Chile Forum

In BC all sprinkler systems are iron and the pieces are cut then threaded on site, a die in the right size and proper OD iron pipe would solve the problem. When you bring in the sprinkler heads and t junctions, bring in the die, but you would have to use it or it may never get done, well it would never get done without indoor showers outside the bathrooms

admin wrote:Got a question. What is the Chilean pipe thread standard as compared to the American used NTP?

I know pipe sizes come in inches here as in 1/2, 3/4, 1 inch pipes. someone had mentioned sometime ago that the threading standard was different. They do have limited fittings in Chile refered to as "american", but have never been able to get any clarification on exactly what that means.

Reason I asked is I am looking to buy certain plumbing parts in the states. Most immediately of concern is residential fire sprinkler heads with 1/2 or 3/4 inch NTP threading. Now, I could buy a cpvc connector or whatever and ship them also, but being Chile and all, I always want to have a plan B if something does not fit at the last moment. One of those, don't want to be short a 2 dollar part for the system and prefer to have more options, rather than having to wait to ship something again.

I am sort of inclined to buy just one, take it to sodimac, and see what fits with it.

Check the CL supplier, catalogue or Sodimac or whoever, for description of the available material since Chile typically uses the ANSI system - here are the CL explanations of the ANSI abbreviations and you already know the English equivalents.

Especificación de roscas

Las roscas de tubería se especifican dando el diámetro nominal del tubo, el número de hilos por pulgada y el símbolo literal estándar que designa el tipo de rosca. Se usan los siguientes símbolos ANSI:

NPT = rosca cónica para tubo

NPTF = rosca cónica para tubo (de sellado o cierre en seco)

NPS = rosca recta para tubo

NPSC = rosca recta para tubo, en coples o acoplamiento

NPSI = rosca recta interna intermedia para tubo (de sellado o cierre en seco)

NPSF = rosca recta interna para tubo (de sellado o cierre en seco)

NPSM = rosca recta de tubo para juntas mecánicas

NPSL = rosca recta de tubo para tuercas fijadoras y roscas de tubo para dichas tuercas

NPSH = rosca recta de tubo para coples y nicles de manguera

NPTR = rosca cónica de tubo para accesorios para baranda

admin wrote:while we are on the subject of plumbing, has anyone run up against the new enforcement (believe there has always been a requirement, just not enforced) of having a chlorination systems for rural well systems?

The reason I ask is I had a couple neighbors that were building houses down the road from me mention that they could not get building permits because they are now enforcing the requirements they submit as part of their water system plans a chlorination system (including tank). Of course they went and built anyway, but was curious as what they the building departments are accepting.

Seems it does not matter if the water coming out of the tap is completely clean (tested it myself), someone in Santiago decided that rural well water in the south should be as contaminated with chemicals as the tap water all the politicians have to drink. A couple people said they are not accepting any alternatives to the use of chlorine systems.

thats stupid...............................................

If you keep your well tested, and maybe use a UV filter that should be ample, i would install for the permit but never refill the chlorine!

admin wrote:while we are on the subject of plumbing, has anyone run up against the new enforcement (believe there has always been a requirement, just not enforced) of having a chlorination systems for rural well systems?

The reason I ask is I had a couple neighbors that were building houses down the road from me mention that they could not get building permits because they are now enforcing the requirements they submit as part of their water system plans a chlorination system (including tank). Of course they went and built anyway, but was curious as what they the building departments are accepting.

Seems it does not matter if the water coming out of the tap is completely clean (tested it myself), someone in Santiago decided that rural well water in the south should be as contaminated with chemicals as the tap water all the politicians have to drink. A couple people said they are not accepting any alternatives to the use of chlorine systems.

I can see them wanting a blanket provision, I have seen 8 foot deep wells beside heavily used cow pastures, can you say e-coli, because you can hit the water table at 8 feet doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to use the water for household use. But I would have no problem as long as it was a deep well and away from any possible organic contamination. Heavy metals I would test for and not use the water if unacceptable, farm runoff is another thing entirely. I think they accept ozonation , I know someone on Chiloe who put it in and it passed, but thats Chiloe.

You should always chlorinate water, even water that is generated by evaporation should be chlorinated, to protect against any germs and disease in tanks, piping and even the taps themselves. Often you'll find the water is clean and just pics up some discoloration in old piping, discloration does not mean the water is harmful. UV Filtering is good for killing bugs in large flows of water, we have an industrial sized uv unit on board the vessel, but they can be expensive and are not required in the same way as chlorination, they are really an additional feature from what i've seen.

If yur building or boring a well, you should have holding tanks, that way if your well dries up unexpectidley (always possible, amounts of water from bore holes are only predictions, similar to oil wells) you will have a supply left in the tank, you can then chlorinate what water you will use for consumption, but if it is for only showering and toilets i'd be surprised the legislation says you have to chlorinate. Personaly I would consume bottle water and only use your well for cleaning teeth, showering, toilets, swimming pool, anything thats not going to upset your stomach!

Referance to the pipe threads, go to a descent plumbers, they should be able to tell you very quick, and if its unusual hopefully they will have a thread guage and be able to measure it. If its small copper piping not a problem, steel or iron piping youll want to be using pipe die and so require a plumber or friend with the right dies, not worth buying dies for a one off job.

admin wrote:....enforcement for rural wells and communities....

We have nonpotable water in our little community. Everybody knows it's nonpotable: it runs through an open trench for half a km after seeping down from the ridge near the frontier with Argentina, and gawd knows what sorts of animal pastures. There used to be a large dam and good quality water, but, well, you know what the Luddites say about patagonia sin represas. Now the water is full of silt and animalcules. There is no effort on the part of any government agency to make it potable, nor any government demands that we make it potable. Oh, yes, there is no sewage treatment for the community either, just a stinking pit at the end of the community pipe.

Welcome to the real Patagonia.

I mentioned once or twice that I used to work on a ship that went in and out of Punta Arenas (PA) harbor. They used to make us sort our trash while at sea, then we brought it back to port where the nice Chilean folks took it and dumped in back in one receptacle and threw it in an uncovered land fill...

Catchi wrote:I mentioned once or twice that I used to work on a ship that went in and out of Punta Arenas (PA) harbor. They used to make us sort our trash while at sea, then we brought it back to port where the nice Chilean folks took it and dumped in back in one receptacle and threw it in an uncovered land fill...

MARPOL regulations and general shipping company policies dictate you have to seperate your garbage, it can be helpful, glass and metals can be dumped at sea, also food. Things like copper and aluminium can be sold for a good amount in Chile. But what you saying about port authorities dumping all your bins into one truck then a landfil is generally an international thing I find, the regulations stop when the garbage leaves the ship.

http://www.boat-ed.com/images/drawings/garbage_chart.jpg

Admin, if you ever have fear of germs in your pipeline or such, you can buy water test kits for a few dollars before going and super chlorinating your whole system too.