North Texas Plumbing Reflects On The Effect Of Inflation On The Cost Of Medical Gas Piping Installation

Dallas Fort Worth-based medical gas plumber North Texas Plumbing is commenting on what medical gas facilities, that are currently undergoing construction or infrastructure revamps in North Texas, can expect in the coming months following the resurgence in the price of essential raw materials such as copper.

Medical gas plumbing installations are the lifeblood of facilities that provide urgent and long-term medical care to patients suffering from serious or even life-threatening conditions. This includes hospitals, medical offices, health care facilities, emergency rooms, veterinary offices, veterinary surgical centers, operating rooms, and more. A constant uninterrupted supply of medical gases is considered one of the most important tools in the arsenal of licensed medical professionals who work hard to save and improve the lives of their patients.

Medical gas piping installations need to use copper piping due to the chemical composition of the metal which makes it perfectly suited for the task. There are two types of copper plumbing that are used in medical gas piping setups - Type K which is thicker and heavier and Type L which has a thinner copper wall. Both these types meet the requirements for positive pressure medical gas installation as suggested by the NFPA 99 standard. The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 99 standard establishes criteria for levels of health care services or systems based on risk to the patients, staff, or visitors in health care facilities to minimize the hazards of fire, explosion, and electricity. Copper piping is always used to deliver medical-grade gases from a utility room where they are stored in tanks to rooms where they are needed.

Inflation has been at the forefront of every policy and business conversation in public and private enterprises in the country since the start of 2021 when it started rearing its ugly head. Copper prices also swung wildly upwards since the start of the 2020 pandemic to adjust for lower demand due to reduced economic activity. The price of copper in USD per lbs hit its absolute maximum in March 2022. Since the price of the raw material that goes into manufacturing medical gas piping increased dramatically, those expenses greatly inflated the budgets that medical facilities around the country had to accommodate for building or maintaining their infrastructure. Since hitting its 5-year high in March 2022, prices have fallen considerably. In July 2022, it had fallen to the level it was in February 2021. However, the last few months have seen another smaller surge though the price has not risen anywhere close to what it was in March 2022.

Marc Sims, owner and Master Plumber at North Texas Plumbing, commented on what administrators and owners of medical facilities in Texas should expect and plan for by saying, “We are no experts in macro-economics and can’t predict where the prices of the raw materials will be in a few months for now. However, with the steady fall in the price of copper, this is the best time for you to undertake the medical gas plumbing installation projects that are a critical part of your facility’s infrastructure. If you need to upgrade your existing setup or have it inspected, you will get to enjoy the benefits of falling prices. Regardless of the task that you have planned, you can rest assured that when you call North Texas Plumbing for your medical gas plumbing installation needs, we will always deliver the best possible services at the most competitive cost in the current market.”

North Texas Plumbing has a stellar reputation in the local Dallas Fort Worth community for the services it provides. The company’s exceptional work quality and friendly customer service have been acknowledged in the feedback that it has received over the years from North Texas homeowners as well as commercial clients. The company currently has a perfect 5.0 rating on its Google My Business listing from over 10 reviews. Along with plumbing for medical gas, North Texas Plumbing also offers other plumbing services such as plumbing for property managers and grease trap installations.