Features & Benefits
Economic Benefits
A Process Life-Cycle Approach
The material selection process will often consider much more than simply material cost. A process life-cycle analysis will include an evaluation of many factors, including the following:
- Material cost
- Fabrication labor
- Installation/erection labor
- Process requirements/layout
- Operating cost
- Maintenance cost
- Equipment service life
- Replacement cost
To quantify true life-cycle costs is nearly impossible due to the huge array of variables to be considered, especially after system installation. However, quantifying total installed cost of a system is possible using standard project estimating techniques. These estimates can be used to compare installed costs of a given system using different materials of construction. Beyond installed cost, a qualitative comparison can be done to evaluate the relative costs that are expected to be incurred throughout the life of the system. A detailed study of the installed cost of model piping systems was published in Chemical Engineering, January, 1993. This study considers all of the key costs that will be incurred during project installation, including fabrication and labor costs. Corzan® CPVC compares very favorably to all other materials of construction due partly to the reasonable material cost, but primarily because of its relative ease of fabrication and installation.
Qualitative factors that can be considered to compare other life-cycle costs include corrosion resistance, ease of repair/retrofit, and operating costs. The superior corrosion resistance of Corzan CPVC will compare favorably to other materials when considering the impact on service life and the need for future maintenance, including process down-time. The ability to solvent cement Corzan™ Industrial Systems enables labor-saving repairs and modifications with minimum impact on process up-time. Finally, the relatively low coefficient of friction of Corzan CPVC and its ability to avoid corrosive build-up will help minimize pumping and other fluid handling power costs. Overall, Corzan Industrial Systems are an excellent choice for many process applications because of their excellent life-cycle economics.
