PVC for Pressure Relief Line

[cslater]

My electrical subcontractor is installing an R-123 chiller and would like to use PVC for the pressure relief vent line rather than steel.

The Trane manual, and ASHRAE 15 both state that PVC is acceptable as long as the correct glue is used. I don't see any exceptions in the California Mechanical Code, though I have not done an exhaustive search there.

My sense is that PVC should be fine, but I was hoping to hear some opinions and/or first hand experience in this regard.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[rconner]

I saw that noone has responded to your inquiry. I cannot speak to the specific local requirements nor codes (nor what has influenced same); however, pvc pipe is not an Engineering equal to steel pipe.

 

[mackistired]

I have done a resort of 34 buildings with closed loop air cooled chilled water and the highest point was at 45 meters. I used schedule 40 PVC pipes as my piping network. Everything is working just fine. My working pressure is 60PSI

 

[KiwiMace]

Nope. 2007 Ashrae 15, 9.1.5 Piping same as that for refrigerant. ICC Sec. 1107 does not allow PVC for refrigerant piping.

I'm pretty sure I specced PVC for an absorption machine recently, as I thought it would be cheaper and maybe better with the salts, but the contractor piped it in copper anyway.

As they say in Singapore "If fish don't have, Prawns also can".