Other Compatibility Concerns

Updated:   February 4, 2011
Supersedes: June 22, 2010

Acetone in Primers, Cleaners and Solvent Cements

• Primers, cleaners, and solvent cements containing appreciable amounts of acetone may cause rapid environmental stress cracking of CPVC metal insert parts during installation at freezing temperatures. Contact your primer/cleaner/solvent cement manufacturer for more information or recommendation of alternatives.

Antifreeze:  Glycerin from Biodiesel

• Crude glycerin from biodiesel manufacturing is not recommended for use as an antifreeze or heat transfer fluid in BlazeMaster, FlowGuard Gold, or Corzan CPVC piping systems.  Crude glycerin from biodiesel manufacturing may be contaminated with the biodiesel, its intermediary chemicals, and/or waste products from the biodiesel manufacturing process. NFPA 13D calls for the use of USP (United States Pharmacopoeia) or CP (Chemically Pure) grades when glycerin is used as an antifreeze in fire sprinkler systems. For a listing of glycerin products that have been determined to be compatible with Lubrizol brand CPVC, refer to FBC System Compatible Program.

Cleaning CPVC Pipe

• While common ordinary soaps are not detrimental to CPVC, most modern dishwashing liquids contain synthetic detergents, some of which may cause environmental stress cracking of fittings. A mild ionic detergent solution to remove incompatible oils or chemicals is recommended. A rinse with clean water to completely clean the system is advisable as a final flushing. Contact your dishwater detergent manufacturer for more information or a recommendation of alternatives. For a listing of ancillary products that are compatible to Lubrizol CPVC, refer to FBC System Compatible Program.

Drains

• CPVC should not be used to connect a dishwasher drain to the sanitary drain due to incompatibility with food oils and surfactants in the dishwasher wastewater. This incompatibility could lead to premature failure in the CPVC.

Flexible Wiring & Cable 

• Direct contact with flexible wire and cable that utilize insulation containing plasticizers is not recommended. Section 334.30 of the National Electric Code (2002 Edition) requires wire and cable to be secured by staples, cable ties, straps, or hangers. Air ducts, pipes and ceiling grid are not acceptable supports for wire and cable. Also see section titled "Rubber & Flexible Materials containing plasticizers."

Fragrances – Perfumes

• Scented products such as cologne, perfume, or essential oils (peppermint oil, orange oil, spearmint oil, etc.) should not be put into a CPVC piping system for the purpose of being able to detect leaks by odor. Most fragrance chemicals and essential oils are strong solvents and/or environmental stress cracking agents for CPVC.

Fungicides & Mold Inhibitors

• When performing repairs to leaks in existing systems, care should be taken to isolate CPVC pipe from direct contact with heavy concentrations of fungicide products which may be applied during cleanup of water damage.  Vinyl piping materials such as PVC or CPVC may be damaged by fungicides when fungicides are sprayed on surrounding drywall and wood framing to prevent the growth of mold and mildew in the affected area. Common sense precautions will prevent problems with repairs to existing systems. When repairs are made to an existing system, and the possibility exists that fungicides will be applied to treat damp drywall and wood framing surrounding the repair site, exposed piping should be sleeved with a compatible plastic sleeving or pipe insulation material to prevent direct contact of the fungicide with the plumbing system.

Grease & Cooking Oils

• When CPVC pipe is installed in kitchen areas the pipe must be protected from contact with grease or cooking oils. Consideration must be given to not only protecting the pipe from direct contact with grease or oil but also contact that may occur from airborne grease or oil.

Leak Detectors

• If it is necessary to use leak detectors on CPVC systems, only leak detectors that are included in the FBC System Compatible Program should be used. While common ordinary soaps are not detrimental to CPVC, most modern dishwashing liquids contain synthetic detergents, some of which may cause environmental stress cracking of fittings. For a listing of ancillary products that are compatible to Lubrizol CPVC, refer to FBC System Compatible Program.
  
• Scented products such as cologne, perfume, or essential oils (peppermint oil, orange oil, spearmint oil, etc.) should not be put into a CPVC piping system for the purpose of being able to detect leaks by odor. Most fragrance chemicals and essential oils are strong solvents and/or environmental stress cracking agents for CPVC.

Molten Solder & Solder Flux

• CPVC may be damaged by torches and/or chemicals used to install metal piping. When metal piping is installed in proximity to CPVC piping systems, care should be taken to protect the CPVC from burning with torches or contact with molten solder and solder flux, as well as incompatible thread sealants, leak detectors, lubricants, or other chemical products which may be used on metal piping.

Paint

• Water-based acrylic latex paint is the preferred and recommended paint to use on Lubrizol CPVC pipe and fittings. Oil or solvent-based paints may be chemically incompatible.
  
• Certain types of oil or solvent-based paints may, however, be used provided that it is a light coating that dries quickly. These paints should not be allowed to puddle or pool on the surface of the pipe and/or fitting. Application of solvent-based paints must be individually reviewed as there are certain types of paints and stains that contain drying oils and should not be used at all on CPVC.

Polyurethane (Spray-On) Foams

• In understanding spray polyurethane foams there are two general areas of concern for CPVC pipe and fittings:  (1) chemical compatibility and (2) potential damage to pipes and fittings due to high exothermic temperatures during installation.  These spray polyurethane foams have different cell structures, different flame retardants, reach different curing temperatures and require different installation thicknesses to obtain the required r-value.  All of these factors must be considered when using spray foams.
  
• In 2009, Lubrizol assisted the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) to determine if chemical compatibility issues exist with FlowGuard Gold®, BlazeMaster® and Corzan® CPVC pipe and fittings.  SPFA findings, although not comprehensive, conclude that those spray polyurethane foams tested did not pose a chemical compatibility problem.  In addition, Lubrizol is unaware of a CPVC failure that was the result of chemical incompatibility with spray polyurethane foams.  For more information on the SPFA testing, please contact them at (800) 523-6154 or visit their web site at www.sprayfoam.org.  With respect to chemical compatibility, one must always check with the spray foam manufacturer to have them provide assurance that the formulation that they are manufacturing is not incompatible with CPVC. 
  
• In a separate, unrelated study also in 2009, Lubrizol conducted testing with a manufacturer of spray polyurethane foam to better understand the effects of high exothermic temperatures on FlowGuard Gold and BlazeMaster CPVC pipe and fittings.  These findings demonstrated that temperatures can exceed the softening point of dry CPVC pipe and fittings.
  
• This study found that, for the products tested, the spray pass thickness of the manufacturer’s nominal two pound density spray polyurethane closed cell foam should not exceed a maximum of two inches per single pass.  Lubrizol also found in this study that repeated two inch passes (layers) separated by 10 minute intervals provided sufficient time for the spray polyurethane foam to cool.  For the manufacturer’s nominal half pound density spray polyurethane open cell foam, Lubrizol found that spray pass thickness should not exceed a maximum of six inches per single pass.
  
  Because polyurethane spray foams’ resulting exothermic temperatures and chemical compatibility characteristics can vary to some extent, Lubrizol recommends that you consult with the manufacturer of the polyurethane spray foam to be installed.

Residual Oils (Including Cutting Oils) with Steel Pipe

• Transitions from steel pipe to CPVC pipe can be made through a variety of methods such as threaded connections, flanges, and grooved adapters. Occasionally the steel pipe may contain residual oils that were used to aid in the cutting process.  Some of the oils used for this purpose may be incompatible with CPVC.  These cutting oils should be removed from the steel pipe prior to connecting to CPVC pipe.  If a cutting oil is used consult with the manufacturer of the cutting oil for a specific recommendation as to compatibility with CPVC.  Those cutting oils which are listed in the FBC System Compatible program have been tested and confirmed to be compatible with FlowGuard Gold^®, BlazeMaster^®, and Corzan^® CPVC.

Residual Oils with HVAC Applications

• Some heat exchangers or condenser coils may contain residual oils from the manufacturing process which can cause cracking of CPVC. Caution should be exercised when installing CPVC in combination hot water/air heating units or as condensate drain lines for air conditioning systems. Confirm the compatibility of CPVC with the residual oils prior to installation. The interior of heat exchangers or the exterior of condenser coils may be thoroughly flushed with mild ionic detergent solution to remove incompatible oils prior to piping installation. A rinse with clean water to completely clean the system is advisable as a final flushing.

Rubber & Flexible Materials Containing Plasticizers

• CPVC is not compatible with some rubber and flexible plastic materials containing certain types of plasticizers. Incompatible plasticizers include, but are not limited to, phthalates, adipates, trimellitates, dibenzoates, etc. Compatibility should be confirmed before selecting rubber or flexible vinyl materials for direct contact with CPVC. Examples of materials which may contain incompatible plasticizers include, but are not limited to, caulks, rubbery hanger padding, vinyl dip coating on metal parts, rubber gaskets, electrical wire jacketing, electrical tape, flexible hoses or tubes, etc. Further, plasticizers may leach from rubber or flexible vinyl materials, such as hoses or tank linings, into the process fluid which contacts them. Plasticizer contamination in the process fluid may also cause environmental stress cracking of CPVC used elsewhere in the system. This can include both CPVC process piping, through which the contaminated fluid may flow, or CPVC ducting drawing fumes from contaminated fluid. Also see section titled "Flexible Wiring & Cable."

Sleeving Material

• In situations where sleeving is required, the pipe should be protected with a compatible sleeving material extending at least 12" above and below the soil. The top of the sleeving should be securely taped to the pipe with a compatible tape product. Backfill over underground piping prior to termiticide spraying. Also see section titled "Termiticides & Insecticide."

Spray-On Coatings

• Certain types of spray-on coatings which form a peelable film to protect fixtures during construction may be incompatible with CPVC. Care should be used to protect exposed piping from overspray when this type of protective coating is applied.

Steel Piping with Antimicrobial Coating

• February 4, 2011 Update - As part of our ongoing commitment to provide the fire protection industry with factual information concerning questions of compatibility of anti-microbial steel pipe coatings with CPVC fire sprinkler pipe, Lubrizol is providing this update on our findings and experience to date. Some of this information has already been made available to the industry as part of presentations made at recent meetings of both American Fire Sprinkler Association and National Fire Sprinkler Association. We are publishing it here on our website to expand upon the previously presented information.
  
• As Lubrizol previously has indicated, Lubrizol recommends that only non-coated steel piping be used with BlazeMaster fire sprinkler systems and that aftermarket coating not be used, unless the coating being used, whether applied by the manufacturer or otherwise, has been added to the FBC System Compatible Program.
  
• Lubrizol continues to believe that there is insufficient evidence to support the allegation that antimicrobial coated steel piping systems will, by themselves, cause problems with CPVC firesprinkler pipe and fittings. We still believe that there are other substantial contributing factors to field failures that have been experienced. We want to take the opportunity with this update to identify some of the contributing factors we have found in analyses of various field issues. 
  
• Externally applied stresses on the pipe: In some of the field failures we have examined, cracking was limited to areas where there was evidence of excessive externally applied mechanical stresses on the pipe. One type of excessive stress that has been observed has been the result of the use of certain hangers that bend, indent, or crush the pipe. In these situations, cracking was found on the pipe wall directly at the location of the applied stress, while inches away where the excessive stress is not present, there is no evidence of chemical effects on the pipe. UL-approved installation instructions for all major manufacturers of CPVC fire sprinkler pipe generally call for hangers which do not cut, abrade or distort the pipe and for hanging in such a way that the pipe can move freely through the hanger. Both UL and a manufacturer of hangers have also addressed the potential for excessive stresses associated with installation of some types of hangers near fittings flush to a flat surface. Consult hanger manufacturer’s recommendations for proper selection and placement of hangers in this situation. 
  
• Manufacturing defects in the pipe: Some of the field failures we have examined have been associated with visible defects in the pipe. In most cases, this pipe was non-BlazeMaster product. Pipes with noticeable defects such as interior score lines, inclusions of foreign or burned material, interior pimples, or voids in the pipe wall are generally weaker and more susceptible to the action of chemicals in the system. In some cases, pipe with visible defects has been found to have environmental cracking, while pipe of better quality (BlazeMaster pipe) connected directly to it and exposed to the same environmental factors showed no detrimental effects. Besides being more susceptible to chemical influences, pipe with obvious manufacturing defects is also likely to be more susceptible to damage during handling and may have a shorter useful service life. Such pipe should be rejected and returned to the manufacturer. 
  
• If a pipe or fitting has been processed at marginal conditions which do not impart into the product adequate fusion and material strength properties, the resulting pipe or fitting can be more sensitive to the effects of chemicals in the system. In this case, the chemical effect observed is a generalized crazing of the interior and would be limited to a particular manufacturing lot of the affected type(s) of pipe or fitting. To alleviate this potential problem, BlazeMaster® pipe and fittings are produced to stringent quality standards, established by Lubrizol, that exceed ASTM and other industry standards. Lubrizol has partnered with high quality manufacturers of pipe and fittings who have all committed to meet these higher standards. 
  
• Excessive pooling of cement on the interior of the pipe: Failures have been observed at areas around pools of excess solvent cement on the interior of the pipe. A localized weakening of the CPVC material may arise from these pools of excess cement. Our investigation is continuing into the mechanism which can make these areas more susceptible to ESC. Training on proper assembly techniques, including how to minimize excess cement on the interior of the pipe is available from the pipe, fitting and cement manufacturers. 
  
• In this update, we would also like to provide additional information regarding the particular chemicals at issue. While there has been significant talk in the industry about the possible contribution of “amines” to CPVC pipe failure issues, it is our opinion that the various quaternary amines used in most antimicrobial coatings contribute little or nothing to the observed pipe failures. Quaternary amines are widely used disinfecting chemicals. CPVC is commonly used to handle water treated with quaternary amines in industrial and heating/cooling applications, and there have been no problems reported with this practice. Certain antimicrobial coatings, however, contain additional ingredients that in some cases are associated with ESC, but generally no detrimental effects are seen without the presence of significant contributing risk factors. 

• Taken separately, the presence of the anti-microbial coating, or the presence of any one of the factors discussed above may not have enough influence to cause cracking to occur. When they occur in combination, however the effect of a significant amount of antimicrobial coating in combination with significantly elevated stress or localized weakening may be sufficient to initiate a crack in some instances. Therefore, our recommendation remains that only antimicrobial coatings listed on the FBC™ System Compatible Program should be used in combination with BlazeMaster CPVC.
  
• View all past updates for Steel Piping with Antimicrobial Coating  

Teflon^® Tape

• Teflon^® tape is recommended as a preferred thread sealant.

Termiticides & Insecticides

• When performing installations underslab or where the presence of insecticides or termiticides are likely, care should be taken to isolate CPVC pipe from direct contact with large quantities of these chemicals. Vinyl piping materials such as PVC or CPVC may be damaged when termiticides or insecticides are injected into the annular space between the pipe wall and sleeving material trapping the termiticide against the pipe wall. Termiticide applications per label instructions in an open-air environment, such as slab pretreat applications, should not pose a problem. However, puddling of termiticides on or near CPVC pipe may cause failures. In areas where puddling is more likely, such as areas near tub boxes and retreat applications, extra care should be taken to avoid puddling of termiticides. Exercising caution and common sense should prevent installation problems. Before using an insecticide or termiticide, be sure to consult the manufacturer’s installation guide for proper application instructions. For a listing of insecticides or termiticides that are included in the FBC System Compatible Program, refer to FBC System Compatible Program.
  
• Additional precautions need to be taken when retreat applications are required. Termiticide retreatment is usually required when the concrete slab has been broken to relocate a pipe. The following recommendations should followed in retreat applications:
  • Remove all the plastic barrier material that was installed prior to the initial concrete pour from the area to be retreated. Do not reinstall the plastic barrier material.
    
  • After the pipe has been relocated, the soil should be pretreated before it is placed in hole around the pipe. Do not apply termiticide directly to the retreat area. Also see section titled "Sleeving Material."