<VV> To PVC or not PVC...

[Vairtec at optonline.net]

My involvement with compressed air systems now encompasses more than 30 
years...  The family business has been compressed air powered industrial 
vacuum systems.

Those of you who have seen the original movie of "The Producers," or who 
have seen the current Broadway musical version, will recall the character 
of Max Bialystock passing along his wisdom about investing in a Broadway 
show, by shouting at the top of his lungs directly into his partner's ear

"NEVER PUT YOUR OWN MONEY IN A SHOW!"

Well, on the subject of the usage of PVC pipe for compressed air systems, I 
am shouting directly into your ear

"NEVER USE PVC PIPE IN A COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEM!"

To those of you who have anecdotal evidence of the suitability of PVC pipe 
for compressed air systems, along the lines of "I have it in my shop and 
it's fine," I can only say that you have it in your shop and it hasn't 
failed yet.  "Yet" being the key word.

In addition to OSHA documents and other references, I have anecdotal 
evidence of my own:  In my years in the industry I have encountered several 
dumb mistakes, several component failures, and several of the resultant 
lawsuits.  The most memorable of these involved the guy who, because of 
using the wrong components with an air system that was running at "only" 90 
psi, um, well, let's just say that he'll not be having any children of his own.

--Bob


Robert W. Marlow
Vairtec at optonline.net