SCH 40 PVC for Shop Air

[chevy.stroker]

I know a man who owns a shop in my city. He was unfortunate to be working on the installed PVC in his shop when it decided to rupture. He spent a fair amount of time in intensive care.

In his defense he purchased the shop with the PVC installed. It has since been replaced. To the OP: I'm glad you choose a different material.

 

[premierplayer]

I predict 500 posts easy, most of whose authors will not have read the above.

I don't want to jinx your prediction, but, if this thread dosen't make 500 post's maybe this one will "Show us your PVC airlines"

 

[Al Bundy]

Like i said you do what you want and believe and i will do as i will. I have have the proof as i am sure you do not have. yes we used to put oil on the dirt roads for years with no problems. and the sky is falling also.

Just remember, OSHA says PVC air lines are illegal. They don't say that because they have something against PVC manufacturers. They say that because it's dangerous and stupid.

To put it simply, this kind of ignorance is the reason that all of us have to live with laws and regulation that are costly and overbearing. Some people are just not smart enough to do the right thing on their own. And the worst part is not the fact that you're dumb enough to endanger yourself and those around you, but the fact that you come on here and tell others it's OK to do the same. Fortunately the OP is smart enough to ignore you. I just hope everyone else that reads your post is as well.

 

[welder4956]

Another PVC thread? I see posts above that show the engineering side of why PVC is bad for air service (#40), where people have been hurt by failing PVC air lines, where regulations have been put in place to prohibit it's use, where the pipe manufacturer's recommend against using it, and where people still scoff at all of this and say it is OK because it has not happened to them. All you can do is put the info out there and let people make their own decision. Ignorance can be fixed. If they choose to ignore all of this, well, you can't fix stoopid.

 

[3xpendable]

Just to help with the 500 count lol.

Worked in a shop with PVC lines. They would bust in the ceiling from rolling the hose real back up. It sucked not only did it scare the hell out of us when in happened we had to check every unit for damage clean up the mess and work with no air for the rest of the day maybe longer. We had them ran down the walls and out side behind our work areas and if you was not carefull sliding carts or what have you under your bench you would hit it and it was all over but the crying after that. Two years after I was there they upgraded the system \o/

My two cent

 

[Norcal]

I worked at a facilty that someone used PVC for airlines I was doing something near them & bumped it, it shattered & it took 20 mins to find the valve to shut it off , meanwhile a 25 HP compressor was going full bore due to the massive air loss....

Some folks are just what the Darwin Awards website was created for.

 

[Will67]

Bang his wife ?

 

[MoparTrucks]

My shop isnt big enough to bother with air lines other than just an air hose but they use Sc 40 PVC even in a lot of the commercial places around here which seems insane and as far as I know OSHA hasnt said a word (not sure how often OSHA would inspect auto repair or tire stores though).

I install a lot of schedule 40 for sewer waste lines and have found some brand new Sc 40 PVC fairly brittle due to exposure to sunlight or heat at some of the discount stores. If you are looking for black pipe you might check out farm auctions if you are in an area that has them; I see it fairly often going for real cheap.

 

[Ray-CA]

http://www.usplastic.com/knowledgebase/article.aspx?contentkey=787

http://orosha.org/pdf/pubs/fact_sheets/fs44.pdf

http://www.exair.com/en-US/Primary Navigation/Knowledge Base/Air Data/Pages/CompressedAirPiping.aspx

Read, become informed, then make your decision.

Ray

 

[PT Doc]

The liability from a PVC failure could be quite substantial. An insurance company could investigate and find the individual went against standards that are put into place to protect individuals. This might really not work out well for the insured. Worst case scenario, something ruptures and you get sued if someone is injured. They would need to recover their costs due to the injuries they sustained from your ruptured air line. If someone was severely injured and lost their ability to work, the magnitude of this lawsuit could be 7 figures somewhat quickly. All because somewhat wanted to save a few bucks in spite of many informing them of the current standards and OSHA standards. And on top of it, there is written proof that it was discussed on sites like this.

 

[Stuart in MN]

You guys piling on may not have noticed, but the original poster decided to not go with PVC way back in post #7.

 

[gc427]

Now before people start yes I have done a search and yes I am aware of some people opinion but I thought I would ask anyway. I am also well aware of internet knowledge and how many people portray to have a clue when in fact they just want to jump on the "Don't do that you will die boat"

You can get SCH 40 PVC which is rated to 400 PSI which is well in excess of what shop air is run at. I have seen people saying it shatters blah blah blah and I have seen many real shops who run it and have done for many many years without issues. Air is inert and at 150 PSI isn't going to store enough kinetic presure etc to go even close to 400 PSI.

So to the question, does anyone have any first hand experience with issues ? I just can't see that in this day of litigation and product liability insurance any manufacturer would stamp their product with safe working presure of 400 PSI if it couldn't do it safely.

It seems like a clean and effective way to push air around the shop, doesn't rust, doesn't break down and doesn't seat.

Comments ?

If my mind was made up then I wouldn't have posted.

Thanks, that is what i was after

Good link makes it pretty clear.

Off to buy copper I go.

Thanks

It's good to see that you changed course in less than 1 hour after being offered some good advice and facts!

I am still scratching my head that after searching this site and the number of threads and posts that are pretty clear cut that PVC for air lines is not a good idea or safe, that you felt compelled to still start a new thread.

Oh well post up some pics of your completed project for us to see.

 

[Norcal]

You guys piling on may not have noticed, but the original poster decided to not go with PVC way back in post #7.

The OP has proven that they are intelligent, it's others saying that PVC is fine later in this thread that is the issue.

 

[ddawg16]

I have copper.....

Lets no feed the trolls.....

 

[Bronson]

You guys piling on may not have noticed, but the original poster decided to not go with PVC way back in post #7.

Why read all the posts, just gang-bang the poor guy. He probably has His copper plumbed up by now..........

 

[Rodhotz]

And i bet you all wear your seat belts,do not go over the posted speed limit,smoke, talk on your cell/text while driving and their are more. but the same applies you do it because you want to. The poster asked for real world and that is what i gave him, whether you agree or not. you may think it is stupid but that is my choice, i can bet most have never used it and have no first hand experience with it. as far as osha goes they are the biggest government joke around, more of their laws put more people in danger of injury than without it.

 

[Ryan]

Drama over air lines? Blue hairs!!