In both semiconductor manufacturing and the life science industry, purified water (PW), deionized water (DI) and ultrapurified water (UPW) play critical roles in final product quality. The specification of appropriate pipe materials and joining methods is an important consideration for MEP system engineers.

Typically, the design process begins with a review of the end-users water quality requirements. The list of established standards is large. Each has been developed to suit a given application. Some put the greatest emphasis on resistivity, while others prioritize total organic carbon (TOC), particles or bacterial loads. Fortunately, these standards can be broken down into three broad groups that align with Asahi/America's high purity pipe systems (see table 1). While there is some degree of flexibility, a specifier should take care to consider the available valves, pipe sizes and pressure ranges that can constrain the selection.

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