Guide Specifications on Plumbing
Part 4 - Piping Systems Applications

THIS SECTION CONTAINS MINIMUM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MATERIALS, JOINING METHODS AND INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC PIPING SYSTEM APPLICATIONS AND INDICATES WHICH OF THE OPTIONS IN ARTICLE 3.3 ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR EACH SYSTEM.

4.1 - WATER DISTRIBUTION PIPING SYSTEMS (BELOW GROUND)

  1. Tube: ASTM B 88 Type L, annealed temper or Type M, hard temper
  2. Fittings: ASME B16.18, ASME B16.22, ASME B16.26, ASME B16.50
  3. Joints: Soldered, Brazed or Flared. ASTM B 32 Alloy Sn50 shall not be used.
    Brazed or Flared joints are recommended.

4.2 - WATER DISTRIBUTION PIPING SYSTEMS (ABOVE GROUND)

  1. Tube: ASTM B 88 Type M, hard temper
  2. Fittings: ASME B16.18, ASME B16.22, ASME B16.26, ASME B16.50
  3. Joints: Soldered, Brazed, Flared, Press-Connect or Push-Fit. ASTM B 32 Alloy Sn50 shall not be used.

4.3 - SOIL, WASTE, AND VENT PIPING SYSTEMS (ABOVE GROUND)

  1. Tube: ASTM B 306, Type DWV
  2. Fittings: ASME B16.23, ASME B16.29
  3. Joints: Soldered or Brazed

4.4 - STORM DRAINAGE PIPING SYSTEMS (BELOW GROUND)

  1. Tube: ASTM B 306, Type DWV
  2. Fittings:ASME B16.23, ASME B16.29
  3. Joints: Soldered or Brazed

4.5 - STORM DRAINAGE PIPING SYSTEMS (ABOVE GROUND)

  1. Tube: ASTM B 306, Type DWV
  2. Fittings: ASME B16.23, ASME B16.29
  3. Joints: Soldered or Brazed

4.6 - HYDRONIC HEATING PIPING SYSTEMS (BELOW GROUND)

  1. Tube: ASTM B 88 Type L, annealed temper or Type M, hard temper
  2. Fittings: ASME B16.18, ASME B16.22, ASME B16.26, ASME B16.50
  3. Joints: Soldered, Brazed or Flared. ASTM B 32 Alloy Sn50 shall not be used.
    Brazed or Flared joints are recommended.

4.7 - HYDRONIC HEATING PIPING SYSTEMS (ABOVE GROUND)

  1. Tube: ASTM B 88 Type M, hard temper
  2. Fittings: ASME B16.18, ASME B16.22, ASME B16.26, ASME B16.50
  3. Joints: Soldered, Brazed, Flared, Press-Connect or Push-Fit. ASTM B 32 Alloy Sn50 shall not be used.

4.8 - AIR CONDITIONG AND REFRIGERATION PIPING SYSTEMS

  1. Tube: ASTM B 280 Type ACR
  2. Fittings: ASME B16.18, ASME B16.22, ASME B16.26, ASME B16.50
  3. Joints: Soldered, Brazed or Flared
    Brazed or Flared joints are recommended.

4.9 - FUEL GAS DISTRIBUTION PIPING SYSTEMS (NATURAL AND LP GAS)

  1. Tube: ASTM B 88, Type L, ASTM B 280, Type ACR or ASTM B 837, Type GAS
  2. Fittings: ASME B16.18, ASME B16.22, ASME B16.26
  3. Joints: Brazed or Flared. Flared joints shall not be used in concealed locations. Brazing filler metal shall be AWS A5.8 BAg Series.
  4. Installation Requirements:
    1. Copper fuel gas piping running parallel to floor joists shall be fastened to the center of the vertical face of the joist with clips not more than 6 feet apart.
    2. Copper fuel gas piping running at right angles or diagonal to floor joists or other framing members may be installed through holes drilled through the center of the member. These holes shall be at least 1 times the O.D. of the tube. If the holes are less than 1 " from the exposed edge of the member, steel striker plates of at least 0.0508" thickness shall be installed to protect the tube.
    3. Copper fuel gas piping running through holes or sleeves in framing members shall be protected from abrasion in the area of the hole or sleeve by wrapping the tube with an approved tape or other approved means of protection.
    4. Copper fuel gas piping running vertically through partition walls shall be protected by installing steel striker plates of at least 0.0508" thickness at the upper and lower wall plates. Striker plates shall extend a minimum of 4" above and below such wall plates.
    5. Branches in horizontal fuel gas piping shall be installed on the side or top of the run pipe at a position at or above the horizontal centerline of the run pipe. Branches for appliance drops may be installed below the horizontal centerline of the run pipe provided an approved drip leg or dirt trap is installed in the drop.

4.10 - FIRE SPRINKLER PIPING SYSTEMS

  1. Tube: ASTM B 88 Type M, hard temper
  2. Fittings: ASME B16.18, ASME B16.22
  3. Joints: Soldered or Brazed
    Brazed joints are required for most applications, however soldered joints using ASTM B 32 Alloy Sb5 are acceptable for certain occupancy and hazard classifications.

4.11 - NON-FLAMMABLE MEDICAL GAS PIPING SYSTEMS

  1. Tube: ASTM B 819, Type K or L. Type K shall be used for systems having an operating pressure of 185 psig or greater in sizes larger than 3-inch. Each length of tube shall be suitable for oxygen service, be permanently labeled and delivered plugged, capped or otherwise sealed to prevent contamination of internal surfaces. Plugs, caps or other seals shall remain in place until final assembly.
  2. Fittings: AME B1S6.22, cleaned for oxygen service. Fittings shall be suitable for oxygen service and shall be delivered plugged, capped, bagged or otherwise sealed to prevent contamination of internal surfaces. Plugs, caps, bags or other seals shall remain in place until final assembly.
    CAST COPPER ALLOY FITTINGS SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED.
  3. Joints: Brazed using an AWS A5.8 BCuP Series filler metalmetal without brazing flux.
    BRAZED JOINTS BETWEEN DISSIMILAR METALS SHALL BE FABRICATED USING BAg SERIES BRAZING FILLER METALS AND BRAZING FLUX.
  4. Material Cleaning Requirements:
    1. Fittings, tube, valves, and piping system components shall be cleaned for oxygen service in accordance with CGA Pamphlet G-4.1. Cleaning shall be performed by the manufacturer or a facility equipped to clean, rinse, and purge the material in accordance with CGA Pamphlet G-4.1.
    2. Immediately before final assembly, fittings, tube, valves, and piping system components shall be visually examined internally for contamination. Material that has become contaminated shall not be installed.
    3. On-site cleaning of the interior surfaces of fittings, tube, valves, and piping system components shall be limited to recleaning surfaces in the immediate vicinity of the joints that have become contaminated prior to brazing. These surfaces shall be cleaned by washing in a clean, hot water/alkaline solution such as sodium carbonate or trisodium phosphate (1 lb. to 3 gal. of potable water). Interior surfaces shall be thoroughly scrubbed and rinsed with clean, hot, potable water.
  6. Installation Requirements:
    1. Brazers shall be qualified in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 99
    2. Brazing flux shall not be used in joints between copper tube and ASME B16.22 fittings.
    3. In applications where copper tube must be joined to brass or bronze system components brazing flux shall be applied sparingly to the exterior surface of the tube. Brazing flux shall not be applied to the interior surfaces of the fitting.
    4. During installation care shall be taken to avoid contamination of interior "cleaned for oxygen service" surfaces of piping system components. Joints shall be brazed within one hour of being cleaned.
    5. While being brazed, joints shall be continuously purged with a positive flow of oil-free dry nitrogen to prevent the formation of copper oxide on the interior surface of the joint. The flow of purge gas shall be maintained until the joint is cool to the touch.
    6. During and after installation, openings in the piping system shall be kept capped, plugged or sealed to avoid unnecessary loss of purge gas while brazing and to prevent contamination of the system. During brazing, a discharge opening shall be provided on the opposite side of the joint from where the purge gas is being introduced. After brazing, this discharge opening shall be capped, plugged or sealed to prevent contamination of the system.
    7. Brazed joints shall be allowed to cool to the touch naturally and shall not be shock cooled. After cooling, all joints shall be cleaned with water and a stainless steel wire brush to remove any residue and permit clear visual inspection of the joint. Where flux has been permitted, hot water shall be used.
    8. Field fabricated, mechanically formed tees/outlets and couplings shall not be used.

4.12 - MEDICAL VACUUM PIPING SYSTEMS

  1. Tube: ASTM B 88 Type L or Type M, ASTM B 280 Type ACR, or ASTM B 819 Type L, hard temper for exposed locations. ASTM B 88 Type L, or ASTM B 280 Type ACR, soft temper for underground or concealed locations.
    SOFT TEMPER (ANNEALED) TUBE SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED IN ANY INSTALLATION, EXCEPT UNDER-FLOOR IN CONDUITS, IF THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED OR INSTALLED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF NFPA 99 - 2002 EDITION.
  2. Fittings: ASME B16.18, ASME B16.22
  3. Joints: Soldered or Brazed. Filler metals shall have a minimum melting temperature of 450F.
    If vacuum system piping is installed concurrently with medical gas piping, brazed joints are recommended to avoid inadvertently soldering medical gas piping.
    SOLDERED JOINTS SHALL NOT BE USED IF THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED OR INSTALLED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF NFPA 99 2002 EDITION.
  4. Installation Requirements:
    1. If vacuum system piping is installed concurrently with medical gas piping either it shall be labeled or otherwise identified prior to installation in order to preclude inadvertent inclusion into a medical gas system, or ASTM B 819 tube shall be used.
    2. The outside of all joints shall be cleaned by washing with hot water after assembly and cooling.
    3. After installation of the piping, but before attachment of the vacuum line to the vacuum pump(s) and receiver(s), and before installation of the vacuum alarm switches, station inlets, and gauges, the line shall be blown clear by means of oil-free, dry nitrogen (NF) or air.
      AIR SHALL NOT BE UTILIZED FOR INITIAL BLOW DOWN IF THE SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED OR INSTALLED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF NFPA 99 2002 EDITION.
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This Guide Specification has been prepared for the use of professionals involved in the design, specification, installation and repair of copper and copper alloy piping systems in buildings. It has been compiled from information sources that the Copper Development Association Inc. (CDA) believes to be competent. However, CDA assumes no responsibility or liability of any kind in connection with this document or its use by any person or organization and makes no representations or warranties of any kind thereby.

The requirements contained in this Guide Specification are intended solely as a guide for the design professional and represent minimum recommendations and requirements. These should in no way be substituted for sound engineering practice and judgment. Local codes should be consulted and used to modify this Guide Specification to meet actual project requirements.