What Is 316L Stainless Steel?
316L is an austenitic stainless steel grade. Compared with common 304 stainless steel, 316L includes molybdenum, which improves resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion, especially where chlorides may be present.
The "L" means low carbon. That helps reduce sensitisation risk and supports corrosion resistance in welded or formed products.
For Ridgeline, the important point is simple:
The water path is a corrosion-resistant 316L stainless steel surface.
Why Stainless Steel Is Used In Hygienic Industries
Stainless steel is widely used in:
- food processing
- breweries
- dairies
- pharmaceutical equipment
- medical and laboratory equipment
- premium water bottles
- marine fittings
Those industries use stainless steel because it is durable, cleanable, corrosion resistant and stable in demanding environments.
Ridgeline applies that same material logic to domestic and light-commercial water distribution.
Why 316L Instead Of 304?
304 stainless steel is common and useful, but 316L is the more robust choice where corrosion resistance matters.
The molybdenum in 316L improves resistance to chloride-related corrosion. In a building, the water path may be benign, but the pipe also lives in contact with real construction environments: voids, screeds, plaster, insulation, dampness and temperature cycling.
Using 316L is a long-term material decision.
Drinking-Water Contact
For potable water systems, the material and fitting system must be suitable for use with drinking water. Ridgeline supports that with WRAS and KIWA documentation available on the technical downloads page.
The polyethylene cover on Ridgeline tube is outside the stainless steel. It is not the water-contact surface. Internally, drinking water touches the 316L stainless steel tube.
Corrosion Resistance
The Drinking Water Inspectorate notes that pipe and fitting corrosion can contribute to leaks, loss of capacity and deterioration of water quality. Material selection therefore matters over the lifetime of a plumbing system.
316L stainless steel forms a passive chromium-oxide layer at the surface. This passive layer is central to stainless steel's corrosion resistance.
Ridgeline's material proposition is:
- corrosion-resistant 316L stainless steel
- no internal plastic water-contact surface
- long continuous tube
- fewer fittings behind walls
- whole-home water applications
Applications
Ridgeline 316L stainless steel tube is used for:
- hot water
- cold water
- heating flow and return
- heat-pump flow and return
- risers and distribution runs
- final connections via Ridgeline Flexis
- underfloor heating via Ridgeline Underfloor
How This Differs From Rigid Stainless Pipe
Traditional stainless steel pipe can be rigid, specialist and expensive to install.
Ridgeline is different because it is corrugated stainless steel supplied in coils. It is designed to be routed through normal building spaces without turning every direction change into a fitting.
This is the core idea:
Premium stainless steel material. Practical flexible installation.
FAQs
316L stainless steel can be suitable for drinking-water applications where the specific product and fitting system are approved and correctly installed. Ridgeline provides relevant technical and approval documents in the downloads library.
316L includes molybdenum, giving better resistance to pitting and chloride-related corrosion than 304. That makes it a stronger choice for long-life water systems.
All materials have limits, but 316L stainless steel is highly corrosion resistant in normal potable water environments when correctly specified and installed.
No. Ridgeline is corrugated 316L stainless steel tube supplied in coils. It routes flexibly while keeping a stainless steel water path.