What Is Green Cast Iron?

Being environmentally responsible is everybody’s motto these days. Businesses as diverse as paper companies and carpet cleaners are all claiming to be green. Car companies and coffee companies claim to be green. Pipe foundries are no exception. Most pipe manufacturers have come a long way toward adopting production methods that keep the air and water clean. Some foundries, on the other hand,
claim to be “green” when, in fact, they are polluting the environment at an alarming rate. So, what does it mean for a foundry to be green?  First, truly green foundries (such as AB&I and Tyler Pipe) use 100% recycled, post consumer scrap iron as their raw material  By using recycled iron, these foundries eliminate the energy needed to mine iron ore and to convert it into a usable form. Offending foundries, most notably those in China, use pig iron as their raw material, requiring the mining, transporting of ore, production of pig (very energy intensive), then the transporting of that pig to the foundry many hundreds or thousands of miles away, melting the pig, then casting the product. Moreover, Chinese
foundries must then ship their products via ocean freight many thousands of miles, then ship their goods a second time via truck or train to their final destination. The energy consumed in this process creates a
tremendous negative impact on the environment, worldwide. Green foundries use efficient and
environmentally friendly furnaces to melt the scrap into liquid iron, suitable for molding. And, green foundries use the best available environmental systems to capture smoke and particulates and to clean the water. Many offshore foundries use old fashioned, open furnaces to melt their iron, without capturing any soot and other combustion products. Waste is often dumped into rivers or into the ground. These offshore foundries contribute to dramatically polluted air, water, and land.China may be a long way away, but we all breathe the same air!  When making buying decisions, customers are encouraged to consider products’ environmental impact. To buy Green, buy American.

Made In China?

I recently stumbled across this blog written by

Gary Ahlskog

It was very interesting.

Read it by clicking Made In China?

Inspectors Urged to Verify Cast Iron Compliance on Jobsites

The Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI) and ASTM are very serious about the standards they promote for cast iron soil pipe and fittings. The CISPI 301, ASTM A74 and A888 standards have been
developed over decades with a two-pronged goal: to promote standardization in product dimensions and composition, and to protect the public health, sanitation and safety. Mcwane takes these standards seriously, too; so seriously, in fact, that we go to great lengths to have our products inspected and certified by third parties to confirm compliance with all aspects of the standards. Unfortunately, not all international producers feel the need to be in compliance with these standards. Too often, material is showing up on job sites that does not meet the standard, and yet is passed through and installed on the job. Most of the time, this material is caught and rejected by the inspector or the contractor before it goes too far. Sometimes, however, this noncompliant material is discovered well into the installation phase, requiring tear-out and reinstallation with compliant material, an embarrassing and expensive proposition for all. Inspectors are encouraged to check the material on site to verify that it meets the standard. While the standards themselves are very clear on just what parameters must be met to meet the requirements, it has been difficult in the past for contractors and inspectors to tell which material is

compliant and which is not. This problem has been solved with McWane products; all one has to do is look for the CISPI and NSF marks on the product. If the marks are there, the product has been third-party tested and is confirmed compliant. If they’re not there, odds are the product may not meet the CISPI 301, ASTM A74 and A888 standards. It really is that simple.
 These standards require that all iron used in production be tested for radiation contamination. They also specify that the chemical composition of the iron remain within strict parameters. Too much or little of
this element or that, and the iron is rejected. The iron must be tested during production for tensile strength to ensure durability, and finished products are carefully examined to ensure that they meet the standard for dimensional integrity and accuracy. Tests for all these factors are done throughout the
production day, and results are documented and saved for 7 years. Additionally, pipe and fittings must be marked with the manufacturer’s name and country of origin. Pipe must also be marked with the date of manufacture to better enable production tracking. Check the pipe and fittings on the job sites  If they carry the marks of CISPI and NSF, they’re good to go. If they don’t, beware.

Why NSF-Certified Couplings Are Your Best Choice

No-hub couplings are available today from a wide range of sources, from traditional plumbing supply distributors to the big box stores. Like many other plumbing products on the market, couplings have a way of all looking alike, which leads many people to believe that they are all alike. But their similarities
stop at their looks. There is a huge difference in no-hub couplings, differences that engineers,contractors, inspectors and building owners should understand before selecting a coupling for use on their project.   When no-hub couplings first came onto the scene in the 1960s, the developers spent years researching the best materials and technologies for joining cast iron pipe and fittings. Many prototypes were discarded along the way for two main reasons: 1) they didn’t seal adequately, or 2) the materials broke down over time and would not last the life the building. Finally, after much trial and error, the design we know today as the no-hub coupling came into being, made from 300-series stainless steel with genuine neoprene gaskets. The design worked so well that the Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute developed a standard around it, CISPI 310, that survives to this very day.    “Other grades of steel just didn’t cut it,” said Gary Wickham, AB&I’s senior sales manager and technical go-to guy.
“The rubber and other polymer compounds used in early coupling gasket designs deteriorated too quickly. Only neoprene would stand up to the demands of commonly-found liquids and soils. That’s why all the standard couplings we sell meet CISPI 310.”   All of our standard couplings, made by Anaco/Tyler are made from series 300 stainless and use neoprene as the primary elastomer in the gaskets. Other brands, often imported and cheaper, have been shown to be made from inferior, corrosion-prone steel with gaskets that do not stand up.   To prove to the market that Anaco/Tyler couplings meet the standard in every detail, and are different from the other look-alike couplings, Tyler and Anaco had the couplings certified by NSF International, the world’s leading certification agency for plumbing products, proving that they meet CISPI 310. Couplings carrying the NSF mark give specifiers, contractors, inspectors and owners alike the peace of mind that comes from knowing
they’re using couplings that are made to last a lifetime and that will perform as promised.
   When used in conjunction with AB&I’s or Tyler pipes's NSF-certified cast iron pipe and fittings, these couplings complete a fully-certified system that is truly set apart from the competition.   Look for the NSF mark, and insist on certified couplings for your next job

Be Sure to Use the Right Torque Wrench on Couplings

We have learned over the years that some plumbers are using the same torque wrench 

to tighten standard no-hub couplings AND certain heavy-duty couplings, such as the Husky HD-2000. Both feature a 5/16” screw, but the standard couplings get torqued to 60in-lbs and the Husky HD-2000 and some other HD couplings should be torqued to 80in-lbs. If you’re using the same wrench for both, you’re doing one of them wrong!  Be sure to use the proper wrench for the coupling being installed

For more information please contact your EST Team member here

Why the Husky SD-4000 Is Your Best Choice for Heavy-Duty Couplings

The Husky SD-4000 was developed in the 1980s to meet the needs of plumbers and engineers for
a heavy-duty coupling suitable for underground, above ground, seismic, overhead, in-wall and stormwater applications where there are concerns about thrust forces, shear or deflection.
   The Husky SD-4000 was the first coupling to carry a corrugated shield, additional, wider clamping bands, and larger screws to accommodate higher torque forces. More Husky SD-4000 couplings have been sold and installed than any other heavy-duty brand, making Husky the go-to coupling when extra
sealing protection is required.    
   Engineers specify the Husky SD-4000 because they know it performs as advertised. They appreciate the high-quality 304 stainless steel, thicker shield, wider bands with additional torque standard,and floating eyelet design, which enables the bands to adjust during tightening. They also understand the
importance of the genuine Neoprene®gasket that truly meets the ASTM C564 standard (some competitive couplings use synthetic rubber or other rapidly deteriorating material). “It just flat works...”
   Plumbers like the ease of installation and rigidity of the coupling in pre-fab, as well as the solid reliability in the field.    
   There is a reason the Husky SD-4000 has become the industry standard for heavy-duty couplings. “It just flat works,” say both engineers and plumbers. That’s the highest compliment any coupling can get.

A Glimpse at the CISPI 301 Standard

Product Marking

In addition to requirements for radiation testing and iron composition,
the CISPI 301 standard requires that cast iron pipe and fittings carry specific markings to make the manufacturer readily identifiable in the event of a problem in the field.
   For pipe, these markings must include:
1) the manufacturer’s name (the ACTUAL manufacturer, not the distributor or importer)
2) the country of origin (where the pipe was cast, not where it was coated or painted)
3) additional trademarks that may indicate compliance with a given standard or certification by a third-party agency
4) the date of manufacture. Though not required by the standard, AB&I also marks the pipe with the time of manufacture to more closely track production parameters.
   Cast iron fittings are also required to be marked with the manufacturer’s name, country of origin, and applicable trademarks and insignia. Date of manufacture is not a required marking for fittings.

Kobe Beef, the NFL, and NSF International

We all know how important branding is. If you go to a restaurant for a steak and they feature Kobe beef, you know it’s going to be good. You don’t have to wonder. Kobe means quality, reliability and predictability. That brand also rubs off on the restaurant - any eatery that cares enough to serve Kobe probably does other things well, too.   Same thing with football. If you’re surfing through channels and hit on a game that says European Football League or some such, chances are you won’t watch it as eagerly as you would if it were an NFL game. Same reason. You know NFL players and teams are the best in the business. If you’re going to burn two hours watching a game, it has to be the best, or why bother?
   The Kobe and NFL brands tell you, in advance, that you’re getting a good product. These brands protect you against inferior quality that can waste both your time and your money

    Now consider NSF International, the testing and certification agency that serves the plumbing industry worldwide. Like Kobe and the NFL, NSF International has built a brand that stands for
quality. Plumbing products, like cast iron pipe, fittings, and couplings, that carry the NSF trademark have been thoroughly checked and tested to ensure that they meet the very highest standards. When an engineer specifies NSF-certified material, he or she knows they’re calling for the best in the business, products that will perform as promised, with no surprises or disappointments.   Like other brands that signify top quality, NSF International worked hard to build their reputation. Unlike some
other listing agencies, NSF International demands that products and manufacturing processes applying for certification undergo extensive testing over an extended period of time. The entire production cycle, from raw material to finished product and packaging, is closely examined for conformance to standards.
Products and processes that meet NSF International’s rigorous requirements are allowed to carry the NSF mark. Products that don’t are not. It really is that simple.   Gaining authorization to carry the
NSF mark is just the first step. Keeping that authorization requires manufacturers to maintain detailed records, and to submit to frequent, unannounced inspections of production facilities. If an inspector

finds a problem, bam, production stops until it can be resolved. No exceptions.   For specifiers, plumbing professionals and owners alike, seeing the NSF mark on pipe, fittings and couplings brings the peace of mind that comes from knowing they’ve done everything they can to ensure quality. The NSF mark is simply the best, most reliable way to judge the quality of a plumbing product in
 advance.  Now, pass the Kobe beef and turn on the NFL game. Only the best will do.