Pneumatic systems require a constant supply of compressed air in order to operate. There are many examples of these in today’s world, but one of the most familiar is the automotive service shop. Air pipes must be run from the compressor to each service pay in order to power the technician’s tools and equipment.
Installing compressed air piping is actually more demanding than you might think. There is much more involved than simply running a main line from the compressor down the center of the shop with feeder lines running to each service bay. There are quite a few things that need to be accounted for during installation, including the presence of moisture, bay door clearance, the potential for damage to the lines from other equipment in the environment, and a great deal more.
These considerations will inform everything from where piping can be installed to the type of piping used throughout the installation. Steel piping and plastic piping are both used, but have very different performance characteristics and are not interchangeable.
Then there’s the question of piping size. Because there is a loss of air pressure across the system, smaller piping can dramatically reduce what is available to air tools and pneumatic machines. Designers and installers will also need to consider the amount of pressure lost in the system when air tools or pneumatic machines are in use. Simply put, the more use the system sees, the less pressure there will be overall.
At Select Plumbing, we have years of experience designing, installing and repairing compressed air piping systems. We invite you to call us today at 888-501-5501 to learn more about how we can help.
