Polymer pipes: how to choose the appropriate material for

A few decades ago, all engineering systems for the transport of fluids were constructed from metal, asbestos cement or concrete. Now polymer pipes are widely used for heating, sewage and water supply. Consider their main types, specifications and other important features.

Pros and cons of polymer pipes

Currently, plastic is gradually replacing previously known materials from a variety of different manufacturing areas. This trend is also observed in construction.

The use of polymer products to create various pipeline networks allows us to solve many different problems:

• create a reliable and durable system;
• increase comfort inside residential and administrative buildings;
• reduce the amount of metal used in construction;
• ensure the safety of engineering networks;
• reduce the cost of installation and maintenance costs.

Plastic perfectly meets all requirements. A small polymer pipe plant is able to meet the needs of a large number of construction companies. To produce the same volume of metal parts, a complex industrial complex would be needed, including a metallurgical and (or) rolling mill.

However, like any other materials, polymers have their advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages of polymer pipes

The advantages of using plastic parts for the installation of pipelines for various purposes include:

1. Easy installation. The design features of various plastic elements make it easy to install the sewage system or plumbing with your own hands. Sometimes you may need to weld polymer pipes, but more often you just need to insert two parts into each other, thus ensuring a reliable and durable connection.
2. Long service life. The period of operation of pipeline systems guaranteed by the manufacturer is about 50 years. But even after this, the tightness of pipes, as a rule, is not disturbed.
3. Corrosion Resistance. Unlike metal, a polymer does not enter into a chemical oxidation reaction with oxygen. You can be sure that plastic pipes will never rust.
4. Engineering networks can be laid both inside the wall (in grooves) and outside (fixed on clamps or clamps).
5. The production of polymer pipes does not harm the environment, and their use does not affect human health.

1. Plastic parts are lightweight, which facilitates transportation, storage and installation.
2. Polymer pipes have a low thermal conductivity, so they are well suited for arranging hot water supply and heating systems.
3. With the passage of fluid do not create strong noises.

Tip! In addition to its main purpose, plastic pipes of various diameters can be used to make many other useful things. For example, a greenhouse or flower bed. It all depends on your imagination and skills.

The disadvantages of polymer parts

Along with indisputable advantages, plastic pipes have some disadvantages:

• can not be used for the manufacture of fire-fighting systems (with the exception of special types of polyethylene);
• Some types of polymers are not suitable for arranging hot water supply and heating systems;
• for the installation of certain types of pipes requires the use of special equipment.

Varieties of polymer products

Polyvinyl chloride

This type of plastic was used in the construction industry one of the first. PVC pipes are used for the installation of water supply and sewage networks, as well as the transportation of various process fluids.

Features of PVC parts:

1. Do not require special tools to connect. Docking is done with the use of adhesives or a socket method. In the latter case, it is sufficient to place the smooth end of one pipe into the socket of the other, and the tightness of the connection is guaranteed.
2. Have sufficient rigidity comparable to steel structures.. This allows the design of various systems to use existing practices, rules and building codes.
3. Suitable for laying underground pressure pipelines. In this case, it is necessary to fix the fittings in turns and equip the inspection wells at this place.
4. Can be used for laying pipelines both inside walls and outside. The pipe has an aesthetic appearance and fits well with the interior of sanitary facilities.
5. The price of PVC pipes is one of the lowest among similar products..

Polypropylene

There are many different tubes of this polymer. They differ in the number of layers, as well as in the presence of various additives that improve certain technical characteristics.

Single-layer pipes are made from the following types of plastic:

• homopolymer - PPH labeling;
• polypropylene block copolymer - referred to as PPB;
• polypropylene random copolymer -

Multilayer polypropylene pipes are round and rectangular.

They are produced as follows:

• Aluminum foil is applied over the PP pipe with thick walls, which, in turn, is protected by another layer of polypropylene;
• special holes are made to connect all layers in the foil;
• sometimes an additional one is included between the two main layers, which has a reduced ductility.

The main scope of polypropylene pipes:

• arrangement of the cold water supply system;
• installation of heating systems;
• production of pipelines for the delivery of hot water (PPRC special pipes are used);
• technological engineering networks.

Polyethylene

Pipes of this kind of plastic are used for:

• design of pressure pipelines;
• manufacturing of internal and external engineering networks;
• installation of drains and sewers.

A feature of polyethylene is that it can not be mounted at an ambient temperature below 20 degrees Celsius. This must be taken into account if the construction is carried out in winter.

Methods of connecting polyethylene pipes:

• if the parts are small in size (from 20 to 63 mm), docking is carried out using special fittings equipped with a sealing gasket;
• in some cases, welding is possible - for this, accessories are used, equipped with a metal ring heated by a special device;
• Large diameter pipes are joined by butt welding.

Note! For the manufacture of household sewage systems are used standard parts with a diameter of 50 and 110 mm. The installation instructions provide for welding. It is more expedient to acquire PVC pipes, which are joined without the use of special devices.

Crosslinked polyethylene

There is another kind of pipes made of polyethylene, whose feature is the increased resistance to high temperatures of the flowing fluid. This is achieved by a special treatment - cross-linking, as a result of which additional bonds appear between the substance molecules. Hence the name of the material.

At installation of pipes from the sewed polyethylene a soldering iron is not used.

Only cold connections are allowed:

• glue;
• compression;
• using press fittings.

The main scope of this type of polymer is the arrangement of water supply and heating systems. Excellent for installing underfloor heating, snow thawing systems and fire fighting.

Special types of pipe

In addition to the varieties described above, modern industry produces steel pipes with internal polymer coating. These products have additional external protection to protect parts from corrosion.

Such pipes are used for the installation of technological pipelines intended for pumping oil, gas and aggressive liquids.

Conclusion

Polymer pipes for water supply, heating and sanitation are undoubtedly the best choice for the installation of these engineering networks. Their advantages are more than cover the small flaws inherent in one or another variety of products.

More details about the installation of household pipelines for various purposes can be found in the video in this article.