Garage Air Mounted Lines

[dieselscout80]

Are the air line kits available at like Northern Tool and Amazon a good option?

I want to run air around my garage it’s 20’x30’.

https://www.northerntool.com/products/rapidair-maxline-3-4in-100ft-master-kit-compressed-air-piping-system-model-m7500-20923

Amazon.com

What concerns me is the lack of available parts.

It seems like you must buy a big kit more drops / connector.

 

[arto98607]

Some have used high pressure rated glued together PVC piping.

IE. the same as is being used for water lines...

But looks like these kits would be pretty convenient to install.

 

[TMGT]

Are the air line kits available at like Northern Tool and Amazon a good option?

I want to run air around my garage it’s 20’x30’.

https://www.northerntool.com/products/rapidair-maxline-3-4in-100ft-master-kit-compressed-air-piping-system-model-m7500-20923

Amazon.com

What concerns me is the lack of available parts.

It seems like you must buy a big kit more drops / connector.

You can buy individual parts from Rapidair directly. I prefer the ridge pipe style Rapidair myself, but it is a bit more expensive. Avoid PVC, it works until it doesn't. It can fail pretty spectacularly, and be dangerous is someone is nearby.

Iron or copper pipe is another option.

 

[arto98607]

Yes I agree being pressurized air any pipe would be a big hazard if it exploded, and the more volume the bigger the issue.

 

[5030]

I ran all mine 40 x 40 heated and cooled shop with an overhead crane in 100% black iron with multiple drops and all air lines slop back towards the compressors about 2.5 degrees so condensation runs back but even so I have ball valves at each drop.

My static pressure is 150 psi and I don't trust anything but threaded black iron. 150 psi in exploding tubing or plastic pipe equals a grenade in your face or worse and I also have employees to worry about so it was total black iron, large diameter as well. All the main runs are 1.5" pipe and the drops are 1".

Was it expensive, you bet your butt it was but lives are way more valuable in my view.

Bought all the pipe in mill lengths and threaded it myself and all the fittings I purchased from WW Grainger.

 

[dieselscout80]

Some have used high pressure rated glued together PVC piping.

IE. the same as is being used for water lines...

But looks like these kits would be pretty convenient to install.

Not sure I believe PVC is a good option.

I know the pipe is rated high enough but what about the glue joints and fittings

 

[Rebeldad1]

when i had my mechanics shop I ran CPVC. a lot stronger than plain PVC. easy to run and long lasting

Here are some of the strength properties of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC):

• Tensile strength: Ultimate tensile strength is 1310–11600 psi, and yield tensile strength is 7020–8410 psi
  
  
• Elongation: Elongation at break is 15.0–650%, and elongation at yield is 2.30–7.00%
  
  
• Working max pressure: Schedule 40 CPVC has a working max pressure of 450psi

 

[dieselscout80]

when i had my mechanics shop I ran CPVC. a lot stronger than plain PVC. easy to run and long lasting

Here are some of the strength properties of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC):

• Tensile strength: Ultimate tensile strength is 1310–11600 psi, and yield tensile strength is 7020–8410 psi
  
  
• Elongation: Elongation at break is 15.0–650%, and elongation at yield is 2.30–7.00%
  
  
• Working max pressure: Schedule 40 CPVC has a working max pressure of 450psi

How long have you been using it?

What glue and primer did you use?

Have you protected it from welding and grinding sparks?

 

[oldnslo]

I thought there was a concern on the oil from air compressor potentially degrading PVC over time.

Aluminum tubing is becoming a popular option today since lighter than black pipe and doesn’t rust

 

[M59]

when i had my mechanics shop I ran CPVC. a lot stronger than plain PVC. easy to run and long lasting

Here are some of the strength properties of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC):

• Tensile strength: Ultimate tensile strength is 1310–11600 psi, and yield tensile strength is 7020–8410 psi
  
  
• Elongation: Elongation at break is 15.0–650%, and elongation at yield is 2.30–7.00%
  
  
• Working max pressure: Schedule 40 CPVC has a working max pressure of 450psi

Rebeldad1,
Those ratings you specify are very diameter and temperature dependent. As the dia gets bigger the ratings, especially the pressure ratings, drop.
The following link is to temperature derating for CPVC. If you see 120'F, a hot day, in an enclosed space the CPVC gets derated to 0.65 of working pressure at 80"F. I'm personally not a fan of plastic for air pressure systems since they shatter when stressed. Sweated copper is my preference and threaded black iron as 2nd go to. Both can be used in long unsupported runs without sagging and thus prevent water ( condensation ) accumulation whereas plastic sags and is harder to keep dry. Personally, I place a "T" in long runs and a leg that catches condensate and can be bled off.

Plastic fittings have their own pressure ratings which may cause system derating due to being weak link and plastic lines need protection from blows and crushing as plastic does not tolerate these.

CPVC Tubes - Pressure and Temperature Ratings

CTS (Copper Tube Sized) CPVC (Chlorinated Poly Vinyl Chloride) tubes temperature and pressure ratings.

www.engineeringtoolbox.com

For grins and giggles, here is copper pressure rating by size.

Copper Tubes Type K, L and M - Working Pressures vs. Size

ASTM B88 seamless copper water tubes - working pressures.

www.engineeringtoolbox.com

Sweated copper tube an fittings is very robust and retains its rating even when suffering minor damage such as squeezing or minor crushing.

My last word is the following link that provides guidance, dated 12 July 2024, from OSHA on use of plastic pipe.

Plastic Pipe Selection in Industrial Compressed Air Applications

Compressed Air Best Practices Magazine informs industrial sustainability, facility and energy managers on compressed air energy conservation measures deployed by compressed air auditors and technicians.

www.airbestpractices.com