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Products -> Tubing |
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Large diameter or small, liquid system or gas, high pressure
or low, you can depend on copper to reduce installed costs for
any mechanical system in a wide temperature range. Some of the
reasons for using copper in mechanical tube systems are:
• Versatility
• Applications
• Wide range of sizes
• Problem-free performance
• Long lasting and maintenance free
• Corrosion resistance
• High thermal conductivity
• Easy to join and install
• An abundant resource
Copper's versatility is the key to its popularity.
Standardize on copper for superior performance throughout the
job. Copper is easy to work and has excellent thermal conductivity,
corrosion resistance and durability. It is available in two
basic types of tube-plumbing tube and air conditioning/refrigeration
(ACR) tube, and in both drawn ("hard") and annealed ("soft")
tempers. Copper tubing is also available in a wide range of
diameters (from 1/8 inch to 10 inches) and wall thickness. Fittings
to suit every design application are readily obtained.
Copper is recommended for all these applications
In mechanical systems of all kinds, copper does more than ever
before. Today, copper has proven superior not only for underground
water and gas services, water distribution systems and chilled
water mains, but for drainage and vent systems, heating (including
solar heating), fuel oil, and oxygen systems. Copper is durable
enough to embed in concrete. In drainage systems, the copper
Sovent single-stack configuration dramatically cuts plumbing
cost for multi-story buildings.
Copper's wide range of sizes gives you sizable advantages
Large diameter or small, there is a copper tube to fit every
specification. Forced circulation hot water heating systems
use small and economical tube sizes with soldered joints and
require less space for installation. In drainage systems, Type
DWV tube has been used successfully for many years. Large diameter
tube, joined by soldering or brazing, is cost-effective for
water distribution and for fire protection risers in multi-story
buildings. Copper's superior hydraulic flow characteristics
permits precise tube and pump sizing.
All-copper mechanical systems mean no-problem performance
Use of one material is good engineering practice. The more copper
used throughout an installation, the more you can count on dependable
performance. Copper is known for its reliability. It has been
used for plumbing and mechanical systems since metals were first
employed in these applications. And its popularity in heating
systems is a further indication of copper's superiority to substitute
materials. When copper alloys are used for all system components
there is no problem with compatibility.
Copper is long-lasting and maintenance free
Copper has stood the test of time to earn customer satisfaction
and wide code acceptance. Copper, used for centuries, has gained
new popularity in its modern form: light, strong, corrosion-resistance
tube. Its long lasting and maintenance free characteristics
make copper the leading choice for plumbing, heating, cooling
and other mechanical systems. Copper never require painting
for protection from corrosion. Instead, a thin film forms inside
the tube, providing natural protection from corrosion. Copper's
trouble-free service means satisfied customers. And its universal
acceptability assures compliance with major building codes.
Copper is safe, too. It will not burn or support combustion.
So it will not carry fire through floors, walls and ceilings
and it will not decompose into toxic gases.
Copper has proven corrosion resistance
Copper's excellent corrosion resistance is an important reason
for its choice in so many applications. Solar energy systems,
for example, benefit from copper's resistance to both atmospheric
and distribution and fire sprinkler systems, copper tube's internal
corrosion resistance results in superior flow capacity. When
calculating flow capacities, other plumbing materials require
additional allowances for corrosion, scaling, out-of-roundness,
and smaller internal diameter when compared size-to size with
copper. Copper tube bores remain smooth, and internal diameters
stay constant. Largely because of this, a copper fire sprinkler
systems can use smaller diameters to provide the same sprinkler
coverage as a steel system-with significant savings in installed
costs.
Copper's high thermal conductivity is crucial in many applications
Copper conducts heat up 8 times better than other metals. In
any application involving heat transfer-from radiant heating
to snow melting to solar-copper's high thermal conductivity
provides an advantage. Comparing copper, aluminum and steel,
copper is by far the best conductor of heat . . . up to 8 times
better. In solar energy systems, copper superior thermal conductivity
means that thinner copper sheet can collect the same heat as
much thicker gage sheet of aluminum or steel. And it means that
copper collector tubes can be more widely spaced.
Copper is easy to join and install
Copper adds to system integrity while lowering installation
costs. Copper's workability can cut installation time and reduce
labor cost. Tubes and fitting are easily joined metallurgically
by soldering or brazing. And copper is so ductile that it can
be formed-frequently right on the job site-to fit most design
configurations. Because of copper's formability, it is often
possible to eliminate elbows and joints. Since copper is rigid
as well as readily formable, it adds to total system integrity
even when subjected to adverse conditions. |
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