pvc pipe for air lines?

[Stuart in MN]

Me im the proof mine just blow up today 3/4 schedule 80 only 175 psi have about maybe 200 feet or so running throughout the shop it blew out about 30 feet from the air compressor and scared the bleeb out of me. took out some 2 car windows and back window of my brothers vet boy he gonna be mad. I'm going to install black pipe tomorrow.

Moderators, please make this a sticky note.

 

[Toothaker]

any PVC pipe as air line blow out proof?
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60109

PVC for airlines (and why you shouldnt use it)
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64049

pvc pipe for air lines?
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43852

Pvc Pipe Or Copper For Air Line?
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3930

PVC air lines
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34762

Air Compressor Piping
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=199011

PVC pipe air line explodes
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278080

 

[BD1]

As others said , PVC pipe is not rated for air. Check the PVC pipe manufacturers and THEY SPECIFICALLY state,not for compressed air along with OSHA.

 

[bubinga]

The search engine on this site *****. There are dozens of threads about plumbing compressed air, and most mention PVC in them, but searching on "pvc" returns nothing.

do it like this on google "pvc air line; site garagejournal.com"


https://www.google.com/search?q=pvc...rnal.com&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1

 

[Bluedodge]

Me im the proof mine just blow up today 3/4 schedule 80 only 175 psi have about maybe 200 feet or so running throughout the shop it blew out about 30 feet from the air compressor and scared the bleeb out of me. took out some 2 car windows and back window of my brothers vet boy he gonna be mad. I'm going to install black pipe tomorrow.

Glad nobody got hurt Sir.

As a service for the members who say "PVC is fine for airlines....", could you please post a couple of pictures of the damage?

Perhaps photo evidence will stop someone from using PVC for air in the future.

 

[GrayFlattop]

 

[RustyJunk]

I have sch 80 pvc in my shop but its mostly underground and the risers all come up behind 6x6 post so nothing is really exposed to the work area. It was installed 15 years ago before I ever heard of any warnings against it but if it blows I'll let you know.

 

[egdede]

The problem is that schedule 40 and 80 are too rigid; when they fail they make little knife-edges spear points. You need to use thin wall PVC for air-lines sio that if it fails, it just splits/cracks, and the air leaks out.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I have sch 80 pvc in my shop but its mostly underground and the risers all come up behind 6x6 post so nothing is really exposed to the work area. It was installed 15 years ago before I ever heard of any warnings against it but if it blows I'll let you know.

The manufacturer's don't put any warnings on it. It's up to the user to know what materials are proper and legal for the intended use.

Tommy

 

[PelicanPines]

If you line the PVC with fully soldered copper... it will be ok.

 

[cvairwerks]

You do realize that pvc has a tensile rating of only about 7,000 psi, while black iron is over 30,000 psi. run the numbers for pressurized gas piping from ASME B-31.3 and it will open your eyes on how bad pvc in any compressible gas service is.

t= P*d0/2*(F*E*Sy)
where

t = minimum design wall thickness, in.,
P = internal pressure in pipe, psi,
dO = OD of pipe, in.,
SY = minimum yield stress for pipe, psi ( Table 5 ),
F = derating factor, 0.72 for all locations,
and
E = longitudinal weld-joint factor [1.0 seamless, ERW, double submerged arc weld and flash weld; 0.80 electric fusion (arc) weld and electric fusion weld, 0.60 furnace **** weld].

BTW... I grew up with many of these codes, as my dad was a metallurgist and heavily involved in refinery/ processing plant design and failure analysis. He was often involved in accident investigations for multiple oil and chemical companies due to his expertise in a couple of specialties within the industry.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Please notice everyone that this is an ancient thread, so don't just read the first post and then respond...member upstate29353 provided an update on why NOT to use PVC, you don't have to argue with the original poster who hasn't been back here since 2012.

 

[cvairwerks]

Yeah, I know. I just popped the formula and the basic info up there for those that argue that Sch 80 is ok.... Personally, I think anyone that advocates using pvc should have to download and observe full color and size photos of pvc injuries in their shop while pressure checking their piping....

 

[BuffettFan]

I was in an acquaintance's shop over the weekend, noticing how well laid out everything was, and then, I looked up.
Death from above!
PVC airlines running across the ceiling to his hose reels. Since we were going to be there a while, I looked around for a pressure gage and found one coming out of the compressor closet. It was reading zero, so I told myself that it would be alright.
I hope that gage was working.