Old Red Brass Piping Systems

[kenejr]

In many old buildings still standing today, red brass was the material of choice for water distribution. Why isn't red brass considered for use today in a similar context (except for cost reasons). What are some of the problems with reuse of these piping systems that are 60-75 years old? Is red brass today manufactured differently than it was 60-75 years ago (for use as pipe)?

 

Hi,

Red Brass is hugely expensive. It has also fallen out of general use due to limited availability. More plastic is used now.

Red Brass was once the material of choice for condensate return systems because it was so good at resisting common galvanic corrosion. We figured out as the price of red brass kept rising that adding one "schedule number" to the wall tickness was cheaper. We have also become better (have a better understanding) with water chemistry in steam/condensate systems over the years.

Your used red brass pipe will be too valuable (for its metal) to use it as pipe. In many cases, when an old building is raised, there must be guards on-site to keep the "midnight plumbers" from knicking the red brass pipe.

Rgards, John.