Provides Guidance on Selecting and Installing The Plastics Pipe Institute’s Building & Construction Division has published a major revision of PPI TN-55 “Plastic Piping Materials for Ground Source Geothermal Heating and Cooling Applications”. Originally issued in 2018, the latest edition of TN-55 was published in August 2024 with the input of industry experts including PPI Read more
PE-RT
Provides Guidance on Selecting and Installing
The Plastics Pipe Institute’s Building & Construction Division has published a major revision of PPI TN-55 “Plastic Piping Materials for Ground Source Geothermal Heating and Cooling Applications”. Originally issued in 2018, the latest edition of TN-55 was published in August 2024 with the input of industry experts including PPI members and the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA).
According to Lance MacNevin, P. Eng., director of engineering for PPI’s Building & Construction Division, “Because the piping material is critical to the overall success of the ground heat exchanger (GHX) in a geoexchange system, PPI TN-55 focuses on piping, fittings, and manifold materials. TN-55 lists the technical requirements for systems using HDPE, PEX, and PE-RT piping, plus requirements for PP pipes used as indoor piping, headers, and manifolds.”
A coil of PE4710 HDPE ground loop piping configured as a premanufactured U-bend assembly. Photo courtesy of Centennial Plastics.
The new technical note describes eight types of installation techniques, such as vertical boreholes, inclined or angled configurations, horizontal directional drilling (HDD), and energy piles, and discusses design topics, such as the effects of borehole depth on static water column pressure. It also addresses why oxygen diffusion barrier layers are typically not required for ground heat exchanger piping.
MacNevin continued, “The new TN-55 is intended to be a valuable resource on piping information, but this is just one of the latest tools available to specifiers and designers of geothermal heating and cooling systems. Details about pipe installation and pressure testing are found in PPI Model Specification MS-7, which published in 2023, and industry codes such as CSA/ANSI/IGSHPA C448 and the Uniform Mechanical Code.”
PPI is the non-profit North American trade association representing the plastic pipe industry, including several manufacturers of geothermal pipes, fittings, manifolds, and vaults. PPI formed its Geothermal Steering Committee in 2018 to develop industry publications, collaborate on codes, and create educational information about these systems.
A HDPE vault for connections of ground loop piping. Photo courtesy of PPI.
The revised PPI TN-55 is available directly from PPI at: www.plasticpipe.org/common/Uploaded files/Technical/TN-55.pdf
Additional information and data about ground source geothermal systems are available from the PPI Building & Construction Division at www.plasticpipe.org/buildingconstruction
TotalFit™ is the professional-grade, engineered polymer (EP), push-to-connect fitting solution that provides greater value for residential projects with the same versatility and speed as brass push-to-connect fittings. Ideal for residential repair, maintenance, or remodels for potable hot-water and cold-water distribution piping systems in single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, and condominiums, TotalFit is designed for use with Read more
TotalFit™ is the professional-grade, engineered polymer (EP), push-to-connect fitting solution that provides greater value for residential projects with the same versatility and speed as brass push-to-connect fittings.
Ideal for residential repair, maintenance, or remodels for potable hot-water and cold-water distribution piping systems in single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, and condominiums, TotalFit is designed for use with PEX, PE-RT, CPVC, and copper piping systems.
The innovation features patent-pending technology to provide a strong, lasting connection professionals can depend on, and TotalFit is one of the only full-featured, EP, push-to-connect fittings on the market.
Available in sizes from ½” to 1″, the TotalFit solution offers about a 30% savings over brass push-to-connect fittings, and it meets or exceeds all performance requirements of the PEX system performance standard, ASTM F877, as well as the push-fitting performance standard, ASSE 1061.
The complete offering is approved by the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and International Plumbing Code (IPC) for direct burial in soil or concrete (with 4 to 6 mil poly wrap) as well as behind walls without access panels. Additionally, the offering is solidly backed by a 25-year product warranty for added peace of mind.
Get more with Uponor TotalFit for residential plumbing repairs, maintenance, and remodels.
Uponor TotalFit™ is the professional-grade, engineered polymer (EP), push-to-connect fitting system that provides greater value for residential projects with the same versatility and speed as brass push-to-connect fittings. Designed for use with copper, CPVC, PE-RT, and PEX piping systems, TotalFit is ideal for service repair, maintenance, remodels, and retrofits for hot and cold potable-water piping Read more
Uponor TotalFit™ is the professional-grade, engineered polymer (EP), push-to-connect fitting system that provides greater value for residential projects with the same versatility and speed as brass push-to-connect fittings.
Designed for use with copper, CPVC, PE-RT, and PEX piping systems, TotalFit is ideal for service repair, maintenance, remodels, and retrofits for hot and cold potable-water piping systems in single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, condominiums, dormitories, and more.
With an innovative design for a strong, long-lasting, trusted connection, a 25-year product warranty, and durable EP materials that offer an average of 30% savings over brass push-to-connect fittings, TotalFit is fit for a pro.
The complete offering includes 33 of the highest-volume push-to-connect fittings in sizes from ½” to 1″ to meet the greatest market need. TotalFit also meets or exceeds all performance requirements for ASTM F877 and ASSE 1061 and is approved by the IPC and UPC for direct burial in soil or concrete (with 4 to 6 mil poly wrap) as well as behind walls without access panels.
For more information about these revolutionary push-to-connect fittings, visit
SharkBite Max fittings build on the brand’s trusted push-to-connect technology with key improvements for stronger, faster and better connections. Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC), a leading manufacturer of premium plumbing products, launched its new SharkBite Max push-to-connect fittings — re-engineered to deliver the same reliability as its 1st generation fittings but with new product enhancements that Read more
SharkBite Max fittings build on the brand’s trusted push-to-connect technology with key improvements for stronger, faster and better connections.
Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC), a leading manufacturer of premium plumbing products, launched its new SharkBite Max push-to-connect fittings — re-engineered to deliver the same reliability as its 1st generation fittings but with new product enhancements that provide more strength and an easier installation.
“RWC continues to drive innovation in the plumbing industry by creating products that make installations smoother, quicker and long-lasting,” said Will Kilpatrick, EVP and President of RWC Americas. “SharkBite Max fittings allow plumbers to complete their projects with the confidence of knowing that the fittings they’re using will provide their customers with a high-quality and reliable connection.”
SharkBite Max fittings offer plumbers several new benefits:
- Stronger. The original brass body now has a reinforced stainless-steel collar for added strength, allowing the fitting to handle up to double the burst pressure compared to the SharkBite (1st Generation) fitting.
- Easier to install. Plumbing projects often involve working in tight spaces, and the new design makes it even easier to make a connection. SharkBite Max fittings require half the insertion effort as the original fitting, allowing for seamless installations and quicker emergency repairs in wet lines.
- Fast and versatile. Ideal for faster pipe transitions and repairs, SharkBite Max fittings are compatible with PEX, copper, CPVC, PE-RT and HDPE pipe. Plus, they no longer require a tube liner for PEX connections.
Building off the first generation SharkBite technology, the new patented SharkBite Max fittings will continue giving plumbers the peace of mind of knowing that they won’t receive callbacks, improving overall customer satisfaction and maintaining their strong reputation.
Explore SharkBite Max fittings further here.
Developed, engineered and manufactured in the U.S., push-to-connect fittings offer easy and fast installation. NIBCO INC. expands its Wrot Racer® push fittings to include new configurations such as reducing and repair tees and couplings, additional sizes of male and female thread adapters, thread elbows and caps with drains. The Wrot Racer line is designed to join Read more
Developed, engineered and manufactured in the U.S., push-to-connect fittings offer easy and fast installation.
NIBCO INC. expands its Wrot Racer® push fittings to include new configurations such as reducing and repair tees and couplings, additional sizes of male and female thread adapters, thread elbows and caps with drains.
The Wrot Racer line is designed to join copper, CPVC-CTS, PEX and PE-RT (with stiffeners) for easy transitions between piping systems. Featuring a patented fitting design, installations are easily made within seconds.
“We are always working to add new sizes that help our customers be more efficient,” said Marilyn Morgan, senior product manager-metal fittings, NIBCO. “Having these additional new configurations of our high-quality, U.S.-made Wrot Racer push fittings that are quick and easy to install is part of this initiative.”
Wrot Racer push fittings are manufactured in the U.S. of 99.9 percent pure wrot copper. Naturally lead free, the fittings feature antimicrobial properties and zero dezincification, providing for safe, clean drinking water connections for both residential and commercial applications.
Available in 1/2″ to 1″ sizes, the lightweight and compact Wrot Racer fittings are able to be installed wet or dry and can handle applications up to 200 psi and 200 degrees. The new fittings feature stainless steel gripper rings to ensure a secure connection. Wrot Racer fittings are ideal for tight-space installations and can also be removed and reused, avoiding wasted materials.
Manufactured from recyclable materials, Wrot Racer fittings are environmentally green and meet a variety of certifications and standards including ANSI/NSF 14, 61, 372 and ASSE 1061.
For more information, visit https://www.nibco.com/wrotracer/