Piping Schedule

The thing to do is to look in the end Client's Piping Standards. It then becomes a matter of requirement, measurement and acceptability, and not one of opinion.

Of course the contractor will suggest a cheaper schedule of pipe - the contractor stands to make more money out of the job as a result!

What is the pressure of the air going through the main distribution header? I am assuming it is compressed air. Different schedules have different pressure ratings.

If you are running say, 10 barg through the main line then your contractor may be correct in saying that a schedule 15 pipe will be sufficient.

It might pay to do some research or contact a local piping distributer to find out the required information [pressure ratings, pipe diameter, material etc] . You may wish to purchase a BS standard from the BSI.

One thing to bear in mind, the higher the schedule the higher the wall thickness of the pipe. Your contractors will not be impressed if you have over engineered the design and they have to install the heavy pipe.

Neil

On the other hand, a thicker pipe provides a corrosion allowance which might contribute to longer life / less maintenance. Schedule 40 may have been specified for that reason. (Or for greater physical strength in general, maybe fewer pipe supports, ...)

There is also availability concerns. For example, if this is carbon steel pipe good luck finding it. But sch 40 is available at every supplier.

Schedule 15 ???/?/!!!!???

We have installed air systems <100PSI using schedule 10 I am not familiar with schedule 15.

Another post addresses corrosion which is a valid concern in terms of quality of air inside the line and the environment outside of the line.