Simple ? on Air Pressure Hard Lines

[genericwood]

Is the accepted practice to just use black iron plumbing pipe? I need to go about 50 feet with a line.

Erik

 

[GSSFC]

I use copper, but you can use iron pipe, I think I would recommend galvanized so it doesn't rust with the moisture in the line.

Tim

 

[e-tek]

This question has been asked - and 'answered' - to death. Do a search. But two things for sure: black pipe is OK, galvanized in not (the galv can come off inside the pipe).

 

[genericwood]

Thanks e-tek. I did do a search first, but kept coming up with related info that didn't answer my question. Probably searched on the wrong terms! I will go with the black iron I guess.

Erik

 

[akdiesel]

Stainless steel tubing is another option. It is a little more expensive. A 20' stick of 1/2"diameter .049 wall is about $40. But if you look at the longevity and the ability to hook it up and forget about it the cost is comparible. The fittings are what can cost alot though.

 

[GSSFC]

This question has been asked - and 'answered' - to death. Do a search. But two things for sure: black pipe is OK, galvanized in not (the galv can come off inside the pipe).

Do you mean it will flake off or rather some of the coating with wear off? I have heard the opposite -that one should be using galvanized for water and moisture resistance so I am curious as which is correct!

Thanks, Tim

 

[e-tek]

Do you mean it will flake off or rather some of the coating with wear off? I have heard the opposite -that one should be using galvanized for water and moisture resistance so I am curious as which is correct!

Thanks, Tim

I've heard wrt Galvinized pipe:if it's interior-coated it can come off and clog filters or end up up in tools. Also it corrodes from the inside out quickly and it attracts calcium which can occlude it quickly. They are not using it for plumbing anymore.

 

[Lloydthumper]

We have probally 20,000 feet of galvinized pipe in our plant and I have worked there for 14yrs in Maintenance and I have never seen galvinizing cause a problem in any part of our plant.

 

[e-tek]

This is info I've heard from Plumbers after some galv pipe burst at our neighbours. As well, I did a search for Galvinized Pipe (try it) and these problems come up right away. Of course there's probably different pipe, differeing conditions and different uses. When there's possible problems and other options, I opt to go for other options.

Lloyd- What is the GP used for in your shop? Is there anything you do/can do to maintain GP? I'm guessing if it's dry in there, it wouldn't be a problem.

 

[Blacktooth Grin]

We have probally 20,000 feet of galvinized pipe in our plant and I have worked there for 14yrs in Maintenance and I have never seen galvinizing cause a problem in any part of our plant.

The air system in my plant is black pipe. It's been there for 30 years and is fine.

 

[kbs2244]

The galv pipe thing is a gas company rule.
They are afraid of it flaking and clogging a pilot light.
So they do not allow it for nat gas.
But they don't have to worry much about moisture in their pipes, and they still require "drip legs."
Real cautious bunch.
In a shop air system, with proper filters before the tools, I don't think it matters much.

 

[fireguy]

I have heard the story about galvanizing flaking off for years.

We were not supposed to use galvanized for hydraulics on tractors because of the flaking. We had customers who used galvanized w/o any problems.

For years we could not use galvanized on natural or propane gas lines. Once in 30 years of piping gas, I saw galvanized flakes in the pipe. The flakes did not make it past the drip legs. The pilot tubes on commercial stoves plug becasue of hthe grease. I have only changed a few safety valves, but have not found any flakes in them. Now the codes have changed and we are allowed to use black or galvanized. I use black because that is what I stock.

If you are concerned about rust particles from black pipe clogging your tools, invest in a filter.

 

[Palmetto]

I am a pipe designer, and the refinery I am working for right now uses sch. 80 galvanized for its small bore (1/2"-2") instrument & plant air. Instrument air is a very clean,dry air used to operate instruments. Plant air, or some call it Utility air, is just compressed air used in everyday maintenace.

If I got my hands on some galvanzied pipe for a good price, I would use it without hesitation. As others have siad, just put a filter on it if you are worried.

 

[W-Cummins]

The galv pipe thing is a gas company rule.
They are afraid of it flaking and clogging a pilot light.
So they do not allow it for nat gas.
But they don't have to worry much about moisture in their pipes, and they still require "drip legs."
Real cautious bunch.
In a shop air system, with proper filters before the tools, I don't think it matters much.

Where is it not allowed for gas lines? Can you provide me a link to an official site that they are not allowed. I did a search and couldn't find any place that it was banned when I looked about a year ago. In fact I found some large city's RECOMMENDING it. Here is it used all the time. All my outside gas lines are galvanized and were installed by the gas co. And I have 20X the pressure in my lines than used in a normal install, If it was possible to blow the supposed flakes it may be able to do it... In fact ALL the larger gas shutoff valves I have seen are galvanized as are lots of the connecting parts to the meters etc.... I think the whole galvanized flaking thing is WAY over hyped. BTW I don't' have any Ca in my airlines so unlike water pipes that can become clogged by mineral deposits, this too is not a problem. Some would have you believe if you use galvanized pipe you could just cut the air hose off and zinc blast all your parts clean...

William.....

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Codes do differ from area to area (let alone state to state). Our gas company does worry about it on lower pressure lines (normal gas is something like 4 psi).

Higher pressure lines, tend to blow out any flaking, or blow it into the drip caps (which should be cleaned out at some point). In my experience, it is kinda hard to get out of using it with a compressor, at least in these parts. I have yet to find a black iron elbow, for the compressor drain. I see galvanized used with black iron, just because it is more available in elbows and such. The garage (where I can work and sometimes do), is a mix of black iron, copper, galvanized, brass, and rubber. Where the lines fail are the air hoses, the connects jam, and the bushings in the lift handles (and a couple of broken lift handles in 54 years). Otherwise the pipe is still good.

I would love to try the abs approved plastic, for a line I would like to run from inside to out but way too expensive.

 

[W-Cummins]

Codes do differ from area to area (let alone state to state). Our gas company does worry about it on lower pressure lines (normal gas is something like 4 psi).

More like 1/4 psi or 7" H2O

Higher pressure lines, tend to blow out any flaking, or blow it into the drip caps (which should be cleaned out at some point).

High pressure is 2 or 5 psi not a lot of pressure to blow any thing around....

So in your local area the local code says no galvanized pipe on natural gas lines??

William....

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

More like 1/4 psi or 7" H2O



High pressure is 2 or 5 psi not a lot of pressure to blow any thing around....

So in your local area the local code says no galvanized pipe on natural gas lines??

William....

So I guess were are in the higher (gas company) pressure then.

As for the second higher pressure comment, it was meant towards compressors (90 psi shutoffs or better).

As far as I know, "offically" no galvanized. However that tends to be overlooked by some of the old houses I have seen, with elbows and such.

 

[kbs2244]

My experience with black for gas is in northern Illinois.
Northen Illinois Gas, North Shore Gas, and in Chicago it is Peoples Gas.
I cannot say I have seen a current rule book, but I have seen a lot of pipe installed and it is all black.
BTW W-C
Your PICS look like gray painted black pipe to me.

 

[W-Cummins]

My experience with black for gas is in northern Illinois.
Northen Illinois Gas, North Shore Gas, and in Chicago it is Peoples Gas.
I cannot say I have seen a current rule book, but I have seen a lot of pipe installed and it is all black.
BTW W-C
Your PICS look like gray painted black pipe to me.

I never said that no place had banned its use I just couldn't find any that had it listed when I went looking ( you would think that if it's so bad that it would be all over the place not to use it....). In fact I just downloaded the Nicor gas handbook and it has nothing in it about it. I had to call them and after 5 min of checking they came back and said they though it was not allowed... I had thought that if any place, NYC, and the Chicago areas would be it, as they have more restrictions on lots of common building stuff that is fine other places...

As for the painted pipe there is one piece of black pipe there that is painted but I'm sure that you didn't see that one. Some of the others have paint on them as I touched them up when I painted the one black one to prevent their wrench bites from rusting. The one black iron piece the paint is still sticking nicely, the galvanized stuff the paint is flaking off BTW the black pipe is the short piece sticking out of the wall that I installed to my pipes inside. All the rest of the outside pipe and valves, and even the riser out of the ground is galvanized. I had a long discussion with the gas co installer when they plumbed it in about the use of galvanized pipe. They have been using it here at Mid American Energy for as long as he had been working there (20+ years).

William....

 

[e-tek]

Another thread and I'm again conflicted....