Is it worth installing a nitrogen generator for small residential dry pipe systems with less than 50 gallons?
We have about 175 homes with dry pipe systems in our jurisdiction. Would a nitrogen generator be the best solution for corrosion protection? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
19 Comments
Daniel
11/22/2023 07:47:08 am
Is the area conducive to the production of iron oxide? If CPVC is used rather than steel, I would consider air acceptable.
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James
11/22/2023 07:49:04 am
CPVC can't be used with dry pipe systems.
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Daniel
11/22/2023 07:54:29 am
Thanks for the info James, that makes sense. Still learning over here.
James
11/22/2023 11:02:02 am
Daniel - I spoke too soon - learned something myself today.
Jesse
11/22/2023 09:13:00 am
It won't be CPVC if its a dry system.
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NK
11/22/2023 08:18:40 am
1. If corrosion is a concern, I would use schedule 40 pipe and make sure the pipes are pitched correctly when installed before suggesting anything else because no one maintains residential fire sprinkler systems. The more system components are installed the more system components need to be maintained in the future.
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Mike M
11/22/2023 08:20:45 am
I'm not aware of any "small" systems, most of the commercially available stuff is definitely not going to be cost effective at that system size that I have seen. That said if your drainage is good you could consider a drier (dessicant or refrigeration), and/or if the system is tight and that small you could use bottled nitrogen to charge it and even as a permanent supply as long as someone is going to be dilligent to change the bottle out once in a blue moon. Schedule 40 and cut groove where it makes sense might be worth considering as well.
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JI
11/22/2023 08:21:03 am
I would go with all sch. 40 piping (black would be fine, galvanized pipe wouldn't see enough advantages for a residential install) before installing a nitrogen generator for such a small system. Nitrogen generators would be costly for such a small install, and on the technical side they are not as easy to maintain as an air compressor. Depending on the air compressor used, a dryer might be an option too, which will lower the moisture content in the air supply. With current NFPA 13 codes, a permanent nitrogen generator can yield a 120 c factor to aid in hydraulic calculations, but with such a small system I don't think this would be a big selling feature here.
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Glenn Berger
11/22/2023 08:43:09 am
I have been on the N2 train for over a decade now. I would recommend nitrogen be used regardless of the size of the system.
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J esse
11/22/2023 09:17:39 am
I'm not sure the expense would stand up to a cost benefit analysis
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Dan Wilder
11/22/2023 09:38:37 am
In lieu of N2, available by ECS, General Air, & Southtek (& a couple others)....
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Bill
11/22/2023 09:53:51 am
Blazemaster CPVC is listed for low pressure dry systems
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James
11/22/2023 10:59:38 am
I learned something new today. Wow, this seems like a really big deal for 13D residential. I've put some thought into it for my next home and have been interested in figuring out a way to do cost-effective dry systems (potentially for attic protection, though I haven't looked through all the literature yet)..
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Dave
11/22/2023 01:52:39 pm
I don't do mush residential anymore, but thanks, was not aware of that option either.
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Casey Milhorn
11/22/2023 11:21:32 am
Dan nailed it as usual. Sounds like you have existing 13D steel pipe dry systems. So CPVC is already out of the question.
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Patrick Drumm
11/24/2023 09:13:05 am
I've heard only good things about the vapor shield product up here in the Northeast. I have not personally designed or witnessed the installation of one of the systems, but my industry contacts that I have asked have praised the product. I've checked out their webinars and the science behind it is really interesting to me. The idea of a "micro" style system of this kind is very intriguing. So many projects have overhangs, exterior decks, etc. that require a small dry system. A lot of options are cost prohibitive, but if a less expensive option were developed, I think it would be widely accepted.
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David Kendrick
11/22/2023 12:25:55 pm
Reliable makes a Nitrogen manifold for compressed gas in bottles. No generator involved.
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11/24/2023 08:47:21 am
There are compact low cost nitrogen generators that are feasible for this application.
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Sean
12/31/2023 11:15:10 pm
short answer no
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