Marine

The material choice depends on your application requirements. It depends on the application, but here are the most commonly used materials and their distinct material advantages:

• Polybutene (PB): Known for its high creep resistance and chemical durability, PB is ideal for drinking water systems, compressed air lines, and chilled water circuits. It does not impart taste or contaminants, making it safe for potable water applications.
  
  
• Polyethylene (PE): PE is prized for its high elasticity, corrosion resistance, and versatility across various dimensions. It is well-suited for ballast water systems, water treatment applications, exhaust gas scrubbers, and fresh and seawater cooling systems. Its flexibility also helps dampen torsional and vibrational stresses on vessels.
  
  
• Polypropylene (PP): Available in variants like Random Copolymer (PP-R) and Homopolymer (PP-H), PP is favored for drinking water applications and black and grey water applications on board. It offers high flexibility, which is crucial for adapting to torsional and bending stresses in ship structures.
  • Drinking Water Solution
  • Black and Grey Water Solution
     
• PVC Materials: PVC-C (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) and PVC-U (Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride) are also used depending on specific application needs. PVC-C is known for its higher temperature and enhanced chemical resistance, which makes it suitable for more demanding marine environments. On the other hand, PVC-U offers excellent mechanical strength and is often used in piping systems requiring rigidity and dimensional stability.

Additionally, multilayer pipes and fittings, as well as pre-insulated pipes such as COOL-FIT (pre-insulated PE), provide added benefits. Multilayer constructions combine different materials for optimal performance in various conditions, while pre-insulated pipes offer enhanced energy efficiency and protection against external environmental factors.

Each plastic material is rigorously tested and certified to meet stringent safety and performance standards required for marine applications. They offer advantages such as lightweight construction, ease of installation, and resistance to corrosion, contributing to improved efficiency and longevity in maritime operations.

• View our application matrix to find the best material fit.
• Speak to our experts for a personal consultation.

Corrosion significantly threatens marine pipes, especially those exposed to seawater and corrosive liquids in tanks. Internal corrosion, often undetectable through visual inspection, can compromise pipe integrity by reducing wall thickness and leading to potential failures. While design calculations typically include a corrosion allowance, they may only sometimes prevent uniform corrosion before reaching the pipe's intended lifespan.

Pipes passing through tanks require thicker walls to withstand potential corrosion, which increases system weight and complicates installation. In contrast, plastic marine pipes and fittings offer robust resistance to harsh marine environments, chemicals, and seawater without corroding. Their lightweight construction facilitates easier installation and maintenance, making them a compelling alternative to traditional metal solutions.

Yes, our marine solutions (metric and schedule) are approved by all major classification companies like ABS, BV, DNV, RINA, or LR (and many more) and are safe to use on board.

The suitability of a piping system for safe and efficient operation aboard a ship hinges on its compliance with stringent regulations set forth by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and leading classification societies such as ABS, DNV, LR, and BV. Approval is contingent upon factors such as the system’s application, location within the vessel, pressure requirements, IMO regulations, and fire classification.

Materials used in marine piping systems must undergo rigorous testing and certification by classification societies to ensure they meet stringent safety and performance standards. Thermoplastic and multilayer piping systems are highly favored in marine environments for their corrosion resistance, lightweight construction, and extended lifespan. GF Piping Systems offers a comprehensive range of approved plastic materials and valves that comply with these rigorous IMO regulations, ensuring reliability and compliance in maritime operations.

Click here to access the overview of our marine approved portfolio.

Marine piping systems control the flow of fluids in various applications, including shipbuilding, retrofitting, and offshore platforms. They are used in over 30 onboard applications, such as engine cooling, bilge and ballast systems, water treatment, and hot and cold water supply. These systems ensure the reliable operation of vessels like cruise ships, container ships, tankers, Ro/Ro Ferries, Mega Yachts, and Bulk Carriers.

View all application possibilities here.

Yes, thermoplastic pipes and fittings can be utilized in machinery spaces onboard vessels for essential and non-essential services. However, for essential applications, the choice of materials must meet stringent safety standards.

For enhanced fire protection requirements in essential applications (L3) such as machinery spaces, pump rooms, cargo pump rooms, and cargo holds categorized under fire endurance classes by the IMO the HEAT-FIT Fire Retardant system is recommended. This system ensures compliance with marine fire safety regulations and allows for the safe handling of seawater ballast, ballast water treatment, fresh and seawater cooling and exhaust gas scrubbing.

View all application possibilities here.

Yes, plastic pipes need to be insulated, especially in cooling and refrigeration (HVAC/R) applications on board. The insulation helps to maintain temperature control and system efficiency.

Plastic pipes typically have lower thermal conductivity compared to metal pipes and fittings, which means they may require a thinner insulation layer. However, insulating the medium-carrying piping system can be time-intensive, requiring significant installation and maintenance effort and cost.

To address this, GF Piping Systems developed a fully factory pre-insulated solution that includes pre-insulated pipes, fittings, valves, and installation tools. This solution increases installation efficiency and makes post-insulation redundant.

Our COOL-FIT system is designed for optimal performance in cooling applications. It features:

• PE100 Inner Pipe: Medium-carrying inner pipe ensures corrosion and incrustation-free transportation of coolants like water, brine, or glycol.
• High-Energy Insulation Foam: Ensures high thermal efficiency and reliable insulation in a temperature range from -50°C to +60°C.
• HDPE Protective Outer Jacket: Provides robust protection of the insulation, reducing maintenance work to a minimum.

Please note that the precise calculation of the insulation thickness should be determined through a detailed analysis of your operating conditions. Our service team will assist you with calculating your cooling parameters and defining the right piping system and insulation for the efficient operation of your cooling or refrigeration system. Get in touch.

When it comes to bulkhead penetration for plastic pipes on board, thermoplastic pipes can be protected in fire-rated divisions using innovative solutions. Specific approved penetrations can restore the integrity of the deck and bulkhead in case of fire. The penetration prevents smoke and flame from being propagated from one fire zone to another.

GF Piping Systems' marine-approved solutions have been tested and approved by the major penetration makers in the market. 

Our team of marine piping experts is ready to assist with your specific needs. Please reach out to us here.

Connecting GF marine pipes and fittings to an existing piping system on board is straightforward. You can use flanges or threaded joints for a secure fit. Here’s how you can do it:

Flanges: Flanged connections provide a robust and leak-proof method to join pipes. They are ideal for high-pressure systems and allow easy disassembly for maintenance.

Threaded Joints: These are perfect for smaller pipe diameters and offer flexibility and ease of installation without the need for welding.

For joining diverse piping materials, we recommend using:

• UNI-Coupling: This patented solution prevents leakages and ensures high reliability and durability of joints. Its spherical profile on the patented anchoring grip ring provides a secure hold on the pipe, especially on hard surfaces such as thin-walled stainless steel and cast iron. UNI-Coupling enables an angular deflection of up to 2° in any pipe direction and is very easy to install, even in confined spaces.
  
  
• MULTI/JOINT: Connecting pipes of different diameters and materials quickly, safely, and simply, MULTI/JOINT offers a wide range for restraint and non-restraint connections. Thanks to the one-size-fits-all principle, stock costs can be saved. The joint is corrosion-resistant.

Our team of marine piping experts is ready to assist with your specific needs. For assistance in your project, please reach out to us here.