The lower thermal conductivity of CPVC and other plastic piping materials compared to steel and copper often leads specifiers to wonder whether the material alone is sufficiently insulating for pipe in commercial plumbing and hydronic heating applications. Corzan CPVC’s thermal conductivity is 1/300th that of steel, so this is a reasonable question, especially given pipe insulation’s materials and labor cost. The reality is that it depends on the application. How a bare pipe loses heat … Keep Reading »

In all areas of a building project, specifiers, engineers, and contractors need to pay attention to compatibility — how will one material react to another. For example, new types of treated wood containing copper will cause some types of metal fasteners to corrode. Some siding materials can’t be installed against concrete because of moisture absorption. And the list continues. The same is true for piping systems. With metal piping, contact between dissimilar metals can cause … Keep Reading »

As legionella outbreaks continue to rise throughout the country, plumbers, builders, and facility managers are looking for solutions to manage existing buildings. A 2017 memorandum from the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Division (CMS) directed State Agency Survey Directors to reduce the risk of legionella in healthcare facility water systems. “CMS expects Medicare-certified healthcare facilities to have water management policies and procedures to reduce the risk … Keep Reading »