Cross-linked polyethylene for underfloor heating

As is well known, special distributed type systems are used for arranging underfloor heating, which are formed by laying pipes, electric cable or special heating film on a rough base. With the implementation of one of these technologies (namely, in the manufacture of a water heating system), cross-linked polyethylene (SP) pipes are becoming increasingly popular. Cross-linked polyethylene for underfloor heating is a conventional name for a material with a special chemical structure, the manufacture of which used the method of combining molecules with cross-links (with the formation of a three-dimensional mesh with large cells).

Since the properties of this chemical compound are formed at the molecular level, it is very difficult to break the bonds formed during normal operation. As a result, manufacturers managed to get a high-strength and lightweight material, ideal for the manufacture of pipes operating in stressed conditions.

JV advantages

One of the most important features of pipes from the joint venture is that their walls do not allow oxygen, whose presence in existing systems, as a rule, accelerates destructive processes.

The ductility of the material allows the installation of heating systems with the required bending radius for large rooms.

Other advantages of the joint venture used in the manufacture of pipes for floor heating include:

• the ability to work at high pressure and temperature, as well as resistance to sudden changes in these indicators;
• good thermal conductivity, ensuring efficient operation of the heating system;
• resistance to corrosion and mechanical stress;
• acceptable price;
• ease of installation of products from it.

Installation Features

The process of arranging a heated floor from the joint venture has some peculiarities related to the structure of the pipes that make it up, as well as the method of joining them into a complex circuit. As for the structure of the material, the consideration of the features of the installation of tubular products made from it is as follows:

• When forming small diameters of bending, the joint venture manifests itself worse than the same metal-plastic pipes, which are more preferable in rooms with a small area (or with a complicated scheme of laying a heated floor). That is why you will need to decide in advance on the bending radius acceptable for pipes from the joint venture.
• Installation of a heated floor made of cross-linked polyethylene will require special care from the contractor when forming the folds, since such pipes do not maintain their shape sufficiently well. That is why in these places it is desirable to reinforce them with fiberglass and aluminum shells.

As for the arrangement of the joints of pipes from the joint venture, they can be implemented in three different ways, involving the use of crimp fitting, welding or so-called press fittings.

Conducted by experts on the reliability of these compounds, led to the conclusion that the most suitable for the installation of pipes from the joint venture is a crimp fitting. Besides the fact that this type of connection is reliable enough, it allows partial dismantling of the system in case of need for its repair.

Stages of work

The laying of pipes from the joint venture does not significantly differ from similar operations on the arrangement of water heated floor from other materials. When conducting them, it is necessary:

Pour over their protective cover.

After dismantling the old screed and thorough alignment of the rough base, a layer of waterproofing is laid on it, on top of which the insulation of the chosen type is laid. In this case, it is desirable to use special insulating sheets with grooves prepared for them to accommodate pipes.

When mounting the heating coil, the pipes from the joint venture are bent manually, and this must be done taking into account the observance of a certain bend radius (their laying step should not exceed 10 cm). After laying in the insulation, the ends of the pipes are fed to a pre-assembled collector and fixed on it using compression fittings.

At the final stage of installation, the pipe helix is ​​filled with water and checked for leaks and other possible defects. And only after you have verified that there are no faults, the resulting construction can be poured with concrete.

Upon completion of this procedure, the finished system is allowed to stand for at least one month, after which it will be possible to proceed to the installation of the floor covering itself.

Video

More information about the features of warm floors from the joint venture you can find out by watching the video: