Old Compressed Air Piping Methods
Black Steel Pipe
- - requires special threading equipment/skill in fabrication for joining
- - prone to rust and loose scale deposits over time
- - rough inner surface restricts air flow
- - modifying the system is more difficult
- - inexpensive material costs
- - longer time needed for installation
Copper Pipe
- - skill in soldering needed to assemble joints
- - smooth inner surface has good air flow
- - not all types are suitable for pressure
- - expensive material costs due to the high price of copper raw material
Today's Improved Compressed Air Piping Methods
AirNet Pipe
- - lightweight aluminum can be installed by one person
without extensive training
- - smooth inner surface produces good air flow and
energy savings
- - corrosion free pipe and fittings
- - easy to modify and make system changes
- - short installation time compared to other methods
- - ¾", 1", 1½", 2", 2½", 3", 4" sizes, 9' or 20' length
- - 188 psi working pressure
- RECOMMENDED FOR:
- - rectangular or straight pipe runs with minimal
obstruction
- - areas without lots of bends requiring elbow fittings
- - multiple air users
- - areas where pipe needs to look “perfectly” straight
- - industrial plants, auto body and repair shops, farm,
woodworking
- - any size building
RapidAir Tubing
- - nylon tubing is designed for compressed air
- - no special tools/skills needed for installation
- - can be run thru the wall for clean look
- - short installation time & inexpensive materials
- - corrosion free tubing and fittings
- - aluminum outlet blocks give a clean professional look
- - great for garage sizes under 1200 sq. ft
- - tubing size 3/8" ID x ½" OD
- - 150 psi working pressure
- RECOMMENDED FOR:
- - home garage workshops less than 1200 sq ft (30 ft x
40 ft)
- - single tubing lengths under 50 ft from compressor
- - one air user
- - workbenches, trailers, small woodworking shops
MaxLine Tubing
- - Maxline has all the great benefits of the Duratec
product, but with reduced cost
- - Maxline does not hold expensive agency ratings for
food, beverage and welding gases and is
manufactured only for compressed air, saving you
money
- - a blend of HDPE and aluminum multilayer tubing
- - direct burial, on wall and in wall tubing applications
- - maintains shape after bending by hand
- - meets OSHA requirements
- - tubing size ½", ¾" ID
- - 175 psi working pressure
- RECOMMENDED FOR:
- - building layouts with many obstructions, corners etc
- - multiple air users
- - industrial plants, auto body and repair shops, farm,
woodworking
- - underground burial
- - ½" size for tubing lengths under 75 ft from compressor
- - ½" size for buildings less than 2000 sq ft (40 ft x 50 ft)
- - ½" size for in wall applications
- - ¾" size used for tubing lengths under 150 ft from
compressor
- - ¾" size used for building less than 3600 sq ft (60 ft x
60 ft)
Duratec Tubing
- - a blend of HDPE and aluminum multilayer tubing
- - corrosion free
- - direct bury underground or in concrete
- - maintains shape after bending by hand
- - eliminates sagging tubing lines
- - other uses include welding gas and beverage piping
- - meets NSF, FDA, and OSHA requirements
- - tubing sizes ½", ¾", and 1" ID
- - 200 psi working pressure
- RECOMMENDED FOR:
- - building layouts with many obstructions, corners etc
- - multiple air users
- - industrial plants, auto body and repair shops, farm,
woodworking
- - underground burial
- - ½" size for tubing lengths under 75 ft from compressor
- - ½" size for buildings less than 2000 sq ft (40 ft x 50 ft)
- - ½ size for in wall applications
- - ¾" size used for tubing lengths under 150 ft from
compressor
- - ¾" size used for building less than 3600 sq ft (60 ft x
60 ft)
- - 1" size for large air volume needs