PP heating pipe which one to choose. Heating pipes made of polypropylene: types of products, overview of manufacturers and cost

The repair of heating pipelines must be approached responsibly. The durability and correct functioning of the system depends on the quality of materials and the strength of their installation. The market leaders in this area today are polypropylene materials, which are not inferior in strength to metal ones.

Polypropylene pipes began to be used for heating systems relatively recently. Before this, their place was taken by solid steel pipes. Such structures were connected by welding, were durable, but difficult to install and expensive to manufacture.

Polypropylene pipes have gone through a number of important metamorphoses over their short history. Polypropylene itself does not have the heat resistance that the companies developing it expected. That is why the first heat-conducting systems with such pipes quickly fell into disrepair, and they began to be skeptical about the material itself.

For now polypropylene pipes significantly improved. There are various models that are used to serve cold and hot water, heat supply and sewage disposal. When carrying out repairs, it is important to choose pipes that are designed for specific purposes, otherwise the structure will not be suitable for use.

It is important! At the moment, there are many companies producing and selling pipes for heating systems. It is advisable to buy pipes along with all components from official suppliers in specialized stores, since there are many low-quality fakes.

Types of PPR pipes

Polypropylene pipes are used in various areas, but not all are suitable for heating. In pursuit of cheap material, you may buy the wrong type of pipe that could withstand hot water under pressure. It is important to be able to distinguish one type of pipe from another.

The classification of polypropylene pipes is as follows:

• RR-N. This is the first generation of polypropylene pipes. This model has all the properties of the base material. PP-N are hermetically sealed and resistant to high pressure; in addition, they do not enter into chemical reactions. However, melting of such a pipe can begin already at a temperature of 50 ͒ C. Such pipes are used in cold water supply systems, ventilation and for industrial purposes;
• RR-V. During the production of this type, the formula of the material was slightly changed. The pipes turned out to be stronger and more durable, but they still could not withstand temperature fluctuations. Such pipes have the advantages of previous generation and, in addition, better withstand the effects of hot temperatures. However, they are unsuitable for heating systems and even hot water supply. Such pipes are often used in sewer construction;
• PP-R. In the production of these pipes, in addition to polypropylene, ethylene is used. This allows them to withstand high temperature loads. In addition, such pipes, as a rule, are reinforced, which allows them to withstand temperatures of more than 100 ͒ C. Reinforced PP-R pipes are the most suitable option for the heating system.

For each of us, heating systems in a house or apartment, in most cases, are metal lines that entangle all heated rooms. Only quite recently, in new buildings, in private houses and cottages, new consumables began to be used - polypropylene pipes for heating. It is mainly made from metal pipes, less often metal-plastic, while in private small house construction polypropylene is increasingly being used for these purposes.

Heating pipes made of polypropylene, which appeared quite recently, have already proven in practice their high efficiency and reliability. Thanks to the use synthetic materials, it was possible to radically simplify the solution to the problem of arranging heating circuits in home heating systems. The technical characteristics of pipelines made from consumables of this type are fully consistent with the technological parameters of modern heating equipment. Price and long-term uninterrupted operation have brought polypropylene pipes to the first positions in the segment of thermal technology and equipment.

What is the reason for such popularity of new consumables for heating circuits? What is the secret of the high manufacturability of polypropylene pipelines?

Why polypropylene? What are the features of this material?

With the advent of polymers, the thermal industry received a number of undeniable advantages. Technologies used in production today have made it possible to produce new consumables in large quantities. Due to high technology, it was possible to achieve low cost of finished products. The polymer obtained as a result of physicochemical thermoplastic reactions has unique physical properties, is cheap and durable. became one of the latest “know-how”, which has successfully found its application in the field of heating technology.

High-quality polypropylene pipes from European manufacturers mean ease of installation, strength and heat resistance. You can buy polypropylene pipes for heating on the website https://agpipe.ru.

Today it is becoming fashionable to use such material. Bribes specifications and manufacturability of polypropylene. With the help of polypropylene products, consumables and components, you can equip almost any water system heating, both in terms of configuration complexity and length. You definitely won’t be able to do this with metal pipes.

On a note: if we compare the cost of materials and installation of a metal heating system pipeline in a private house with similar work that uses synthetic products, the latter wins in price.

The main advantages lie in the material itself. Polypropylene, or as it is commonly called, thermoplastic, is a substance that changes its plasticity as a result of changes in ambient temperature. At high temperatures, up to 140 0 C, polypropylene becomes soft and plastic; at a temperature already at 175 0 C, the thermoplastic begins to melt, losing its structure. Accordingly, at temperatures up to 120 0 C, the material is able to retain its basic physical characteristics and properties.

Knowing about such physical properties of polypropylene, a question involuntarily arises. Can the substance be used to make heating system pipelines? For water heating, where boiler water can reach a maximum of 95 0 C, the use of such material is an ideal option.

The only point you should pay attention to is the coefficient thermal expansion. With prolonged contact with hot water, circulating along highways, polypropylene can change its usual shape. Therefore, when choosing components for a heating system, always look at the markings of the pipes. Each product is marked accordingly, i.e. The pipe contains data on the scope of application of the product.

On a note: for ordinary polypropylene pipes, the thermal elongation is 10 cm per 1 m. For reinforced, reinforced polypropylene pipes, this figure is much less, only 1 cm per 1 m.

Heating can only be equipped using special polypropylene products based on a reinforcing layer.

Polypropylene pipes for heating have the following advantages:

• multilayer structure ensures successful interaction with high temperatures;
• simple and easy installation, waste-free production;
• light weight;
• there is no need to paint the finished pipeline;
• environmental and technological safety;
• the presence of low hydraulic resistance;
• absence of blockages and salt deposits in the pipelines;
• dielectric properties of the material;
• long service life.

Do not forget that, unlike collet and coupling connections, metal structures, polypropylene lines are joined together by diffuse welding. The connections are thus strong, stable and airtight. Polypropylene pipes can be used in any room for cold and hot water supply, for the installation of warm water floors and radiator heating lines.

On a note: The use of these materials for central heating systems in regions with low temperatures is not recommended. Combination low temperatures, the coolant reaches its boiling point and high pressure may cause a rupture of the heating circuit made of polypropylene. When working with autonomous boilers, which provide for adjusting the heating temperature of the coolant, it is possible to use polypropylene pipes.

Reinforced polypropylene pipes - ideal for heating systems

Among the variety of polypropylene consumables, only some products can be used for heating systems. To the question of which polypropylene pipes are better for heating, the answer is clear. Optimal choice– These are reinforced polypropylene consumables.

Conventional polypropylene pipes are not able to withstand high temperatures normally. Such a line will sag due to thermal elongation and lose its attractiveness. Such products, at the very least, are suitable for the installation of low-temperature heating systems. Warm water floors with such consumables will serve for a long time and reliably. Due to the fact that in these heating systems the heating temperature of the coolant is not high, thermal elongation does not play such a critical role. In addition, the water circuit is most often walled up in concrete screed and is less susceptible to deformation.

The rest of the products produced and offered for sale have various areas of application, while reinforced products are designed mainly for DHW systems and heating. A heating circuit for a single-circuit or double-circuit heating circuit will have better performance in all respects if it is made of reinforced polypropylene. Its marking is PPR-AL-PPR or PPR-FB-PPR, where R means random copolymer, and AL and FB are reinforcing components, aluminum or fiberglass. Therefore, when purchasing, you should pay attention to all the inscriptions, symbols and numbers that are printed on polypropylene pipes for heating.

The random copolymer has high degree crystallization, therefore, due to the inclusion of this compound in the polymer, polypropylene of high strength and stability is formed. It is this synthetic compound that is the basis for the manufacture of water heating pipes. Additional reinforcement only improves performance characteristics Supplies. It is easy to work with such pipes directly on site, and installation of a pipeline from PPR pipes does not require the use of special tools.

In practical terms, we can say that polypropylene pipes are used almost everywhere where there is a need to provide water or other liquids. However, multilayer products are intended for the heating circuit.

On a note: single-layer, homogeneous pipes with a nominal pressure of PN10 are used for low-temperature heating systems. Heated floors work great if the water circuits are laid using loops made of ordinary polypropylene. For heated floors, the maximum heating temperature of the coolant is 50 0 C, which is quite consistent technical parameters ordinary thermoplastic.

In all other cases, when a coolant with a high heating temperature is used, polybutene or. The layers in synthetic channels can be solid or perforated, i.e. in the form of a sieve, with round holes. All this is done with only one purpose, to reduce the effect of high temperatures on polypropylene and reduce thermal expansion.

For example, by comparing the coefficients of thermal expansion of a conventional, homogeneous material and a pipe with an aluminum layer or fiberglass.

In the first case, the thermal expansion values ​​will be 0.15%, while for reinforced products these figures are only 0.03%. The difference between pipes reinforced with aluminum foil and fiberglass is small, only 5-6%. So, both consumables are good.

The only difference is that when installing a pipeline, aluminum-reinforced products must be cleaned. A shaver is used for these purposes. Otherwise, it will not be possible to achieve a strong connection between individual pipe fragments. The aluminum layer in places of future soldering is removed to a depth of 1-2 mm.

What to look for when choosing consumables

Having an idea of ​​what polypropylene pipes for heating systems are and how to choose the right consumables, begin preparing for installation. Heating in the house, the system is open or closed, so in addition to the properties and quality of the material, pay attention to the permissible nominal pressure that the pipelines can withstand. The pressure is designated PN, and numbers, for example, PN10, PN16, PN20 and PN25, indicate how many atmospheres the line can withstand.

The next aspect that you should always pay attention to is the thickness of the pipe walls and the diameter of the passage channel.

Important! on most products offered for sale, there is outside diameter pipes. It should not be confused with the size of the internal section of the product.

Let's look at it in detail. What aspects should you pay attention to when purchasing consumables for your heating system?

The first aspect is working pressure. The marking indicates the maximum operating value at a temperature of 20 0 C. For water heating circuits, products marked with values ​​​​corresponding to 20 and 25 atmospheres are usually used. It is appropriate to remember here that polypropylene can withstand peak loads, however, as the temperature increases, the resistance of the material decreases.

The second aspect is temperature working environment. The maximum permissible hot water temperature must be indicated on the pipe. Usually, specific numbers “75 0 C” or “90 0 C” are placed on products. In addition to everything, polypropylene pipes have color indicators and stripes. Red stripe - the material is intended for transporting hot water, blue stripe - supply cold water.

The third aspect is reinforcement. The abbreviation includes Latin letters indicating the composition of the reinforcing layer. It’s up to you to choose which pipe is better reinforced with aluminum or fiberglass. If you have doubts about the strength and reliability of the product, opt for composite.

The fourth aspect is the pipe diameter. Here we should rely on the data of thermal and hydrodynamic calculations. The fact is that for individual sections of the pipeline the diameter of the pipes can be different (heating systems “warm water floors” use a pipe diameter of 16 mm). The calculations take into account the parameters of operating pressure, coolant temperature, boiler power and the number of connection points. Usually for home system heating from a centralized main, consumables with a diameter of 25 mm are used. With autonomous heating, the diameter of the pipeline can vary depending on the technological need.

For reference: note! In no case can the internal cross-section of the line be larger than the diameter of the pipe in the riser. Pipe fragments with diameters of 20 and 26 mm are used.

Features of installation of polypropylene pipelines

In order to do correct installation heating main, you need to have a ready-made working diagram on hand. It must take into account pipeline fragments where polypropylene pipes are connected to metal-plastic products or come into contact with metal fragments. With the same outer diameter, the cross-section of a polypropylene pipe will be smaller than metal product or metal-plastic. The wall thickness of all three materials is different, hence the technical nuances that arise during joining.

It is important to ensure that in the end all used pipeline fragments have the same internal diameter.

Stages of assembling a polypropylene heating system pipeline

Having decided on the choice of pipe for our own heating system, and this is probably a PPR brand product with a reinforcing layer, we proceed to installation. The assembly of the heating circuit can be divided into several stages. The joining of cut pieces and fragments of pipes is carried out using diffuse soldering.

To work you will need:

• scissors or pipe cutter;
• shaver – a device for stripping;
• soldering iron

To prevent defects during soldering, practice connecting individual fragments. Otherwise, you can assemble a pipeline in which the connections will not meet the operating requirements. Fittings and couplings must be placed on the pipe with some effort.

The assembly steps are as follows:

• cutting workpieces to specified sizes;
• chamfering and calibration of reinforced products;
• heating and joining of fragments (soldering).

Each stage has its own difficulties and features. Scissors should make a smooth and even cut with a gap of 1 mm on the inside.

Important! A gap of more than 1 mm may cause blockage of the passage in the pipe. The melted plastic will narrow the passage hole.

Following cutting comes calibration, the process of chamfering the cut fragments and pieces. As a result of a simple manipulation, the joint is made smooth, and with the help of a shaver, the aluminum layer is removed to the entire depth of the future joint. The soldering process itself determines the quality of the installation. If overheated, the joint can be deformed and the passage opening can be significantly narrowed. Optimal temperature heating of the soldering iron, according to experts, is 260 0 C.

In order to work in an apartment, you can use an 800 W soldering iron. The heating time of a polypropylene pipe depends on its diameter:

Eg, consumables with a diameter of 16 mm, heat up for no more than 5 s. Products with a diameter of 25 mm are heated for 7 seconds.

The plastic cools quickly, so you need to connect and center the fragments immediately after heating. Complete hardening occurs within the next 5 minutes. A correctly connected pipeline must undergo pressure testing, as a result of which any miscalculations and design flaws are revealed.

conclusions

Polypropylene pipes used in home heating systems are a real step forward. Thanks to the low cost of the manufacturing process, it was possible to obtain a high-tech, high-quality new material. Excellent technical characteristics and physical properties allow the use of polypropylene in almost all water communications. For heating systems, today, the best and most justified option.

Polypropylene is the most popular material on the market. This is not due to its special quality, but still to its pleasant price. But in the end you have to pay for everything available. Therefore, in this article you will learn 9 disadvantages of heating a house with polypropylene pipes.

If you are planning to use polypropylene pipes for heating, then immediately plan to use them only in hidden installation. You will need to hide all pipes in the walls and screed, and preferably in insulation.

The main problem with polypropylene is its linear expansion. It is approximately 2.5 mm per linear meter. If you have installed straight pipes, then during operation they will definitely “float” somewhere. Even if you fasten them often. If these pipes are located outside, then you are unlikely to appreciate such a picture.

Pipe welding problems

PPR pipes are connected to each other by welding (or by soldering). On the one hand, this is a fairly simple and convenient way of connecting, but at the same time it requires a serious and responsible approach. Many installers are dishonest about this procedure, welding everything at random. As a result, you can get this picture:

Such situations also happen to experienced installers. And the saddest thing is that it is impossible to know whether the joint turned out normal or not until you cut the pipe in half.

We had a case when we invited a third-party team to install a boiler room from PPR pipes. The guys turned the welding iron to the maximum temperature, although each pipe has its own temperature limits. They were warned about this repeatedly. But they still did it their way. In appearance, all the connections were made perfectly, but in the end, after starting up the boiler room, some of it began to leak. I had to redo it

A large number of joints

Another disadvantage in organizing heating with polypropylene pipes is a large number of joints. The average house can sometimes have 200-300 joints and most of them are hidden in the screed and walls. And every joint is human factor, which can play a cruel joke. At any moment, any joint can leak. It's good if he's outside. But as practice shows, quite often the joint begins to leak inside.

And taking into account the constant linear expansion of the pipe, the joint may also lose its tightness. It would be correct to note that such situations do not always occur.

Material life

No matter what anyone says, polypropylene pipes have a short service life. The manufacturer estimates the service life of the pipe to be 50 years. Practice shows that after 15 years the aging of the pipe begins to be felt. It may crack, the joint may leak, etc.

But the advantage of polypropylene is that it can be quickly repaired.

Polypropylene pipes with fiberglass

PPR pipes are divided into pipes for cold and hot water supply (heating is also included). Earlier PPR pipes for heating, they were reinforced with special aluminum foil. This led to higher prices finished product. Over time, fiberglass pipes appeared, which replaced similar pipes with aluminum.

Few people know, but when heating your home with polypropylene pipes with fiberglass, you are at risk. Fiberglass tends to break down. Sometimes just throwing a pipe on the floor is enough to damage the reinforcing layer.

It is also impossible to work with such a pipe at low temperatures, since the fiberglass becomes brittle and is subject to rapid fracture. And it performs not only the function of reinforcement, but also an oxygen barrier.

Just as we know, such pipes are stored in ordinary warehouses and no one there monitors the microclimate required for storing pipes.

Therefore, everything is simple here. Fiberglass is good, but you have to be careful with it.

Pipes with aluminum foil

Aluminum foil acts as a pipe expansion compensator and as a diffusion barrier. Aluminum foil is located both closer to the surface of the pipe and in the middle. It all depends on the specific brand of pipes.

In order to solder such a pipe, it must first be cleaned. If the foil is located in the center, then after stripping it, the pipe will become very thin and when soldering, the connection may be of poor quality. Therefore, if you are still planning to heat your house with a polypropylene pipe with aluminum foil, then take the pipe where the foil is located closer to the surface.

Danger of pouring into screed

It is quite dangerous to pour a bare polypropylene pipe into a screed due to its linear expansion. If, when heated, the pipe has nowhere to “walk,” then there is a possibility that something might happen to it. Therefore, ideally it is better to fill this pipe in insulation. Now it is better to insulate all heating pipes.

Shaped products

The main disadvantage of shaped products when heating with polypropylene pipes is their thickness. They are thicker than the pipe itself. This creates certain inconveniences when installing insulation, as well as when using a pipe in a screed. Sometimes the height is so limited that the enlarged shaped product has nowhere to hide.

Polypropylene with metal

Many polypropylene shaped products come with a threaded metal insert. It is quite difficult to obtain a perfectly strong connection between metal and plastic. Therefore, there are cases when such connections leak just in the places between the PPR and the metal.

Bottom line

What is important to understand if you are planning to use polypropylene pipes for heating. This is actually good stuff for the money. But you shouldn't expect anything special from him. There is a high probability of periodic leaks and breakdowns, which are quite easily eliminated (if the pipe is located outside).

Peculiarity of this material The problem is that the problem does not always manifest itself immediately. You can mount, pressurize the system and make sure that it is sealed and nothing is leaking anywhere. And during operation, a leak suddenly forms. This is not exactly a pleasant moment.

It is up to you to decide whether to install heating with this pipe or not. Many people install it and don’t worry. We decided to prepare you a little.

Polypropylene and polyethylene pipes widely used in many construction fields. This material has proven itself in heating, plumbing and sewerage systems. PVC products are easy and pleasant to work with; their installation does not require special, expensive tools or devices. Before choosing pipes, you need to study their characteristics, sizes and scope of application. For example, when carrying out water supply, you should not use sewer samples, but it is better to buy special ones. For each case, elements with specific markings are suitable, in which precise information is encrypted.

Pipe marking

If you are planning to carry out heating in a private house with your own hands, choose only pipes marked PRR!

Characteristics of PPR plastic

Pipes marked with the abbreviation PPR have the following characteristics:

Types of polypropylene pipes

Monolithic products are made of solid PVC, the expansion coefficient is 0.15%. They can only be used when installing systems in which a substance with a low temperature moves, for example, for ventilation and cold supply.

At water temperatures above 10C°, the use of these pipes is simply impractical - they will not withstand and may crack or burst. This must definitely be taken into account.

Reinforced polypropylene pipes

Aluminum is used to reinforce plastic products. Layers additionally reinforced with aluminum can be located on the outside, in the form of thin foil, or on the inside, in the form of point perforations. Perforation is applied in the form of a mesh with holes. During the casting of a product, the viscous material, entering the holes, creates a tight adhesion of the polymer to the metal alloy.

Thanks to this type of strengthening, the system can withstand coolant heated to 90C°. It must be taken into account that installation and welding of aluminum-reinforced products can be complicated by the fact that they do not always correspond to the depth of insertion into the fittings and require additional stripping and removal of the top foil.

Fiberglass pipes

This product consists of two layers of plastic and a middle layer containing fiberglass. Plastic elements reinforced with glass do not require cleaning or calibration during installation. Soldering is quick and easy, which significantly reduces time and financial costs.

Glass increases rigidity, element density and service life. The disadvantage of such pipes is considered to be thermal elongation indicators, which are significantly higher than the same indicators for products reinforced with aluminum.

Metal-plastic pipes

Metal-plastic products are equipped with a top layer of PVC and an inner layer of aluminum. Such samples are able to withstand very high temperatures and can be used for heating and water supply of a private home. The disadvantage of elements made of metal-plastic is that the metal layer, being in contact with the transported substance, may be susceptible to corrosion.

Fitting

Fittings are parts for connecting elements in a pipeline. They are necessary for the arrangement of any engineering communications. Due to the fact that there are various models of accessories made of polypropylene with chrome and brass inserts on sale, you can easily choose those that are most suitable when installing different plumbing fixtures. For installation you will need a welding machine.

The size of the connecting parts is directly related to the size of the heating pipes. Knowing the diameter of the main element, you will immediately understand which connecting part you need to buy.
Products come in several diameters:

Very often there is a situation when the diameter indicated on the package does not correspond to reality! It is best to buy fittings in stores rather than at construction markets - there is much less defect there.

Types of connecting elements

There can be several connecting elements, in addition to fittings:

• coupling- a detail in the form of a ring. It is designed to fasten two pipes. The internal size of the coupling must correspond to the external size of the main part;
• Adapter– fitting in the form of a barrel with a ring smaller diameter. Adapters come with internal and external threads. Diameter transitions are simply necessary to connect the riser with horizontal heating distribution pipes;
• Corner. From the name it is clear that the element is curved at an angle. It is needed in order to form corner joint between the pipes. Some craftsmen refuse corners and prefer to heat the plastic to 140C° and give it the desired bend. This can reduce the capacity of the water supply and increase the possibility of leaks. The corners are produced with a bend of 45 or 90C°. Threaded parts are often used for mounting heated towel rails or radiators;
• Cross and tee. Very often it is necessary to mount several system components together. The cross connects the branches of the four guides to the sides; accordingly, three branches can be made on the tee. Both parts can be without threads or with threads for different types of pipes;
• Contours. Often, during heating, there is a technological obstacle along the way that needs to be circumvented. In this case, contours are used. They make it possible to change the trajectory of the pipe without violating its integrity;
• Temperature compensators. This simple, flexible design, which looks like a folded loop, performs the desired function. With a sharp increase in temperature and pressure of water in the pipes, this important detail compensates for expansion within the piping system. The device is easily mounted into the structure and increases its durability without leaks.

  
  Types of fittings for plastic heating pipes

Video

You can view short video about how to choose the right polypropylene pipes and fittings for them.

Of all plastics, polypropylene has the lowest density with a value of 0.91 g/cm 3 . At the same time, it is quite resistant to high temperatures, resistant to abrasion, and practically not susceptible to corrosion cracking. Construction industry specialists have long paid attention to physical and mechanical properties this polymer and use it for the purpose of manufacturing main pipelines for various purposes.

Starting from the 30s of the last century to the present, manufacturing technologies for polypropylene products for plumbing, sewerage, heating and other systems are constantly being improved. Heating pipes made of polypropylene are one of the types of new products in which reinforcement with aluminum foil is most often used.

What are polypropylene pipes

Polypropylene pipes for heating and other systems are high-tech products. Primary or secondary polypropylene is used as the main material for their production. It is believed that products made from pure polypropylene, which usually have White color, are easier to install and have better performance parameters.

For example, products from the Italian brand Valtek, reinforced with a solid aluminum layer or fiberglass, are made only from chemically pure virgin polypropylene. Products made from recycled materials usually have grey colour and is found on sale much more often. If such products are installed in heating systems of apartments and private houses, then they show excellent reliability.

Application area

The physical and mechanical properties of polypropylene products allow them to be used effectively in the construction of water supply systems, heating systems, electrical engineering communications And technological installations. When conducting major repairs in houses, apartments, and public utility buildings, old metal communications are most often replaced with polypropylene.

Advantages

Single-layer and multi-layer polyethylene products have long occupied their niche in the building materials market.

Its widespread use is facilitated by:

• high chemical resistance;
• possibility of operation at temperatures from - 5 to +100 degrees Celsius;
• relative cheapness;
• ease of installation, which is easy to do with your own hands;
• ability to withstand increased working pressure;
• low resistance to fluid flow due to the smooth inner surface;
• wide choice of standard sizes;
• high maintainability;
• oxidation resistance;
• service life subject to compliance technical specifications about 50 years.

Flaws

The main disadvantage of polypropylene is considered to be high sensitivity to oxygen, especially under the influence of ultraviolet radiation and high temperature. In order to slow down the aging of products, manufacturers improve their properties by using various methods reinforcement of walls and introduction of special additives into the composition.

The disadvantages of polypropylene also include:

• low frost resistance;
• high linear expansion;
• impossibility of use in high-temperature heating circuits.

To reduce linear expansion, layer reinforcement is used various materials. If aluminum foil is used, which is located in the inner layers of pipes, then, among other things, the Negative influence on polypropylene oxygen dissolved in water or other coolant.

Types of polypropylene pipes

For cold water supply systems and hot water preparation with a temperature not exceeding +70 ºС, two types of products can be used: thick-walled and reinforced. The latter are also installed in pipelines used for heating.

For reinforcement the following are most often used:

• solid or perforated aluminum foil;
• fiberglass;
• composite materials that give products improved strength characteristics.

Regular

In drinking water and domestic water supply It is advisable to install conventional types of polypropylene. This is dictated by their relative cheapness. Reinforced products are more expensive due to more complex production technology. In addition, they are easier to solder and there is no need to clean the ends before polyfusion welding. The walls of conventional mains are thick and can withstand pressures of up to 20 bar, which is more than enough for domestic water supply systems.

When designing systems with conventional polypropylene, it must be remembered that with increasing temperature it can warp, and the strength of the product will noticeably decrease. At a temperature of about +70 ºС, conventional products can withstand half the pressure stated in the labeling. Due to low resistance high temperatures ordinary pipes are not used in heating systems.

With aluminum reinforcement

Aluminum-reinforced polypropylene heating pipes are a compromise solution between conventional products and fiberglass pipes. A solid or perforated layer of foil sharply reduces thermal expansion and gives the pipe the necessary strength.

With fiberglass reinforcement

High-quality polypropylene heating pipes, reinforced with fiberglass, can be installed in both hot water supply and heating systems in which the liquid temperature reaches +90 ºС. Fiberglass significantly increases strength, increases resistance to thermal effects, and helps products retain their properties for a long time.

Unlike products reinforced with aluminum, pipes with fiberglass are connected in the same way as conventional ones, that is, without preliminary trimming. This allows you to significantly reduce installation time.

Prices for the range of polypropylene pipes

polypropylene pipes for heating

Pipe types

Products are always selected for certain parameters of the pipeline or system. No need to install expensive reinforced pipe into the water supply with cold water and low pressure. An ordinary single-layer pipe, for the production of which only polypropylene is used, is quite suitable here.

The technological process for manufacturing multilayer options is more complex, which ultimately affects their price. A multilayer pipe consists of 3–5 alternating layers of polypropylene, reinforcement (fiberglass, aluminum foil) and hot-melt adhesive designed to connect them.

Types of single-layer products

Depending on the structure of polypropylene molecules, its physical and mechanical properties also change.

Depending on the type of polymer used, polypropylene products are divided into several groups:

1. PPH. Pipes made on the basis of homopolypropylene and capable of operating in the temperature range from 0 to 100 ºС, have good abrasive resistance and high resistance to chemically aggressive liquids. The main disadvantage is poor resistance to low temperatures.
2. PPB. Products made from polypropylene block copolymer, which have good flexibility and resistance to low temperatures. They have high thermal expansion.
3. PPR. In the production of these pipes, random copolymers consisting of ethylene and polypropylene molecules are used. As a result of manufacturing, durable and universal pipes, capable of working in a wide range temperature range while maintaining the original linear dimensions. Pipes marked PPR are the most popular and frequently used in water supply and heating systems.
4. P.P.S. A special type of products made from polyphenylene sulfide, the special structure of whose molecules allows us to achieve the best performance in terms of resistance to various types loads

Characteristics of polypropylene pipes

Since soldering or gluing polymer products is noticeably different from welding metal pipes, then even a novice installer can easily assemble a simple heating circuit. If at the final stage of work the exposed metal parts need to be painted, then it is enough to install thermal insulation on the polypropylene.

When using Valtec pipes with fiberglass, there is no need for trimming; reinforcement does not affect the speed and quality of work. Thanks to the use of polypropylene pipes, batteries are quickly connected both in a private house and in an apartment.

During pipeline operation, polypropylene pipes demonstrate excellent characteristics and are practically not inferior to metal products.

Ability to withstand high pressure

Since polypropylene is quite plastic, its ability to withstand pressure is greatly reduced as the temperature of the system approaches its melting point.

The ability of polypropylene to withstand high pressure depends on such parameters as:

• pipe wall thickness;
• pipeline performance characteristics;
• thickness and type of reinforcing layer.

Heat resistance

In low-temperature heating systems, as well as cold and hot water supply, polypropylene pipelines can perform their functions without failure for several decades. Manufacturers have learned to achieve excellent resistance to low and high temperatures by modifying the material and various reinforcements.

For example, by adding a frost-resistant additive, which is a concentrate of rubber in polypropylene, you can achieve a brittle temperature of the product down to -40 ºС. By introducing elasticity modifiers into polypropylene, manufacturers obtain products with excellent operational strength, allowing them to create reliable permanent connections.

Conducts heat poorly

With a density of 0.90–0.91 g/cm 3, polypropylene has low thermal conductivity, which reduces losses in the circuits of heating systems. This is especially important if the length of the pipelines is significant, and thermal insulation measures are difficult or poorly carried out.

In order to calculate pipeline losses, special methods are used, however, it has been established that the thermal conductivity coefficient of polypropylene lines is approximately twenty times lower than that of steel lines. This means that on its way from the heat generator to the heating device, the coolant in polypropylene pipelines performs its useful work many times better than in metal ones.

Corrosion resistant

In systems using only polymer pipes Only the devices connected to them can be sources of rust. In such circuits, iron oxide particles do not damage the integrity of the pipe, but can only affect pumps, shut-off valves and heating devices.

In the operating temperature range from +20 to 100 ºС, PPR polymer products show absolute chemical resistance not only to water, but also to antifreeze, industrial alcohol, wine vinegar, industrial glycerin, ethyl alcohol, milk, juices and even 10% sulfuric acid.

Long service life

According to manufacturers, products made of polypropylene can last up to 50 years, and the warranty is provided for a period of at least 15 years. The service life of polymer lines depends on two main indicators: operating temperature and pressure.

At increased rates, the service life of polypropylene pipelines is sharply reduced. If the condition is met that the pressure of the working fluid does not exceed 4–6 atmospheres, and the temperature is in the range of 60–75 ºС, then it is quite possible to expect that the polypropylene line will last a long time.

Diameter

Depending on the characteristics of the water supply system, both metal and polymer products are selected. Their size internal diameter can vary from 10 to 1200 mm, and production is standardized.

According to this parameter, products are divided into three types:

• 20, 25, and 32 mm are the most popular parameters for domestic water supply and heating lines;
• 40, 50, 63, 75, and 90 mm - suitable for centralized supply of heating and water supply systems in multi-storey buildings;
• 110, 125, 160, 200 and above are used in pipelines low pressure or for the organization of sewage drains.

Products with a diameter of up to 16 mm are practically not used in water and heat supply systems.

Marking

In order to accurately select polypropylene products according to operational parameters, you should carefully study their labeling.

There are 4 main classes based on typical areas of use:

1. Systems with hot water supply up to 60 ºС (class 1).
2. DHW systems with temperatures up to +70 ºС (class 2).
3. Underfloor heating and radiators in which the coolant has a temperature of up to 70 ºС (class 4).
4. Radiator heating circuits with temperatures up to 90 ºС (class 5).

Polypropylene products for pipelines also indicate the values ​​of the maximum and nominal operating pressure. Labeling of different manufacturers may differ depending on the standards adopted in the countries where production is located.

Most of the products on the domestic market are designated PN 10, PN 16, PN 20. PN is the nominal pressure value expressed in Bars (kg/cm2). The designation PN 10 in the marking indicates that the product is able to withstand water pressure equal to 10 Bars, with a temperature of 20 ºС during the entire period of operation.

Most labels contain the following information:

• manufacturer;
• material of manufacture;
• diameter and wall thickness;
• regulatory documents (GOSTs or industry standards).

Features of installing a polypropylene system

The choice of pipelines in heating systems depends on the connection diagram, the need to connect heating devices various configurations, temperatures, operating pressure and many other factors. However, choosing suitable pipes for the heating system of a house or apartment is not difficult for an experienced installer.

In the apartment

The best use of polypropylene in an apartment is considered to be the distribution of hot and cold water pipes. More recently, they were extremely popular metal-plastic pipes, however, due to the high cost of fittings, they gradually began to give way to new designs.

In apartments of multi-storey buildings, heating is most often centralized. Since in such networks the usual pressure is from 4 to 5 Bar at a temperature of 40 to 95 degrees, and with a sharp opening of house valves it can rise to 25 Bar, polypropylene is not installed in them.

In a private house

In the heating circuits of private houses, the pressure is usually in the range from 1.5 to 2.5 Bar at a temperature of 40 to 75 ºС, and water hammer in autonomous systems practically excluded. This makes it possible to use polypropylene pipelines both in one-story private houses and when equipping low-rise buildings with heating. It is important to choose the right products.

Review of manufacturers and cost

On the Internet you can find a lot of various ratings of manufacturers of polypropylene products. These include European, Chinese, Turkish and domestic firms. The following are most often mentioned in the ratings: German mark"Rehau", Italian "Valtek", Spanish FADO, Czech "ECOPLASTIC", Turkish "TEBO", Firat, Pilsa.

Valtec

Italian trademark Valtec offers a range of single and multi-layer products various diameters. The list of brand products includes polypropylene pipes reinforced with fiberglass, aluminum foil, and all kinds of fittings for heating, water supply and process lines.

All products are adapted to heat and water supply systems operating at post-Soviet space. A multi-level quality control system virtually eliminates the appearance of defective products on the market.

Wavin Ekoplastic

The Czech company Wavin Ecoplastic produces pipelines plastic systems, since 1990. All of the company's products have international certification and are well known in more than fifty countries around the world.

Ecoplastic enterprises produce about 28 thousand km per year. polymer products, including hundreds of types of plastic and combined fittings.

Fado

The range of products of the Italian company Fado is incredibly wide and allows you to create pipeline systems of any complexity. In addition to the polypropylene pipelines themselves, Fado offers a full range of fasteners, connecting and combined fittings, shut-off valves, manifolds and sealing materials. All products are certified in Europe and the CIS countries.

An excellent addition to piping systems is our proprietary polypropylene soldering tool.

Tebo

The Tebo brand, owned by Novoplast, produces engineered polypropylene systems. The main type of products is PP-R pipes and fittings.

In their production, high-quality raw materials from the world-famous concern Borealis and Hyosang are used. All production processes are carefully controlled, and the products themselves are manufactured on modern automated lines.

Chinese manufacturers occupy the lion's share of the market. Prices for polypropylene products can vary greatly. For example, a high-quality pipe VALTEC PP - FIBER PN20 25 mm, reinforced with fiberglass, costs about $6.5 per 4-meter section, while a Chinese low-grade analogue costs half as much.

Considering the importance of various types of polypropylene communications, which should last for decades, you should choose only high-quality products from well-known manufacturers.