Plastic or Metallic- Which Sanitary Fitting Should I Choose? Can I use both?

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If you’ve been following this blog long enough, you know that at Holland we offer both engineered stainless and single use fluid handling products. While we are historically stainless steel guys, as macro trends change, industry needs shift, and new plastic products have hit the market, we find ourselves specifying plastic fittings in applications where we’d always used to use stainless. So for “metal-heads” like us at Holland, one of the biggest dilemma’s that we face day in and day out is what kind of fitting should we use- steel or plastic? That question is not as simple as it looks. This post will take a look at the factors that go into that decision and some basic things you should consider for your next application.

To begin, let’s look at the frequently asked questions we get from customers who are considering plastic or stainless in a new application:

• My system already uses stainless steel fittings, so I have to keep using them…. Right?
• Is my product compatible with plastic fittings?
• Will plastic fittings hold my temperatures and pressure?
• Can I connect my plastic Triclamp flange to a stainless one?

So let’s start with the first question- if you’ve been using stainless, do you need to keep doing so? The answer to that question is absolutely not. It’s common to think that you need to use the same type of fittings that originally came with your system. Instrument performance, however, is rarely linked to one specific fitting. This gives us the freedom to change fittings to best suit your application needs.

To help choose the best fitting for your application, be mindful of what the fitting is actually supposed to do. Does it need to hold a high pressure? What’s the chemical environment like? How are you cleaning the system? The answers to these questions are what are going to guide us to the correct answer.

After you’ve identified what the fitting is supposed to do, the next challenge, as alluded to above is figuring out if the plastic- or even stainless- fitting you want to use is compatible with your process and product. Most single use fittings manufacturers will provide information about max temperature and pressure ratings. As far as chemical compatibility goes, information on that topic abounds. I recommend Cole Parmer’s Chemical Compatibility iPhone app- this is a great resource for checking compatibility of a wide array of process fluids and materials.

Generally speaking, if the temperatures or pressures are extremely high or the product is particularly aggressive, stainless may be the way to go. If it’s a piece that is going to be moved often and the physical demands aren’t that high, you’ll get just as good, if not better, performance from your plastic fittings.

So then can I connect my plastic fittings to my metal ones? Are hybrid systems a good idea? The answer to that is yes. In fact, there are products on the market, such as Colder’s Steam Thru Connectors that are specifically designed to allow users to connect their stainless steel process equipment to single use or plastic systems by allowing sterile connections and disconnections to be made between plastic and stainless equipment. Colder also offers a stainless steel flange x MPC or MPX male insert to connect to disposable coupling bodies. Known as the Saniquick connection, this system also allows integration of single use equipment and hard plumbed systems.

So the next time you’re trying to figure out which kind of fitting you should use, try to keep in mind what the purpose of the fitting is and what are the process demands. Whichever fitting you choose, be sure it can handle the pressure and temperatures of the system and be sure it’s chemically compatible with the fluid being transferred. Hybrid options are available and these allow users the flexibility to integrate a variety of different technologies to achieve maximum efficiency. If you have additional fittings quesitons, contact a Holland Sales Engineer today– stainless or plastic- engineered fluid handling solutions are what we do.

Our Rigid PVC nonmetallic electrical conduit adapters can be used with EB20, DB60, EB35, DB120 and DB100 utility duct as well as Schedule 40 and Schedule 80 conduit.

Several brands of covers and rings can be used with our floorbox. Click here for a pdf of the chart detailing the compatible brands.

Yes. Our Schedule 40 and Schedule 80 bends, both standard radius and special radius, can be used for jobs requiring concrete encasement, direct burial or may be installed in direct sunlight. For allowable installations and restrictions see NEC Article 352.

RNC stands for Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit.

NEMA TC2 applies to CANTEX Schedule 40 elbows.

All of our Schedule 40 and Schedule 80 products (conduit and elbows) are ETL Listed and conform to UL 651 standard “Sunlight Resistant” specifications.

Yes. UL Flame rating is UL 94V-0 (ASTM D 3801). This means that the product is self-extinguishing and will not support burning. Test results show CANTEX rigid nonmetallic conduit has an ASTM E 84 Flame Spread Index (FSI) of 15 to 20 and a Smoke Developed Index (SDI) of 765 to 805.

The recommended maximum ambient temperature is 122°F (50°C) and the minimum installation temperature is -4°F (-20°C). If the conduit is used above grade and exposed to either extreme, expansions couplings should be installed at the recommended intervals.

As directed by the NEC Section 352.10, Schedule 80 is to be used in areas of possible damage.

Schedule 80 elbows are available. For other fittings and accessories, Schedule 40 fittings are used in the Schedule 80 installations.

No. Schedule 40 conduit is not to be used for the transmission of water or gas or any kind of pressurized application.

Standard for EB-20 is UL 651. All utility duct conforms to ASTM F-512 and meets NEMA Standard NEMA TC 6&8.

Yes. DB-60 and DB-120 can be buried directly or encased in concrete. EB-20 and EB-35 must be encased in concrete.

There are many sources for information on rigid nonmetallic conduit. The National Electrical Code (NEC) is always your best source. This is the code used by most inspecting agencies. Other good sources are Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). NEMA has many useful guides for use and installation of RNC. Go www.nema.org or www.ul.com and follow the easy to use menus.

The maximum ambient use temperature is 50°C (122°F). The minimum installation temperature is -20°C (-4°F ). All CANTEX UL listed conduit and fittings are rated for 90°C  (194°F) wiring.

Yes, any Listed PVC conduit can be used in this manner. However you must use a Listed fire stop in conjunction with the conduit. 3M and Hilti both offer these products.

You do not need one. Go to the UL website and look up listed manufacturers. If necessary, print the page. The UL listing mark is clearly printed on the product.

This can be calculated or determined from Table 352.44 of the 2014 NEC. A number of factors determine how many expansion joints will be required. This information is also available in our product catalog. A very comprehensive installation manual is available free of charge from the NEMA website at www.nema.org.

Federal Specification W-C-1094 cancelled September 13, 1985. It was replaced with the following specifications: UL 514B, UL 514C, UL 651 and UL 651A. CANTEX Sch. 40 and SCH. 80 PVC conduits meet UL 651 and therefore meet the discontinued specification W-C-1094 (A). These standards have been adopted by GSA-FSS and DOD.

CANTEX rigid nonmetallic PVC conduit meets the following specifications and standards: UL standard 651 and NEMA standard TC-2.

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No, CANTEX EZ Flex ENT is not plenum rated.

No, NEC Article 362 forbids the direct burial of any manufacturers ENT.

No, CANTEX EZ Flex is not rated for applications exposed to the direct rays of the sun.

Yes, all ENT is restricted to 600 Volts or less.

Maximum ambient use temperature is 50°C (122°F) minimum installation temperature is -20°C (-4°F)

You MUST use CANTEX #50 ENT Cement. Regular cement is too aggressive for ENT.

Yes, you can use regular Sch. 40 PVC fittings with EZ Flex.

CANTEX EZ Flex ENT meets the following standards and specifications : UL standard 1653, NEMA Standard TC-13 and CSA Standard C22.2 No. 227.

Yes, CANTEX EZ Flex ENT and listed ENT fittings can be encased in concrete.

Yes, CANTEX EZ Flex is listed for use with 90°C wire.

No, by definition the conduit is flexible and does not need expansion couplings. Do not firmly install brackets to the ENT as this will prevent the conduit from flexing during periods of heating and cooling. The conduit must be securely fastened within 3 feet of any terminations. Do not stretch ENT during installation, let it lay naturally. Horizontal runs of ENT must be supported every 3 feet.

The ECCN is EAR99-NLR meaning no license is required.

The Schedule B Numbers (Harmonized Tariff Numbers) are as follows: 3917.40.00 00 for fittings, 3917.23.0000 for pipe.

USA is the Country of Origin (COO) for export for CANTEX products.

The Cage # for CANTEX products is 23823.

All of our cement and primer products are asbestos free.

The expiration/shelf life for all CANTEX cement products is 3 years. The date stamped on the bottom of CANTEX cement and primer cans represents the date of manufacture; it is not the expiration date of the product. The expiration date is stamped on each carton. Stability of our cement products is limited by the permanence of the container and the evaporation of the solvent when the container is open.

CANTEX Rigid nonmetallic PVC conduit, fittings and boxes do not contain any of the Substances of Very High Concern as described in Article 57 of the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation (EC 1907/2006). See CANTEX statement on our Legal & Terms page of our Resources section.

CANTEX All Weather Clear PVC Cement 5° F to 100°F CANTEX #99 Gray Low VOC PVC Cement 40° F to 100°F CANTEX #99 Gray PVC Cement 40° F to 100°F CANTEX #99 Clear Low VOC PVC Cement 40° F to 100°F CANTEX #99 Clear PVC Cement 40° F to 100°F CANTEX #50 Blue ENT PVC Cement 5° F to 100°F CANTEX #15 Clear PVC Cement 40° F to 100°F CANTEX #10 Low VOC Purple Primer 5° F to 100°F CANTEX #10 Purple Primer 5° F to 100°F CANTEX #10 Clear Primer 5° F to 100°F CANTEX #5 Clear PVC Cement 40° F to 100°F

Below is a breakdown of what the CANTEX pipe run number indicates for the following example: V906B061411 10:47.

The first two numbers identify the plant location (V9 = Kingman, AZ), (V8 = Aurora, OH), (V1 = Mineral Wells, TX), (V7 = Auburndale, FL). The 3 spaces identify the machine, A & B designate the side of the line if dual production capabilities. For example, 06B indicates Line 6, side B. The rest of the digits indicate the date it was produced. In the example above, 061411 = June 14, 2011. After the run number, there is a time stamp that shows the time the conduit was produced in military time. The example above was produced at 10:47 a.m.

The maximum spread of the hanger bar for the CANTEX EZ25CHG-HW is 18 inches.

CANTEX rigid schedule 40 and 80 Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) electrical plastic conduit (EPC-40-PVC and EPC-80-PVC), elbows and bends meet the requirements for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) "Sunlight Resistant" rating and are listed by UL for use in direct sunlight. This is the highest rating available from Underwriters Laboratories. CANTEX PVC conduit products are protected from ultraviolet light (sunlight) by titanium dioxide, which is incorporated into the plastic formula when it is blended. PVC products will change color after extended exposure to sunlight. The pipe begins to turn yellow and eventually brown. This discoloration is mainly cosmetic, but eventually over long periods of time, the discoloration is accompanied by a gradual loss of resistance to impact.

Conduit products, which are to be stored outdoors for an extended period of time (greater than six months) before installation, should be covered by a tarpaulin or other opaque material. Air circulation should be provided under the covering. Pipe bundles should also be stored on flat surfaces with uniform support.

The CT stands for cement-thread. This means that one end requires cement to assemble and the other end is threaded.

The CC stands for cement-cement, which indicates that both sides require cement for assembly. CC is also sometimes referred to as SS, which stands for slip-slip.

No, 2 piece expansion couplings are not designed to be encased in concrete or to be directly buried. To work properly, they need to be able to “piston” back and forth to accommodate expansion and contraction caused by conduit thermal changes.

We do not provide CAD file drawings of our products. However, we do provide PDFs of the technical drawings for every product on our website catalog pages. After you use the search tool to find the product catalog page, you will find links to the PDFs for the technical drawing along with a sell-sheet and SDS information for that product at the bottom of the catalog page. 

A 4" hole saw should be used for EZ10CO and EZ18COG Old Work Ceiling Boxes.

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