2021 Updates to FBC System Compatible Program

FBC™ System Compatible Program 2021 Updates

September 20, 2021

Lubrizol Advanced Materials’ CPVC Piping Systems business has updated its FBC™ System Compatible Program with the several changes to the Approved Products, “Do Not Use” List, and the Other Chemical Compatibility Topics Lists in 2021. 

The following products have been certified as compatible by third parties and therefore added to the Compatible List:

The following products have been added to the “Do Not Use” List:

*1 - These products were reported to have been used at the site of one or more failed piping systems, and upon further investigation were found to contain the same ingredient(s) which were identified as having caused or contributed to the reported failure.

*3 - These products have been determined to be incompatible based on compositional information found in the manufacturer’s labeling or published literature. One or more ingredients reported by the manufacturer is the same as or chemically similar to ingredients identified as having caused or contributed to piping system failure with similar products (the products designated with a ¹).

The following changes have been made to the Other Topics List:

The Insulation guidance on the list of Other Chemical Compatibility Topics has been revised to include the text in red:

Tubing insulation for use with CPVC should be fiberglass, mineral wool, foamed polyolefin (polyethylene), foamed polyisocyanurate or phenolic. Foamed rubber tubing insulation may contain incompatible plasticizers and is not preferred. Foamed polyolefin, foamed polyisocyanurate and phenolic insulations should not have any oil lubrication applied to the interior surface.

Rigid Polystyrene Foam andPaper Faced Batt, Unfaced Batt and Fill insulation made of Fiberglass, Glass Mineral Wool, Mineral Fiber, Stone Wool, Silica Aerogel, Cotton Fiber and Cellulose, including those with graphite intumescent additives or inorganic salts, may come into contact with CPVC.

Fiberglass Duct insulation with aluminum, paper, metalized polyester, polyester, polypropylene and polyethylene facing may come into contact with CPVC.

The Paint guidance on the Other Chemical Compatibility Topics page has been revised with the following text in red:

Paint is frequently applied to piping systems either intentionally for aesthetic purposes, or unintentionally from overspray when nearby surfaces are painted.  Lubrizol is not aware of any failure issues that have ever arisen due to most types of paints being applied in normal coats to CPVC, including water-based latex/acrylic paints, alkyd paints, enamels, spray paints, or paints with added intumescent or mold inhibiting ingredients.  Lubrizol is aware of only one system failure ever caused by painting of the pipe and fittings, and that was with a two-part epoxy paint.  CPVC’s compatibility with two-part epoxy paint depends very much on the proper mixing and application of the paint.  CPVC is not compatible with either of the liquid components that combine to make the epoxy paint, but the cured paint has little or no effect on the CPVC.

Two things happen during the application and curing process that cause the final product to have little or no effect on the piping.  First, the monomers react, turning the largest part of the liquid components into a solid polymer that has no effect on CPVC.  Second, the solvents used in the formulation evaporate and are thus removed from the painted pipe.  All this depends on the components being properly mixed and applied so that they react and cure properly.  When two-component paints are improperly mixed or the mixture fails to cure and there is an excess of either component remaining on the piping, compatibility problems may arise.

When pipe is to be painted for aesthetic purposes, the following pointers should be followed:

• Lubrizol recommends the use of water-based latex/acrylic paint, which is the most commonly available type of interior paint.
• Do not allow the paint to puddle on or around the pipe.  Paint should be applied in such a way that it dries in the amount of time indicated by the paint manufacturer.  Extended exposure to puddles of paint which cannot dry normally may be detrimental to the pipe or fitting material.
• It is not recommended to paint the pipe or fittings prior to installation.  Paint on the pipe ends or inside fitting sockets will interfere with solvent cementing, potentially causing leaky joints or blowouts.  Wait until after the piping is installed and the cement is cured before painting the piping system.
• Do not allow sprinkler heads to become coated with paint, as that may impede their function in a fire situation.
• Do not allow paint to get inside the piping system through openings such as drops or adapters.  Paint inside the piping system may peel off and impede flow through the sprinkler head in a fire situation.  There are no paints which have been evaluated for compatibility with CPVC by the mechanism of their ingredients leaching into the fluid inside the piping.  Such a mechanism may be more detrimental to CPVC than paint applied to the exterior of the piping.
• Listings and approvals do not include painted BlazeMaster piping systems.
• Approval from the Authority Having Jurisdiction must be obtained before painting over the markings (product identification, listing marks, etc.) on the product.

The Plastic Pipe category has been renamed “Plastic Pipe and Flexible Ducting” and updated with the text in red:

ABS, PEX, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and un-plasticized rigid PVC plastic pipes are not incompatible with CPVC.  Polyethylene, Polypropylene and aluminum flexible ducting is not incompatible with CPVC.  For insulated pipes and ducts, see also the Insulation topic.

A new category named “Ducting” has been added, advising the reader to refer to the Plastic Pipe and Flexible Ducting category for more information.

Breccoil, LubeTech, and NxTech have elected to no longer participate in the Program.  These companies and their products have been removed.

THE LUBRIZOL FBC™ SYSTEM COMPATIBLE PROGRAM 

Products qualify for the program by undergoing testing that demonstrates the product is compatible with FlowGuard Gold Pipe & Fittings, BlazeMaster Fire Protection Systems, and Corzan Industrial Systems and Products made with TempRite^® Technology.  
 
Manufacturers of the program's products are committed to maintaining necessary product quality and agree not to change the chemical composition of the product without advance written notice. If there is a change in the chemical composition, manufacturers must re-submit their products in order to be included in the FBC System Compatible Program. Manufacturers must also submit their products to periodic testing to ensure the products remain chemically compatible. Because CPVC products are made with base resins having different molecular weights and varying chlorine contents and compound additives, the FBC System Compatible Program can verify chemical compatibility of products made with Lubrizol's FlowGuard, BlazeMaster, and Corzan and Products made with TempRite^® Technology with the ancillary products tested and added to the Lubrizol FBC™ System Compatible Program. 
 
Products in the program display the FBC System Compatible mark on their labels. This mark quickly notifies installers that the product is chemically compatible with FlowGuard, BlazeMaster, and Corzan and Products made with TempRite^® Technology. The FBC System Compatible Program is in active use in the United States, Canada, Mexico, 25 European countries, the United Arab Emirates, India and China.  
 
FBC™, FlowGuard Gold^®, BlazeMaster^®, Corzan^® and Temprite^® Technology are registered trademarks of The Lubrizol Corporation.