How have thermo plastic piping systems fared against the dominant preference for steel?
The use of ABS pipes for HVAC applications has been gaining momentum in the region. But in the past 5-7 months, the market has really started picking up, mainly driven by the spurt in steel prices. When contractors bid for a project, the same normally gets awarded after a few months. The key issue is being able to predict by how much the steel prices would go up in few months. When you get a steel price that is valid only for a few days, how can you expect to win the job and execute it on budget? The uncertainty in steel prices is a major concern for both the contractors and the consultants. In comparison, ABS pipe prices are more stable. When you bid for a project now using ABS prices, you can expect to buy the product at the same tender rates. Plastic pipes also score over steel from an availability point of view. The waiting time is almost half of that of steel. Furthermore, ABS has faster installation time than steel. You are not just saving on the initial supply period but also on
