The usual metal pipes, which are distinguished by their large weight, high cost and installation complexity, are being replaced more and more often by modern, polymeric ones. For example, polypropylene ones are rapidly conquering the consumer market as the most environmentally friendly, affordable and suitable for the construction of engineering systems that ensure the functionality of residential and office premises.

Content

1. Types of pipes made of polypropylene video
2. The main differences between sewer pipes video
3. Features of installation of ventilation polypropylene systems video
4. Heating systems from polypropylene products and their features
5. Advantages and disadvantages inherent in polypropylene pipes
6. Pipes and fittings video
7. How to install polypropylene pipes

Types of pipes made of polypropylene

The main and attractive characteristic of these products is the possibility of their operation in systems with cold and hot media. In addition, they can be used in the construction of:

• sewer and sewage systems,
• ventilation wells
• heating systems.

If we talk about quality, it should also be remembered that polypropylene products can be reinforced or unreinforced, i.e. in the first case they are intended for systems with high working pressure, in the second - for those in which liquids or air masses move without pressure.

In accordance with the ability to withstand high pressure, they are marked as follows:

• PN10 (1 MPa) is designed for cold water supply, the temperature of the liquid should be less than + 20 ° C, ventilation ducts, air conditioning systems, underfloor heating are constructed from them, while the temperature of the carrier should not exceed + 45 ° C,
• PN16 (1.6 MPa) can be used to supply hot (maximum + 60С) and cold water, to equip a warm floor,
• PN20 (2 MPa) are used for hot water supply (+ 80 ° C), it can be used to create cold water supply systems,
• PN25 (2.5 MPa) reinforced, usually used for the construction of heating systems, withstand water temperatures up to + 95 ° C, can be used in the construction of process pipelines.

Each brand is inherent in the respective declared strength wall thickness (from 1.9 to 18.4 mm) and outer diameter (from 16 to 110 mm).

The quality of the pipes largely depends on the raw materials (plastic), they can be made from:

• propylene homopolymer,
• copolymer of propylene, ethylene,
• static copolymer with ethylene.

Pipes that are used in modern construction, as a rule, are made of the third type of polymer, the reason for this is the possession of increased elasticity, viscosity and resistance to temperature indicators of the media. They also differ:

• strength
• resistant to acid or alkaline environment,
• light weight.

It is from a static copolymer with ethylene that polypropylene pipes for heating can be made - they confidently withstand temperatures from -10 ° C to + 90 ° C. The guarantee of their successful use in the construction of heating systems is the possibility of short-term exposure to temperatures of the order of + 110C. On the plus side, if the water freezes, the system will not be destroyed.

The color of the pipes may be different, it has nothing to do with the labeling or the area of \u200b\u200bdestination.

The only advantage of black pipes is their protection against ultraviolet radiation.

The main differences between sewer pipes

For arrangement of sewer external and internal systems, as well as storm free-flow systems, bell-shaped pipes are used. If the network is being built inside the house, it is recommended to use products with a diameter of up to 110 mm, a length of up to 2 m. It is more convenient to build an external system from corrugated ones, with a diameter of 150 mm, and a length of up to 10 m. A positive point is that the use of corrugated products will give the pipeline resistance to soil subsidence and external mechanical stress.

To assemble the system from polypropylene pipes, it is enough to insert the end of one pipe into the socket of the other, in order to give the connection tightness, special rubber seals are used.

Features of installation of ventilation polypropylene systems

Since such products are used to assemble air outflow or air supply systems, there are no special strength requirements for them.

Builders are especially appreciated for their low weight, a variety of shapes (oval, round, rectangular) that allow installation on solid walls, on partitions. It is also possible to embed them in the design of suspended ceilings.

Typically, when constructing a ventilation system, pipes with a diameter of 100 to 125 mm are used. They are connected using sockets (if sealing is not required).

Heating systems from polypropylene products and their features

Installation of polypropylene pipes for heating systems requires a serious approach to the selection, they must be reinforced (PN25).

In addition, you need to pay attention to the method of reinforcement, this may be:

• wrapping the pipe outside with a layer of perforated or solid foil,
• placing the foil layer closer to the outer layer, if perforated foil is used, then the joints can be made without a glue method, using fiberglass,
• placement inside a layer of composite material, including fiber or fiberglass.

Each option has advantages and disadvantages, for example, when welding pipes with a layer of foil, or when connecting them with fittings, certain difficulties may arise, however, the presence of foil significantly reduces the coefficient of thermal expansion.

Experts recommend: thoroughly clean the ends of each pipe using a special trimming tool or welding nozzle.

If the products are reinforced with fiberglass material, then installation can be performed without preparation. The presence of the composite improves the strength of the products, the linear expansion index in them tends to zero. The strength of such pipes is almost two times higher than that of analogues.

Advantages and disadvantages inherent in polypropylene pipes

  Polypropylene pipes for water supply, ventilation or sewer systems are distinguished, first of all, by their long service life, of course, in the case of high-quality installation and compliance with operating standards. For example, a cold water supply system assembled from such pipes can last up to a hundred years, hot - up to 50 years. In addition, polypropylene products differ:

• high resistance to sudden changes in carrier temperature,
• ability to withstand pressure drops in the system,
• good sound absorption
• low thermal conductivity
• the inability to accumulate salts or other elements present in the input within the sediment,
• not prone to corrosion,
• the possibility of quick and easy assembly,
• light weight
• low maintenance costs,
• ability to withstand low temperatures and not collapse at the same time,
• resistance to chemically active substances.

Affordable to every developer, the cost of polypropylene pipes can also be considered one of their significant advantages.

If we talk about the shortcomings that are inherent in polypropylene products, it should be noted that there are very few of them. They relate to such a quality as a tendency to linear expansion, in particular, to a change in length under the influence of a hot carrier. However, in order not to create unnecessary problems with this phenomenon, it is enough to use pipes strictly for their intended purpose, taking into account the expected coolant temperatures.

Pipes and fittings

When constructing a system of pipes for any purpose, it will be necessary to arrange joints, branches, turns, and it is easiest to create them using fittings. According to the method of attachment, purpose and material of manufacture, they are classified as:

• flanged
• threaded
• crimp
• welded.

Fittings are labeled similar to pipes. They are characterized by the same positive qualities. In addition, polypropylene threaded and welded fittings have special marks that allow you to accurately determine the position of the part during welding. To carry out high-quality installation of pipes for water supply or drainage without the use of fittings is completely impossible.

Fittings can be:

• fixed or sliding supports
• bends or elbows
• tees or couplings,
• plugs or flanges,
• ball valves or contours,
• valves, etc.

Fittings can also be electrowelded, their design includes electric heaters. They should be used if butt welding is not rational. Most often, the need for their use arises in the case of:

• complicated access to connected parts,
• during repair work,
• if the work is carried out in bad weather conditions.

Using polypropylene fittings, pipes made of different materials can be connected. For example, fittings with chrome or brass inserts will allow you to connect polypropylene pipes to plumbing fixtures of any kind.

Experts recommend purchasing pipes and fittings from one manufacturer - otherwise it will be difficult to guarantee the quality of the joints.

How to install polypropylene pipes

If the installation of the pipeline will be done by yourself, it is best to pre-train by connecting the pipe pieces and inexpensive couplings. To make the connections, thermal welding or soldering using a special soldering iron is used. The hand should be filled for the reason that the process of making a soldered or welding connection lasts only a few seconds, for which the parts to be connected will need to be given the correct position, after the joint has hardened, it will not be possible to correct the error.

Any type of welding, socket, butt or electrical fitting, allows you to get a durable seam made by heating parts to a state of fusion. Depending on the type of parts to be connected, you will need to use different welding devices:

• with clamping hydraulic mechanism - for butt,
• for socket welding - for socket welding. To complete the soldering irons, nozzles of different types and diameters are also used.

Connection order:

1. Before welding the pipes wrapped with foil on the outside, it will be necessary to perform stripping to the size of the fittings. Other types of pipes will not require such preparation.
2. Before soldering, clean the mating surfaces and degrease them. For trimming pipes, a hacksaw is used for metal or special scissors, the cut is performed at a right angle.
3. Before turning on the soldering iron, it is equipped with a nozzle of the appropriate size.
4. After the device reaches a temperature of + 250-270С, which may take up to 20 minutes, the fragments to be heated are heated. The time it takes to warm up will depend on the diameter of the pipes.
5. The connection is performed quickly and confidently, achieving the coincidence of the axes of both fragments.
6. The cooling process lasts a few seconds, during which any adjustments can no longer be made.
7. A poorly executed connection will need to be cut, instead of it, do another.
8. Underheating of the surfaces will lead to the creation of a poor-quality seam, overheating will lead to the loss of the shape of the fragments, while the seam will be deformed.

When connecting polypropylene and metal-plastic products, fittings with a threaded insert on one side are used. The use of gaskets will also be required.

Given the quality and long service life when performing construction and repair work, experts recommend paying attention to products made of this modern and environmentally friendly material.

Author: Sergey and Svetlana Khuentsov

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