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Article: Back to basics: sprinkler piping materials: what to consider before specifying one of the three basic types of pipe: steel, copper tubing and plastic.
- Article from:
- PM Engineer
- Article date:
- April 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 BNP Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Steel Pipe
Steel pipe has long been the mainstay of piping materials for sprinkler piping systems. Steel is considered strong, durable and resistant to fire. With a melting point of about 2,700[degrees]F, steel pipe can withstand the heat within a burning building.
Steel pipe is available in both black and galvanized. Black pipe is bare steel pipe without a protective coating. Galvanized steel pipe is hot-dipped in zinc to have a protective coating on the walls of the pipe. The zinc coating (galvanizing) acts as a sacrificial anode to reduce the corrosion of steel pipe.
The most commonly used steel pipe for sprinkler systems is black steel ...