What is the best pipe for compressed air?

Aluminium and stainless steel are generally considered the best materials for compressed air piping due to their corrosion resistance, smooth internal surfaces, and durability. Aluminium is lightweight and easy to install, while stainless steel offers maximum strength and cleanliness.

What is aluminium pipe used for?

Aluminium pipes are widely used for compressed air and gas distribution systems, especially in industrial settings. They are also used for transporting other non corrosive fluids and gases.

Why use aluminium pipe for compressed air?

Aluminium pipes are corrosion resistant, lightweight, and easy to install. Their smooth internal surface reduces friction and pressure loss, improving efficiency. They are also modular and can be easily reconfigured or expanded as needed.

How much psi can aluminium piping hold?

The pressure rating depends on the pipe’s design, diameter, and manufacturer specifications. Many industrial aluminium piping systems are rated for typical compressed air pressures (around 150 to 200 psi), but always verify the rating for your specific system.

How do I size an aluminium compressed air pipe?

To size a compressed air pipe, you need to consider the required flow rate, operating pressure, pipe length, and allowable pressure drop. It is best to consult a sizing chart or use a pipe sizing calculator, and work with a compressed air expert to ensure optimal performance.

What is the best pipe for compressed air?

Aluminium and stainless steel are generally considered the best materials for compressed air piping due to their corrosion resistance, smooth internal surfaces, and durability. Aluminium is lightweight and easy to install, while stainless steel offers maximum strength and cleanliness.

What is aluminium pipe used for?

Aluminium pipes are widely used for compressed air and gas distribution systems, especially in industrial settings. They are also used for transporting other non corrosive fluids and gases.

Why use aluminium pipe for compressed air?

Aluminium pipes are corrosion resistant, lightweight, and easy to install. Their smooth internal surface reduces friction and pressure loss, improving efficiency. They are also modular and can be easily reconfigured or expanded as needed.

How much psi can aluminium piping hold?

The pressure rating depends on the pipe’s design, diameter, and manufacturer specifications. Many industrial aluminium piping systems are rated for typical compressed air pressures (around 150 to 200 psi), but always verify the rating for your specific system.

How do I size an aluminium compressed air pipe?

To size a compressed air pipe, you need to consider the required flow rate, operating pressure, pipe length, and allowable pressure drop. It is best to consult a sizing chart or use a pipe sizing calculator, and work with a compressed air expert to ensure optimal performance.

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Aluminium Air Piping

Q: How much does compressed air piping cost per foot?

The cost varies depending on the pipe material, diameter, installation complexity, and local labour rates. Budget for both the material and installation, and consider the long term benefits of quality piping in reducing leaks and pressure drops.

Aluminium air piping provides the ultimate compressed air reticulation. With the superior Alu Air range, you will see high performance and a longer-lasting, reliable solution. The thin walled pipe construction makes for very high air flow rates and when compared to poly pipe, will transfer up to twice the airflow for the same outside wall diameter. For industries that demand performance and longevity, aluminium air pipe ensures superior durability and corrosion resistance. And with our in-house capability to create 3D views of air piping routes, it's easier than ever to include detailed drawings in your plans.

High performance aluminium air piping

Alu Air aluminium piping is designed to make your compressed air reticulation perform better and stay reliable for longer. Building on the high flow and durability you get from the thin walled aluminium tube, the full system adds a range of practical benefits for day to day operation and future upgrades.

Higher air flow and lower pressure loss
The smooth internal bore and thin wall design allow more air to move through the same outside diameter compared with poly pipe. This helps keep system pressure up at the point of use and reduces wasted energy at the compressor.
Light, rigid pipework with fewer supports
Aluminium pipe is light to handle but holds its shape well, so it needs fewer brackets and does not sag over long runs. This helps prevent low spots where condensate can collect and protects downstream tools and equipment.
Corrosion resistant and long lasting
The aluminium material and protective coating provide excellent resistance to rust, so the inside of the pipe stays clean in both indoor plant rooms and more exposed areas around the site. This supports better air quality and longer service life.
Fire resistant performance
The Alu Air system is very resistant to heat and offers a fireproof option for many workshops and processing environments, adding peace of mind where safety is a priority.
Fast installation with push on fittings
For small to medium pipe sizes, reusable push on fittings make it quick to cut, connect and reconfigure lines without welding or hot work. This helps reduce installation time and makes changes easier as your plant grows.
Secure joints on larger mains with double locking clamps
On larger diameter mains, alloy fittings use a double locking clamp design that creates a strong mechanical joint while still allowing sections to be removed and reused when layouts change.

Together, these benefits mean an Alu Air system can deliver higher performance, cleaner air and easier expansion over time. If you want more detail on diameters, pressure ratings and fittings, you can download the Alu Air brochure on this page or talk to our team about matching pipe sizes to your compressor and air demand.

How much does compressed air piping cost per foot?

We do not quote a simple cost per metre or per foot because every compressed air piping installation is different. The total price depends on pipe diameter and length, layout, materials, environmental conditions and the amount of installation work required.

In our article on compressed air piping costs, we give example complete Alu Air systems such as a 20 metre by 10 metre ring main estimated at around 4,380 to 8,000 NZD plus GST installed, and a larger 80 metre by 40 metre ring main at around 22,000 to 32,000 NZD plus GST. For a figure that reflects your plant, it is better to use our tools or request a quote rather than work from a generic per foot rate.

You can read more in our article on compressed air piping costs

What is the best pipe to use for air lines?

For most industrial compressed air systems, we recommend aluminium air piping such as our Alu Air range. Compared with poly or traditional steel pipe, aluminium piping provides higher air flow for the same outside diameter, very low internal friction, good corrosion resistance and no risk of sagging that can trap water.

These properties help maintain stable pressure, reduce energy use and keep air quality higher over the life of the system. Alu Air is also suitable for many inert gas and higher pressure applications, which makes it a versatile choice across different industries.

You can see more about our aluminium air piping on this page.

How to calculate the correct compressed air pipe size?

We size compressed air pipework by looking at your air demand and the layout of your plant, rather than relying on a single rule of thumb.

The key inputs are your compressor output in CFM, the distance to the furthest outlet, the material you plan to use and how the piping will be routed around the building.

Our online piping calculator asks for these details and uses them to calculate a recommended pipe diameter, then sends the results to you by email.

For more complex sites, our projects team can also design the layout and pipe sizes for you as part of a full plant installation. You can start by using our piping calculator.

How much psi can an aluminium pipe hold?

Our aluminium piping range is rated for working pressures up to 40 bar on the larger diameter system, provided it is installed and used within the published specifications. Forty bar is roughly equivalent to 580 psi.

The exact allowable pressure for your installation will depend on the pipe diameter, fittings and overall system design, so you should always refer to the technical data for the specific products you are using or discuss your requirements with us before you finalise the design.

How to size a pipe for compressed air?

Sizing a compressed air pipe is about matching the diameter to the flow and pressure you need at the tools, while keeping pressure drop within acceptable limits.

We start by looking at your compressor capacity in CFM, the layout of the building, whether you need a ring main or straight runs and how many outlets will be drawing air at once.

Our Alu Air system is available in diameters from 20 millimetres up to 250 millimetres, so we can select a main size and dropper sizes that carry the required airflow without excessive velocity or energy loss. In practice this sizing is done using our piping calculator and design tools rather than a single simple formula, which is why we encourage customers to have our team review each site.

Excellent service. Your guys have all been very, very good. You were willing to work around our production needs and come out in the middle of the night to get amongst the rats!

Rodney, CID Resource Recovery

We’ve been staying with these guys because they have the right skills and experience.

Joe, Ritchies

Top-rate service. I would recommend your company. I hope we get Paul every time!

Ian, Agvance

We had an issue with the compressor which these guys fixed. We’re very pleased with Industrial Air Systems. They reacted quickly, kept the unit running while a part was sourced and then fixed it quickly. When we’re looking at any upgrades Industrial Air Systems will be our first port of call.

Nigel, SAS

You ticked all the boxes. Your guys were great. You come in, do the job and leave a pack of biscuits!

Reuben, Oceania Meat Processors

Paul has done a very nice job installing the pipework, it looks awesome. I’m glad that you recommended the aluminium pipe.

Steve, Straight-N-Paint

We have found Industrial Air Systems very good to deal with and very professional. Good service at a good price. I would not hesitate to recommend Industrial Air Systems to any company considering using them.

Maintenance Manager, McCains Foods, Hastings

[Your tech] is a great guy to work with, he has great knowledge with all the gear and is always there when we need him. All the guys here at VIP love working with him.

Operations Manager, VIP Steel Christchurch

We have had a good experience working with Industrial Air Systems – they are easy to do business with and we have no hesitation recommending them to companies wanting an efficient and economical supply for compressed air.

Mike (General Manager), National Springs & Wire Products NZ Ltd

We have found their service team very responsive and excellent to work with, and from our good experience we would recommend Industrial Air Systems to any company requiring compressed air in the future.

Peter (Operations Manager), Allegion

We are very happy with the airlines and the setup. The whole process was easy and we received great communication from you and the team. Your contractor was also great to deal with and did a very tidy job of the install.