We install propylene pipes: principles of work

At the beginning of the XXI century, thanks to a number of technical and technological advantages, propylene pipes for heating, as well as cold and hot water supply, became very popular. The industry produces several types of such materials, which mainly differ in their ability to withstand in a constant mode one or another water temperature.

Below we will understand these differences, learn the rules of editing, and also see a thematic demonstration of the video in this article.

Polypropylene plumbing and heating

Note. It should be noted that the so-called propylene pipes are made of polypropylene and in the documentation are often referred to by means of the Russian abbreviation PP or English PPR.

Varieties of material

Brief technical characteristics of propylene pipes

• First of all, it should be remembered that propylene pipes can be of different sections, ranging from 20 mm to 125 mm - this figure, respectively, affects the inner diameter, so that they can always be selected depending on the need for patency. In addition, the products are distributed according to the temperature regime, as can be seen from the table above, and the main limiting factor here is not so much the thickness of the walls as the reinforcing layer of aluminum foil or fiberglass.

• The wall of propylene can be solid, but can be reinforced, only the second option can be performed in different ways. That is, the foil may be in the middle of the layer, as is usually the case with RN20, but it may be closer to the surface, as it is done with RN In this case, the difference is not only possible temperature and pressure, but also the retail price of the product - RN25 always costs more.

• As a rule, RN25 is somewhat thicker than RN10, RN16 and RN20 and when the end of the PPR enters the hot nozzle of an electric soldering iron, the aluminum foil layer is exposed - its diameter coincides with the internal diameter of the nozzle. But when docking, the instruction requires that adhesion be with homogeneous materials, that is, with PP, therefore, the foil must be cleaned, and with a knife it is somewhat difficult to do. For such a pipe stripping, a special shaver of the required diameter is used, which removes both the top layer of polypropylene and aluminum foil, after which you can start welding.

Polypropylene welding

Note. By and large, you decide for yourself what to use for the water supply system - propylene or metal-plastic pipes - their technical characteristics are about the same. Nevertheless, metal-plastic has a significant weak point - these are metal fittings for pipes, which, like any metal, have a much smaller operational resource than any of the polymers.

First of all, you need a soldering iron for work, and if you do plumbing or heating with your own hands in your apartment (house), then the power of the tool does not matter much for you - even the weakest device will heat up to 300? C, and you will only need 270 -280? C.

There are three types of soldering irons - xiphoid, as in the upper photograph, molotochiiform and spiral - for the first two types, pair nozzles are used, and for the rod - unpaired, but this does not affect the welding process technology at all.

PPR welding tips are made of aluminum alloy (if gold and silver are not taken into account, then AL can be called the most heat-conducting metal on Earth), but they can also be coated with Teflon. With such a coating, propylene pipes and fittings do not adhere to hot metal, therefore, the welding process is easier, and the number of unpleasant odors is significantly reduced.

Docking occurs using fittings, which are couplings, angles of 32 ?, 45? and 90 ?, tees, reductions, contours (short arc-shaped tubes to compensate for intersections), reductions and plugs.

There are also threaded fittings (for switching to metal) and ball valves made of PP, which are much more profitable than brass and, moreover, siluminous, since the operating life of polypropylene does not compare with the metal - it is several orders of magnitude higher.

Polypropylene welding parameters table

In order for the propylene pipes to be reliably interconnected, it is very important, during the brazing works, to observe the parameters indicated in the table above. For example, for the most common cross section of 20 mm, the pipe should fit 14–17 mm into the fitting, hold it for 5–6 seconds in a hot nozzle, and after 2-3 minutes for docking.

If the end goes deeper into the fitting, it will flatten out, and this may not only reduce the permeability, but also create a deaf jam, that is, bring the entire pipeline out of order (in the lower photo, fragment No. 4 shows a section of the correct soldering).

To weld the propylene pipes, you need to heat the soldering iron by setting the temperature on the thermostat to 280 ° C (assuming that the room temperature is not lower than room temperature) and insert the pipe and fitting into the hot nozzle. After the end has reached the desired depth, hold the PPR in the hot nozzle for the time specified in the table and release it abruptly. Then connect the two fragments and again maintain the allotted time.

For ease of installation, wiring is best done in blocks, for example, you collect the area in cold water, from the boiler to, immediately plunging there in the toilet, water meter, washing machine and sink. This option is much easier than to weld the track one fragment at a wall.

Conclusion

Before welding, you need to pay attention to propylene pipes and fittings are dry and degreased - if necessary, wipe. All fixings are fixed to metal brackets or plastic clips, but you can also drown the pipes in the pre-made grooves, then to plaster.