PVC is dangerous
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PVC is dangerous
PVC pipe is not a good chose for compressed air. I and those in the know realize how dangereous air pressure is when it ruptures. I saw this in the military first hand. I would NEVER, EVER you PVC pipe of any kind for a compressed air system. It is an extremely dangerous setup and could KILL YOU, and anyone standing near by.
For peace of mind, buy Black Gas Pipe for a trouble free compressed air system.
I have a very good stationary system set up with traps and run off. I f any one is interested in this setup I will explain the system more in detail.
Old Diver
For peace of mind, buy Black Gas Pipe for a trouble free compressed air system.
I have a very good stationary system set up with traps and run off. I f any one is interested in this setup I will explain the system more in detail.
Old Diver
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Texas Gulf Coast
PVC is dangerous
I think he is talking about running Pipe from the air compressor to different parts of the garage and then hooking hoses up, that way you dont have hose snaking all over the work area.
Kinda like they do at a mechanics garage. I have seen many people use PVC pipe to do it....including proffessional mechanics but he is advising he has seen them blow.
Kinda like they do at a mechanics garage. I have seen many people use PVC pipe to do it....including proffessional mechanics but he is advising he has seen them blow.
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Joined: Sep 2001
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PVC is dangerous
"Be Insensitive....Tell the truth" -I like it!
There are several topics here on plumbing your shop for air. Try the search function
It makes it nice if you can use a short hose at your bench etc rather than dragging a long hose around.
Actually, it is against OSHA regs to run plastic for good reason. The PVC manufacturers will tell you absolutely no compressed air or gassses in PVC. PVC is for liquids only. I haven't checked but building codes probably ban it also or spec other materials..
There are several topics here on plumbing your shop for air. Try the search function
It makes it nice if you can use a short hose at your bench etc rather than dragging a long hose around.
Actually, it is against OSHA regs to run plastic for good reason. The PVC manufacturers will tell you absolutely no compressed air or gassses in PVC. PVC is for liquids only. I haven't checked but building codes probably ban it also or spec other materials..
Last edited by Torque1st; Feb 16, 2003 at 07:10 PM.
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From: Phoenix USA
PVC is dangerous
Eric is right! I sent him some information on the subject a little while back. It says just exactly what he just said.
DON'T TRY TO JUSTIFY IT. DON'T TRY TO RATIONIZE IT. DON'T DO IT... It's not worth your eyes, it's not worth your limbs, it's not worth your life.
I don't want to here about, it's cheaper, it's easier. This should be the end of this subject as far as compressed air or any other gas in PVC pipe of any size or thickness.
31 years of pipefitting experience allows me to make this statement. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
DON'T TRY TO JUSTIFY IT. DON'T TRY TO RATIONIZE IT. DON'T DO IT... It's not worth your eyes, it's not worth your limbs, it's not worth your life.
I don't want to here about, it's cheaper, it's easier. This should be the end of this subject as far as compressed air or any other gas in PVC pipe of any size or thickness.
31 years of pipefitting experience allows me to make this statement. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
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From: Gainesville, FL
PVC is dangerous
All,
That's about as simple as it gets. NO PVC!
-Off topic question discussed in other topics removed by moderator-
KingFisher
That's about as simple as it gets. NO PVC!
-Off topic question discussed in other topics removed by moderator-
KingFisher
Last edited by Torque1st; Feb 17, 2003 at 08:57 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Albuquerque
PVC is dangerous
Well...... I have seen the schedule 40 PVC pipe burst under pressure, however I used schedule 80 (industrial wall thickness and gray color). It has been in use for many years.
...Pipe would be the safest. I used a gauge and down pipe with valve to drain water out of each leg
...Pipe would be the safest. I used a gauge and down pipe with valve to drain water out of each leg
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Phoenix USA
PVC is dangerous
Well here we go again. I had a bad feeling that someone would try to rationalize this procedure. Listen people, if you have any working grey matter, when you walk into a garage, workshop, or place of business and you see PVC pipe being used for compressed gases including air, walk to the nearest exit. No one with any experience munufacturing, selling, or installing PVC of ANY size or wall thickness is going to say that it is safe to use for comp. gases. I don't care how many times or how long you have been using it, you're on borrowed time. If you're using it in this way, you should shut off your compressor, and repipe the system with black steel or galvanized pipe.
Now for a more personal note. We all know that we are industructable, but how would you feel if your wife or one of your children were getting something off your workbench and at that moment---BOOM. Could you live with the knowledge the for the price of a few lengths of steel pipe you wouldn't have to feed their seeing eye dog?
Now for a more personal note. We all know that we are industructable, but how would you feel if your wife or one of your children were getting something off your workbench and at that moment---BOOM. Could you live with the knowledge the for the price of a few lengths of steel pipe you wouldn't have to feed their seeing eye dog?
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Joined: Sep 2001
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PVC is dangerous
-or worse yet... -Paying for their cemetary plot 
It is the properties of PVC plastic itself not the thickness that makes it dangerous.
There is one type of ABS pipe that is certified for use with compressed gasses, -but have fun finding any.
Bear- For the love of Pete... Shut your system down and re-plumb with steel b4 something happens. You have been lucky so far, -don't push it!
It is the properties of PVC plastic itself not the thickness that makes it dangerous.
There is one type of ABS pipe that is certified for use with compressed gasses, -but have fun finding any.
Bear- For the love of Pete... Shut your system down and re-plumb with steel b4 something happens. You have been lucky so far, -don't push it!
Last edited by Torque1st; Feb 18, 2003 at 06:26 PM.
old and in the way
Joined: Jul 1997
Posts: 5,928
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From: Lovely Hueytown Alabama
PVC is dangerous
read what everyone above said then listen to this..... listen to them !!!!!
here's a couple of links that will give you the skinny on pvc and it's hazards..
the second link is a very useful link on air compressor plumbing with examples and piping sketches... really nice site and I've bookmarked it for my self..
I used the diagram they show... it originally came from TIPTOOLS.com.. my only difference was galvanized pipe... it's what I had... I still want to add a cooler...someday
please read this sites and follow the instructions... we want to keep you around... I know you see "I've been using pvc for 30 years and never had a problem".... the part he didn't type was "YET" I've never heard of Schedule 40 carbon steel pipe blowing out or fracturing at 175 psi... trust me
stay cool
stay alive 
john
pvc danger link is
http://www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/hazalerts/902.htm
here's a couple of links that will give you the skinny on pvc and it's hazards..
the second link is a very useful link on air compressor plumbing with examples and piping sketches... really nice site and I've bookmarked it for my self..
I used the diagram they show... it originally came from TIPTOOLS.com.. my only difference was galvanized pipe... it's what I had... I still want to add a cooler...someday
please read this sites and follow the instructions... we want to keep you around... I know you see "I've been using pvc for 30 years and never had a problem".... the part he didn't type was "YET" I've never heard of Schedule 40 carbon steel pipe blowing out or fracturing at 175 psi... trust me
stay cool
stay alive john
pvc danger link is
http://www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/hazalerts/902.htm
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
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From: Northwest Fl
PVC is dangerous
Great links John, I just ripped out my schedule 40 PVC yesterday and am in the process of reinstalling new lines using copper pipe. Now when I read ALL the reports of PVC air plumbing safety issues, I don't have to convince myself that it's ok, that it want get me...or my kids?
Something I did notice, in removing the old pvc, was that in cutting it apart (to remove it from between the hanger straps), some of the cuts with the PVC hand type pipe cutter (with the blade), was cut smoothly and all the way through the pipe but in other sections, the pipe actually broke apart before the blade even penetrated the outer wall of the pipe! Was this the ‘beginning’ of the deterioration of my PVC? Did I catch it in time or just waste $87.
Something I did notice, in removing the old pvc, was that in cutting it apart (to remove it from between the hanger straps), some of the cuts with the PVC hand type pipe cutter (with the blade), was cut smoothly and all the way through the pipe but in other sections, the pipe actually broke apart before the blade even penetrated the outer wall of the pipe! Was this the ‘beginning’ of the deterioration of my PVC? Did I catch it in time or just waste $87.
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PVC is dangerous
Thanks Torque 1st, 79 Lariat and Huntsman for your views on this posts.
Listening to those that know about the hazards of using PVC pipe for compressed air are telling you like it is. Some folks learn the hard way when it is too late. It is kind of, like when we were kids “Play with matches and you’ll get burned”. Here is one:
For those that are still puzzled: Why do they tell ya not to throw an aerosol can in a fire?
Thanks, Jniolon for the websites on the Hazards of PVC for compressed Air and Compressor setup. These were great websites.
Old Diver
Listening to those that know about the hazards of using PVC pipe for compressed air are telling you like it is. Some folks learn the hard way when it is too late. It is kind of, like when we were kids “Play with matches and you’ll get burned”. Here is one:
For those that are still puzzled: Why do they tell ya not to throw an aerosol can in a fire?
Thanks, Jniolon for the websites on the Hazards of PVC for compressed Air and Compressor setup. These were great websites.
Old Diver
Last edited by Old Diver; Feb 19, 2003 at 07:44 AM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Gainesville, FL
PVC is dangerous
Hunter,
You are partially correct.
When PVC fails it will not deform elastically. That is, you will not see a stress line or a deformation in the tube wall. The PVC's elastic deformation range is minute at atomspheric temperatures.
When it fails, it fails in a sheer mode. This causes fragmentation. In conjunction with the stored energy of the compressed gas being released through this small opening, an incredible amount of energy is focused right at who ever is standing too close. In summary, your in big trouble, possibly fatal trouble.
I work for an industrial design company. We would be out of buisness overnight for specifying PVC for compressed gasses.
Good Luck,
KingFisher
You are partially correct.
When PVC fails it will not deform elastically. That is, you will not see a stress line or a deformation in the tube wall. The PVC's elastic deformation range is minute at atomspheric temperatures.
When it fails, it fails in a sheer mode. This causes fragmentation. In conjunction with the stored energy of the compressed gas being released through this small opening, an incredible amount of energy is focused right at who ever is standing too close. In summary, your in big trouble, possibly fatal trouble.
I work for an industrial design company. We would be out of buisness overnight for specifying PVC for compressed gasses.
Good Luck,
KingFisher
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
PVC is dangerous
Huntsman-
I am not sure why you saw the difference in cuts. Try cutting some of the removed sections for fun. Some sections may have been exposed to heat or solvents that may have made a difference???
You definitely did not waste any $$ except on the original PVC installation... -hehe
Did you Braze the joints? Someone said soldering was not good enuf. I can't get a good solder joint on pipes sometimes, -which is why I use galvanized steel pipe and paste dope.
dfisher is correct on the failure mode. -Nasty!
Put it this way, -having PVC in your shop is like storing Nitroglycerin that you made with your backyard chemistry set. Anything could set it off, a bolt or wrench hitting it, an airhose whipping against it, nothing at all, or just a ray of sunlight...
I am not sure why you saw the difference in cuts. Try cutting some of the removed sections for fun. Some sections may have been exposed to heat or solvents that may have made a difference???
You definitely did not waste any $$ except on the original PVC installation... -hehe
Did you Braze the joints? Someone said soldering was not good enuf. I can't get a good solder joint on pipes sometimes, -which is why I use galvanized steel pipe and paste dope.
dfisher is correct on the failure mode. -Nasty!
Put it this way, -having PVC in your shop is like storing Nitroglycerin that you made with your backyard chemistry set. Anything could set it off, a bolt or wrench hitting it, an airhose whipping against it, nothing at all, or just a ray of sunlight...
Last edited by Torque1st; Feb 19, 2003 at 07:57 AM.