Installing The Proper Beverage CHASE System Category: Commercial Architects
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Bernard M. Licata
COLOMBO Sales & Engineering, Inc.
http://www.beveragechase.com
bernard@beveragechase.com
Getting the Proper Conduit / Beverage CHASE® System Installed Underground for the Beverage Industry is a Challenge.
In every industry, one of the worst nightmares is a field failure. Field failures often result in warranty work and a damaged reputation for the contractor or manufacturer. In addition, field failures may result in a loss of sales and lawsuits. Until recently the installation of a beverage CHASE® or conduit system, was not well defined.
State of art for a below ground systems has historically been constructed of PVC. While PVC is most appropriate for drains it is not the correct material for an Underground CHASE®. Unfortunately, a substantial percentage of these installations eventually fail. This is due to the fact that PVC is a brittle material and has a tendency to crack or fissure with ground or building shift or settling. Groundwater or seepage from under a bar or kitchen can accumulate in a PVC conduit and be the quick demise of beverage trunk line that this CHASE® is intended to serve.
Beverage trunk line installers have graphically described the condition of soured and spoiled beverage lines they have had to replace. Not a pretty sight or smell; and clearly not a condition the health inspector would be pleased to encounter.
Fast food and other restaurants or food and beverage venues have abandoned Underground CHASE® because of this problem. Some have gone to overhead systems to accommodate their needs.
The beverage industry is embracing COLOMBO’s revolutionary new approach to underground CHASE®. The new product trademarked STOUTi.e.® Underground CHASE® is made of a flexible, plastic material that is now available. Pre-assembled, with long radius bends in lengths up to 25 feet can be delivered to a jobsite and simply ‘droped into a trench’. Longer lengths are available to be joined in the field.
The efficiency of running beer and soda beverage trunk line, underground instead of overhead is an overall cost saving to owners. Underground lines use gravity assist vs having to pump the liquids overhead. Also, the underground CHASE® maintains more stable temperatures by avoiding the heat transfer that occurs in the overhead installation. This issue alone is a great value to beverage industry and their customers.
Plumbing Engineers can now specify and Contractors can now procure the correct material for underground Beverage CHASE®. The new STOUTi.e®. Underground CHASE® product is available in:
· 6" and 8" diameters.
· Pre-assembled chase in lengths up to 25 feet.
· With long radius bends up to Ninety degrees
· Straight lengths of material with field installable fusion joins are now available
In addition to reducing failures STOUTi.e®. Underground CHASE® provides the industry with ease of installation. The beverage industry NEEDS CHASE® that provides long radius sweeping bends. Ideally 30” to 36” radius bends will accommodate most applications. The industry also has a NEED for joints that are smooth inside. (No bumps or sharp edges.) The reason being that they pull a trunk line through this chase that delivers your cold draft beer or soda to the faucet. These trunk lines sometimes have copper glycol coolant lines incorporated into them to keep beer cold from the keg to the faucet. The trunk line, while flexible is extremely difficult, and at times impossible to pull through an improperly constructed CHASE®.
Having the correct specification and the correct Beverage CHASE®. System materials available simplifies the entire task. Long radius bends are a must.
The proper chase underground is no longer a challenge. MEP Engineers may specify and installing contractors may now identify and purchase the proper CHASE® for beverage industry applications.
Information for this article provided by Bernard M. Licata, VP Business Development, COLOMBO Sales & Engineering, Inc. Ferndale, MI.
Visit www.beveragechase.com for more information on COLOMBO BeverageCHASE® Systems, 800-547-2820
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