tim3288
Industrial
- Jan 30, 2014
- 1
From; (CFPA) Colorado Fire Protection Association.
Title: Proposed ban on CPVC installation in Colorado
Dear members,
CPVC installations are becoming an embarrassment to the fire protection industry. CPVC is a labor saving system
that allows lightweight pipe to be cut to fit on projects where pre-fabricated steel pipe is not appropriate. The best
application for CPVC is in wood construction allowing installation modifications for actual site conditions. When CPVC
was introduced a list of incompatible materials was provided. As time passed the list grew and grew until it was no longer
provided. Sadly even if the contractor does everything correctly incompatible products will continue to come into contact
with the CPVC frustrating the owner and raising the cost of insurance.
Recently the manufacturers of CPVC determined they will no longer allow air to be utilized for pre-testing
systems. The decision to not allow air testing is just another example of the manufacturer placing the liability on others. If
we are to police our industry we need to make some changes. Projects that have fire protection engineers involved prior to
bid will typically not allow CPVC to provide the owner with a better product and less liability.
Contractors have been increasingly installing CPVC pipe in fire sprinkler applications over the last 30 years. With
each installation contractors have gained experience, bettered their installation practices and have simply become more
adept at working with CPVC. Over the last several years the systems that experienced contractors have installed are too
often having problems. Incompatible products were introduced to these systems beyond the contractor’s control creating
compatibility issues and system failures. In some scenarios entire systems have had to be replaced at significant cost while
the manufactures left the sprinkler contractors with the burden even though the contractor did everything right. Over the
years the tide is shifting and more liability is being transferred to the fire sprinkler contractor. Insurance carriers are
choosing not to insure fire sprinkler contractors because of CPVC losses, manufactures grow more distant in aiding with
these issues and fire protection contractors are in jeopardy.
NFPA codes provide the minimum requirements for the design and installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems.
Sadly the owner and General Contractors that allow CPVC installations are not aware of the litigations and liabilities that
have and will continue to come up.
In summary, if CPVC is not accepted by specifications or AHJ’s the quality of fire protection will be raised in Colorado.
CPVC CONCERNS:
System integrity can no longer be verified with air pressure testing.
Internal and external compatibility issues that is extremely difficult to prevent by the installation contractor.
Insurance rates are higher for installation contractors with the majority of the losses due to CPVC.
Some fire sprinkler contractor’s insurance companies will not allow them to install CPVC.
Manufacturers provide a 4 hour class and yet the product is very difficult to install correctly.
Fire protection contractors experienced with CPVC are extremely concerned about liabilities beyond their control.
The smallest quantity of carbon based solutions in the water supply will become a problem.
The glue must not expire and stay warm for storage, installation, and curing.
Flexible wire and cables containing plasticizers.
The spray foam process has caused CPVC failures even though the foam was supposed to compatible.
Termiticides for insect control have been known to cause CPVC failures.