RUST, IS DEFINITELY A FOUR LETTER WORD!
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, MOISTURE, OXYGEN AND CARBON STEEL PIPE ARE THE BEST OF FRIENDS.
THEIR COMBINATION IS THE PERFECT RECIPE. THAT IS, THE RECIPE FOR DECAY. AND FAST!
BACK IN THE OLD DAYS LOL!
OUR EXPERIENCE TAUGHT US THAT THE LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR A SPRINKLER SYSTEM WOULD RANGE
FROM 25- 40 YEARS FOR THE PIPING COMPONENTS. IN THOSE DAYS, MOST SYSTEMS WERE COMPRISED
OF BLACK SCHEDULE 40 DOMESTIC PIPE WITH THREADED CONNECTIONS. TODAY MOST SYSTEM ARE
INSTALLED USING BLACK SCHEDULE 7 PIPE AND ROLL GROOVED CONNECTIONS WITH PIPE AND
FITTINGS BEING SUPPLIED FROM ALL PARTS OF THE GLOBE. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN “OFF SHORE”
PRODUCT WAS VERY INCONSISTANT AND QUALITY WAS SUSPECT. THIS SUPPLY CHAIN HAS VASTLY
IMPROVED AND HAS BECOME A REPUTABLE COMPLIMENT TO DOMESTIC SUPPLY.
FOR THE RECORD, Unless specifically directed to, PROUDLINE does not use schedule 7 pipe, WE
PROVIDE SCHEDULE 10 AND / OR 40 PIPE ON ALL OUR INSTALLATIONS.
PROUDLINE BEEN CONTRACTED TO REMOVE AND REPLACE SYSTEMS FROM BUILDINGS IN OUR REGION
(not our original installations) THAT WERE AS YOUNG AS 7 YEARS OLD. OUCH!
VERY EXPENSIVE AND VERY DANGEROUS TO THE BUILDING AND ITS OCCUPANTS. The expensive part is
no mystery but what about the danger?
It is important to understand that the wall thickness of the pipe is not the leading reason why the
systems are failing earlier. (Don’t just assume that system failure is just the end result of water leaking
out the walls of the pipe).
The system has failed long before that. With corrosion creating mass obstructions inside the pipe that
you may be unaware of if your service provider in not performing Obstruction Investigations as per
NFPA 25 requirements.
These obstructions will definitely impede the intended performance of the system to fight fire due to
restricted water flow through the pipe and obstructed orifice of the sprinkler heads themselves. With
Schedule 40 pipe, you still have the same interior problem, you just may not realize it yet.
Oh, by the way Galvanized pipe is proven to not be the answer, it actually corrodes at a faster rate than
black steel.
SINCE CARBON BLACK STEEL ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE TOO SOON, THE ANSWERS FOR CREATING
LONGEVITY IN YOUR SYSTEM LAYS WITH THE OTHER TWO SIDES OF THE CORROSION TRIANGLE.
WATER AND OXYGEN. THERE ARE MANY INSTALLATION COMPONENTS AND METHODS THAT
INTRODUCE A SIGNIFICANT AVANTAGE IN SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND LIFE SPAN.
ASK YOUR SERVICE OR INSTALLATION PROVIDER WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO PROTECT YOUR
INVESTMENT. A $ TODAY WILL BE $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ TOMORROW.
IT IS ALSO WORTH STATING THAT IN OUR EXPERIENCE, IN EACH CASE WHERE THE EXISTING SPRINKLER
SYSTEM WAS PRE MATURELY DECAYING, IT APPEARED TO BE AS A RESULT OF A VERY POOR
INSTALLATION AND NOT NECESSARILY A CHOICE OF MATERIALS. But I’ll bet the original installation was
a crazy great deal (compared to some of the other tendered prices!) Now the bill can easily be 5-10X to
do it right.
You don’t have to ask us, but I encourage you to ASK!
K. Proud
President
PFPS LTD
