Tubing and Piping Support

By July 22, 2020

Tubing and Piping Support

Image Courtesy of Eaton SNAP ‘N SHIELD

Piping support is covered in Section 305 of the IMC (International Mechanical Code). Once again, the IMC isn't binding, but it is what most local codes are based on.

Piping / Tubing Material	Maximum Horizontal Distance Between Support	Maximum Vertical Distance Between Support

Copper Tubing 1 1/4″ & Smaller	6′	10′
Copper Tubing 1 1/2″ & Larger	10′	10′
PVC Pipe	4′	10′
CPVC 1″ & Smaller	3′	10′
CPVC 1 1/4″ & Larger	4′	10′
Pex Tubing	32″	10′

You will notice pretty quickly that 10′ is the vertical support distance in all of these common conditions. When supporting horizontally, it's also important to use supports that won't compress insulation on insulated suction lines and drain lines.

Nowadays, there are really nice saddles for insulated lines like the B-line Snap ‘n Shield supports shown above. We recently re-insulated a large grocery store with overhead copper and replaced the existing supports with these to eliminate condensation.

—Bryan

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Licensed mechanical engineer Tony Amadio joins the podcast to talk about residential exhaust codes and best practices. He also put together a presentation about the topic, which you can view at https://hvacrschool.com/exhaust.

When choosing duct materials for residential exhaust, you will want to stick to sheet metal and mind the gauge; flex ductwork can easily be damaged and will rack up a high total equivalent length in a way that sheet metal will not.

Exhaust air should always discharge outdoors, not into an attic or crawl space, and that air needs to be replaced by air entering the conditioned space; makeup air is the air we draw in to replace the exhausted air, and we need appropriate undercuts to make sure we’re getting the right amount of makeup air.

Domestic cooking exhaust may also come in a few different varieties, each of which has different code requirements (with downdrafts needing much more CFM per ASHRAE). Range hood shape is also important for capturing as many particles as possible, but makeup air kits are usually unnecessary (and could be more of a hassle than they’re worth).

When it comes to bathroom exhaust, the CFM requirements differ between residential and light commercial, as well as intermittent and continuous exhaust. Steam generators may also be present, and they require extra consideration.

Tony and Bryan also cover:

Tony’s education and career background
Discharging and terminating exhaust air
Insect screens
Makeup air in light commercial applications
Clothing dryer vs. bathroom vents
Ductless clothes dryers and condensate piping
Home Ventilation Institute (HVI) guidelines
Pressure imbalance in a structure
Residential vs. light commercial bathroom exhaust
Static pressure, blower sizing, and exhaust duct sizing

You can ask Tony questions by email at anthony.amadio@peloadcalcs.com.

Learn more about the 5th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/Symposium24.

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