ASTM Standards

• Steel pipe is graded based on the ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) standards and ASME standards. ASTM International is the company that issues the standards for most of the steel pipe manufactured and ASME generally issues standards for pressure bearing pipes.

  ASTM is a large organization that develops standards for different materials which are manufactured and generally used in construction or industry. The organization is what is called a voluntary standards development company and they are independent of the manufacturers. Standards for each type of pipe can be downloaded or purchased in print from ASTM and several other website which host their documentation.

Manufacture

• Steel pipe is manufactured in many different ways including seamless pipe, welded pipe, cast pipe. In addition, there are subcategories for each type of pipe. For instance there is single welded pipe, or diagonally (continuously welded pipes) made by welding the edges pf a single strip of metal wound like a curly-q into a cylinder shape. So, each standard is based in part on the type of manufacturing process that creates it.

Steel pipe has been used for a variety of applications since the 19th century, including sprinkler systems. Technology has grown since then, leading to the use of more advanced materials and manufacturing techniques. When purchasing galvanized sprinkler pipes from China for example, all you need to do is check the specifications to be sure that they meet the code for the building and the country where they’re going to be used.

Materials

Galvanized steel pipes are made of steel overlaid with a layer of zinc. The zinc acts as a “sacrificial” material, or as a temporary shield. The zinc takes the brunt of the force of time and corrosion, leaving the steel untouched until the zinc wears off. Chinese pipe can also be purchased with a blackened finish rather than being galvanized with zinc, but this style of pipe doesn’t last as long.

Size

Galvanized pipe can be purchased in a number of different sizes. Two-inch pipe is the most common measurement, but larger pipe can be purchased if you’re buying directly from a manufacturer — as long as you buy in quantities large enough to warrant the manufacture of a different size than what is currently available.

Ends

The ends of the galvanized pipe can also be made to specification. Plain ends — end pieces that you would have to plug into a connector piece because there’s no special way to put them together — are one option. You can also get threaded ends in the measurements of your choice, but metric will be more common than standard when purchasing overseas.

Lengths

Pipes can be purchased in a lengths that meet your particular needs. You will also need pipe elbows and bends for navigating the full system of a building, covering all of the ceilings for a complete sprinkler system. All of the individual pieces that make up the system can be purchased as well, with all of the necessary specifications as to how long they are and at what degree the angles are.

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