of five specialized hospitals located around the Saudi Kingdom with the mission to provide care to soldiers and their families. These specialized hospitals included: Women and Maternity Hospital in Riyadh, King Abdullah Specialized Children Hospital in Jeddah, the Neuroscience and Trauma Care Center in Jeddah, King Salman Specialized Hospital in Taif and King Abdullah Specialized Hospital in Qassim.
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Located in the northern residential area of Riyadh Salnukh, the project "Rehab Pearl Compound" consisted of 186,863 sqm and included 32 villas, 4 buildings with 112 apartments, a recreational center and three swimming pools. This commercial and residential project was designed by Arki Tectonica and constructed by Sham Contracting Company.
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In 2004, the first all-women university of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was announced: Riyadh University for Women. In 2008, the university was renamed to Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman, unlocking the new construction of the world’s largest, modern women’s institution of higher education. Assigned to the Saudi Ministry of Finance, Dar Al Handash to design and supervise the construction, he was immediately placed with the responsibility to understand the demands of the spaces and the roles they would have in shaping the next generation of women.
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Founded in 1957, King Saud University’s growing student population required the university to consider the addition of new buildings, including a girls campus.
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The project to construct the American International School was awarded to Al Sharqawi Contracting Company, one of the leading construction firms in Saudi Arabia. The buildings consisted of elementary, middle and high schools.
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Saudi Arabian grocery company, Panda Retail noticed the need for more supermarkets to meet growing population needs. Specifically, in more isolated cities and villages. As one of The Savola Group’s subsidiaries, ranked ninth amongst the top 100 companies in the Saudi Arabia market, Panda Retail was in an excellent position to invest in this grocery store's expansion.
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CPVC Performance | Health and Safety | Material Comparison
Water quality is of critical importance to any residential plumbing system. As a homeowner, you should be able to trust that your piping material isn’t contaminating the water flowing through it. But despite water disinfection, bacteria can still be present in drinking water. Depending on the material, some pipes are more susceptible to bacterial buildup than others. As a result, multiple international studies, such as the Kiwa Water Assessment, tested the safety of several materials, including green pipe (PPR) and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC). The result? CPVC is the one of the safest non-metallic materials for your water supply.
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Installation | Material Comparison
Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, commonly known as CPVC is a safe, durable, chlorine resistant, antimicrobial and recyclable material. CPVC pipe and fittings are used in hot and cold water plumbing systems and satisfy international potable water piping standards for today’s residential homes, apartments, hotels and commercial buildings. However, some wonder about the merits of polypropylene (PPR) as compared to CPVC. PPR is a newer material used in residential plumbing systems. But before choosing PPR over CPVC, consider one important facet of the materials: installation.
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Reliability is arguably the most important characteristic for a residential piping system. Homeowners want piping that does its job, without problems, for as long as possible. Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) and green pipe (PPR) are both popular piping options in today’s market. CPVC has been around for more than 55 years and many of its initial installations are still up and running without problems. PPR is a more recent addition to the market and claims to have a life-span of around 50 years―however there are no installations dating back far enough to evaluate its longevity in real-world applications.
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Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) is the most popular piping material in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. FlowGuard® CPVC has been used around the world for more than 55 years, and specifically in the Middle East for more than 30. CPVC’s primary competitor in certain parts of the KSA region is polypropylene (PPR) or green pipe. Relatively new to the market, PPR has left some homeowners, plumbers and traders questioning which is better for their home. Our material scientists have collected research and findings from studies around the world to compare the materials side-by-side across 7 core categories.
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