With copper's clean installation procedures, space occupancy is not interrupted. In case of repairs or retrofit installations, copper's properties help expedite the work. Copper is suitable for use in areas where temperatures exceed 120☏, e.g., in attic spaces. A copper system does not require external protective painting. Back to Top Maximum Longevity with Minimum Maintenance Copper Metal Ages to Care for ItselfĬopper's self-protective oxidation obviates frequent system flushing to prevent clogging and corrosion buildup. Savings per square foot in building costs for a combined system can be great enough to pay for the entire sprinkler system. A single copper piping loop can supply water to both sprinkler system and heat pumps. Using a water-source heat pump with a sprinkler system can provide a way to obtain better fire protection at lower cost than separate systems for heating, cooling, and fire protection. Back to Top Innovative Possibilities Copper Permits Combining Hydronic Systems Productivity on the job site is optimized particularly in buildings with Light Hazard Occupancies, whose designs often present severe space limitations for mechanical systems. Metallurgically joined by gas-fired torch or electric resistance soldering or brazing, copper's metallic-bonded joints are quickly executed and leak-free. Copper system fittings are typically smaller than those for steel or plastics, and are readily available in standard tube sizes and a variety of patterns. In most cases, these do not require special plating or painting when used with copper tubing.
RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER DESIGN GUIDE FULL
In general, a single hanger suffices to support each horizontal length of tubing.Ī full range of hangers and supports is available in various metals. No additional or special hold-downs are required to maintain alignment under pressure. With copper's rigidity and light weight, fewer hangers and supports are required than for plastic piping systems.
RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER DESIGN GUIDE PORTABLE
With easy-to-use portable hand tools, bending, cutting, and joining can be accomplished in limited-space areas.Ī state-of-the-art tool for forming tee connections and outlets in a run of copper facilitates shop or field assembly by decreasing the number of joints in a system, reducing installation costs by as much as 25%. Shipping, storing, and handling of copper offer none of the problems of steel's heavy weight or plastic's fragility.Ĭopper's ease of handling and ductility permit unmatched freedom of design and either shop or field fabrication. Back to Top Installation Ease and Versatility Copper, Easy to Install, Increases Design Options and Decreases Costsįrom initial delivery to installation of the last sprinkler head, copper's light weight, ductility, and rigidity help get the job done quickly. Copper's water-carrying capacity remains effective throughout the life of the system under normal and extreme environmental conditions, such as wide temperature ranges and fire itself. The NFPA 13-approved use of ¾-inch copper tube in applications in which the minimum size requirement for steel is 1.Ĭopper, unlike plastics, does not deteriorate nor become brittle and subject to fatigue failures.An increase in the permitted number of sprinklers for copper lines of two-inch and larger, in pipe schedule systems.A reduction in cross and feed main sizing, in many hydraulically-calculated systems.With copper's superior flow characteristics, system designers can incorporate several economies that help keep costs down: This also means a reduction in periodic maintenance flushing operations. The potential for clogging of fire sprinkler system components heads and small-diameter branch lines due to flaking is nonexistent. The oxide film that naturally forms on copper tubing's inner surface does not flake off, but in fact acts as a protective barrier. With copper, the full measure of a tube's internal diameter remains constant throughout the life of the system. There is no need to oversize piping to compensate for diminished flow capacity, typical of steel pipe systems in which corrosion buildup restricts flow as systems age. Superior Flow Characteristics Copper Prevents Capacity Loss and Maximizes System LifeĬopper's inherent resistance to corrosion minimizes scaling of tubing's inner surface. Maximum Longevity with Minimum Maintenance.Fire Sprinkler Systems Application HandbookĬopper is the most economical choice for hydraulically calculated fire sprinkler systems because of the following unique properties of copper:
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