Installation Guide

Charlotte Pipe is a registered trademark of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company.
FlowGuard Gold is a registered trademark of Lubrizol Corp.
Acetone in Primers, Cleaning and Solvent Cements:
• Primers, cleaners, and solvent cements containing appreciable amounts of acetone may cause rapid environmental stress cracking of
CPVC metal insert parts during installation at freezing temperatures. Contact your primer/cleaner/solvent cement manufacturer for more
information or recommendation of alternatives.
Adhesives:
• Pipe sleeves, insulation and tapes manufactured with adhesives may contain incompatible chemicals which can harm CPVC systems. Consult
with the manufacturer of these products to determine if the adhesives used are compatible with CPVC systems.
Antifreeze, Glycerin from Biodiesel:
• Crude glycerin from biodiesel manufacturing is not recommended for use as an antifreeze or heat transfer fluid in CPVC piping systems.
Crude glycerin from biodiesel manufacturing may be contaminated with the biodiesel, its intermediary chemicals, and/or waste products
from the biodiesel manufacturing process.
Cleaning CPVC Pipe:
• While common ordinary soaps are not detrimental to CPVC, most modern dishwashing liquids contain synthetic detergents, some of which
may cause environmental stress cracking of fittings. A mild ionic detergent solution to remove incompatible oils or chemicals is recommended.
A rinse with clean water to completely clean the system is advisable as a final flushing. Contact your dishwasher detergent manufacturer for
more information or a recommendation of alternatives.
Flexible Wire and Cable:
• Direct contact with flexible wire and cable jacketing that utilize insulation containing plasticizers is not recommended. Section 334.30 of the
National Electric Code (2002 Edition) requires wire and cable to be secured by staples, cable ties, straps, or hangers. Air ducts, pipes and
ceiling grid are not acceptable supports for wire and cable. Also see section titled "Rubber and Flexible Materials Containing Plasticizers."
Fragrances–Perfumes:
• Scented products such as cologne, perfumes, or essential oils (peppermint oil, orange oil, spearmint oil, etc.) should not be put into a CPVC
piping system for the purpose of being able to detect leaks by odor. Most fragrance chemicals and essential oils are strong solvents and/or
environmental stress cracking agents for CPVC.
Fungicides and Mold Inhibitors:
• When performing repairs to leaks in existing systems, care should be taken to isolate CPVC pipe from direct contact with heavy concentrations
of fungicide products which may be applied during cleanup of water damage. Vinyl piping materials such as PVC or CPVC may be damaged
by fungicides when fungicides are sprayed on surrounding drywall and wood framing to prevent the growth of mold and mildew in the affected
area. Common sense precautions will prevent problems with repairs to existing systems. When repairs are made to an existing system, and
the possibility exists that fungicides will be applied to treat damp drywall and wood framing surrounding the repair site, exposed piping
should be sleeved with a compatible plastic sleeving or pipe insulation material to prevent direct contact of the fungicide with the plumbing
systems.
Grease and Cooking Oils:
• When CPVC pipe is installed in kitchen areas the pipe must be protected from contact with grease or cooking oils. Consideration must be
given to not only protecting the pipe from direct contact with grease or oil as well as contact that may occur from airborne grease or oil.
Insulation:
• Tubing insulation for use with CPVC should be fiberglass or foamed polyolefin (polyethylene). Foamed rubber tubing insulation may contain
incompatible plasticizers and is not preferred. Foamed polyolefin insulation should not have any oil lubrication applied to the interior
surface.
Leak Detectors (Soaps Used):
• While common ordinary soaps are not detrimental to CPVC, most modern dishwashing liquids contain synthetic detergents, some of which
may cause environmental stress cracking of CPVC.
Metal Piping Connected to or Installed Alongside CPVC Piping:
• CPVC may be damaged by torches and/or chemicals used to install metal piping. When metal piping is installed in proximity to CPVC
piping systems, care should be taken to protect the CPVC from burning with torches or contact with molten solder or solder flux, as well as
incompatible thread sealants, leak detectors, lubricants, or other chemical products which may be used on metal piping.
3
(Updated June 9, 2020)
OTHER CHEMICAL COMPATIBILITY CONCERNS and INSTALLATION INFORMATION
To reduce risk of property damage from chemical
incompatibility with CPVC read and follow these
instructions before using any chemical with pipe or
fittings.
Prior to installation, check with the manufacturer of the
HVAC equipment to confirm the compatibility of residual
oils and refrigerants with CPVC, ABS, or PVC.
Prior to installing PVC or CPVC piping in hydronic
applications, it is important to flush the interior of the heat
exchangers and the exterior of the evaporator coils
thoroughly with a mild ionic detergent solution to remove
incompatible oils. Failing to do so could result in system
failure and property damage.
Verify that all boiler cleaning and sealing chemicals used in
hydronic radiant heating systems are compatible with PVC
or CPVC. Failure to do so could result in system failure and
property damage.
Equipment leaks in refrigeration or HVAC systems may
release POE oils or other contaminants into the piping
system. These oils and contaminants are incompatible with
PVC or CPVC and such exposure may result in pipe or
fitting failure regardless of flushing.