B17 · Firefighting & Plumbing
Stainless Steel Plates for Firefighting and Drainage: Selection Guide and 6 Part Lists
In firefighting and drainage, we have organized 6 parts using stainless steel: commonly used 304 / 316L with thickness ranging from 1.5–8 mm.
List of Parts and Materials for Six Locations
| Location / Part | Recommended Grade | Size / Thickness | Surface | Main Failure Modes | Reference Standards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Sprinkler/Pipe, Fire Hydrant Pipe | 304/316L | DN15–DN200 | Bright/Acid Pickling | Long-term Stagnation of Fire Water Cl⁻ Concentration + Pitting Corrosion | GB/T 19228.2；GB 50084；CECS 153 |
| Fire Pump/Valve/Fittings | 304/316L | By Equipment | Cast Surface/Grounding Surface/Treatment | Water Hammer+Corrosion+Fatigue | GB 6245；GB/T 3280 |
| Gas Sprinkler/Foam Sprinkler Pipe/Sprays | 304/316L | 2–8mm | Pickling/Oxidation | Agent Corrosion+Pressure Cycling | GB 50370；GB 50151 |
| Domestic Water Supply/Direct Drinking Water Pipe | 304/316L | DN15–DN100 | Bright | Cl⁻ Pitting + Disinfectant Corrosion | GB/T 19228.2；GB/T 17219 |
| Drainage Pipes/Lavatories/Inspection Holes | 304/316L | DN50–DN300 | 2B/Passivated | Corrosive wastewater + Crevice corrosion | GB/T 3280；CJ/T 186 |
| Solar water tank/Greenhouse heat exchanger | 304/316L | 1.5–4.0mm | 2B/Terracotta/Layered coating | High temp hot water+Cl⁻+Welding SCC | GB/T 3280；GB/T 19141 |
Specifications are listed here.Standard configuration. Part can switch between 304 and 316L or 2205 based on usage conditions—be more specific, not just specify the grade.
Material Selection Tips
- Most Common Grades: 304 (6), 316L (6)
- Corrosion Sources: Chlorides and Salts (3/6 hits)
- High Temperature Issues: Thermal Fatigue and Oxidation (2/6 hits) - Use 310S / Heat Resistant Castings
- Thickness range 1.5–8 mm: Thin plates are mostly formed parts (considering bend back-arc and deep drawing cracking), thick plates are mostly welded structures (considering heat input and sensitization).
Common Questions
Which stainless steel is used most for fire protection and drainage?
Out of the total 6 parts, 304 appears most frequently (6 times) followed by 316L (6 times). Specific to a part still depends on the medium and temperature, e.g., a stainless countertop that contacts salt water should switch from 304 to 316L.
What’s the most vulnerable part?
By failure description, typical is "fire sprinkler pipe/water main": prolonged stagnation of fire water leads to Cl⁻ concentration and pitting corrosion; reduced heat intensity during a fire; recommended grades 304/316L, size DN15–DN200. For this type of condition, specify medium concentration, temperature, and cleaning method in the design phase.
How thick should it be?
Thickness range in the list is 1.5–8 mm. Thin plates consider forming and surface quality, while thick plates look at welding strength and structural integrity; different manufacturers may have varying values for the same part, review your drawings or conditions to confirm.
Related materials and adjacent industries
Applications6
Thickness1.5–8mm