The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI), has published a new recommendation related to the direct connection of plastic piping materials CPVC, PE-RT, PEX, and PP to tankless water heaters. Available on PPI’s website, PPI Recommendation H Direct Connection of Plastic Piping Materials to Tankless Water Heaters for Domestic (i.e. residential) Applications provides clear guidance on Read more
PEX
The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI), has published a new recommendation related to the direct connection of plastic piping materials CPVC, PE-RT, PEX, and PP to tankless water heaters.
Available on PPI’s website, PPI Recommendation H Direct Connection of Plastic Piping Materials to Tankless Water Heaters for Domestic (i.e. residential) Applications provides clear guidance on the question of direct connection of these piping materials to tankless water heaters. PPI is the major trade association representing the plastic pipe industry.
“PPI Recommendation H answers questions which plumbers and builders have been asking about whether it is appropriate for plastic pressure pipe materials to connect directly to the cold-water inlet and hot-water outlet of domestic tankless water heaters, without the use of metallic flex connectors. Based on our research, these direct connections are usually acceptable,” explained Lance MacNevin, P. Eng., director of engineering for PPI’s Building & Construction Division.
“To help answer this question, PPI and our members researched Canadian and US model plumbing codes,” he continued, “reviewed the published literature on dozens of tankless water heaters, and confirmed the recommendations of plastic piping system manufacturers. Based on the proven high-temperature capabilities of these piping materials and the relatively consistent water temperature control of modern tankless water heaters, there is no technical reason to prohibit direct connections. Of course, installers must follow local code requirements and the manufacturer installation instructions.”
“As stated in Recommendation H: Piping systems using the materials CPVC, PE-RT, PEX, and PP, which carry a pressure rating of 100 psi at 180°F (690 kPa @ 82°C), and which are intended and certified for hot and cold potable water distribution systems according to industry standards and relevant codes, may be connected directly to tankless water heaters which are intended for domestic (i.e. residential) applications, unless prohibited by local plumbing code or the specific water heater manufacturer.”
According to PPI President David Fink, “The research on this topic was prompted by an inquiry from a major builders group. The rapid development of Recommendation H demonstrates the ability of PPI members to collaborate and respond quickly to industry questions about responsible usage of plastic piping materials.”
Published on PPI’s website directly at recommendation-h-direct-connection-tankless, Recommendation H is one of several PPI documents related to the design and installation of pressure pipe materials for plumbing and mechanical applications, which are all published as a service to the industry. Additional information about PPI’s Building & Construction Division can be found at plasticpipe.org/building-construction/index.html.
Some brands become so popular people begin to refer to all products in the category by that name, such as Kleenex or Band-Aid. Similarly, push-to-connect fittings weren’t quite as popular as they are today until Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC) introduced them to the U.S. market nearly 20 years ago. It revolutionized the category and made Read more
Some brands become so popular people begin to refer to all products in the category by that name, such as Kleenex or Band-Aid.
Similarly, push-to-connect fittings weren’t quite as popular as they are today until Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC) introduced them to the U.S. market nearly 20 years ago. It revolutionized the category and made the work of contractors and plumbers quicker, more efficient and more reliable. Now, SharkBite brass push fittings are the industry standard for push-to-connect plumbing— so much so that some people refer to fittings from other brands as SharkBite.
SharkBite’s Journey to the U.S.
After seeing the success of its push-to-connect fittings in Australia, water control and plumbing solutions manufacturer RWC introduced the fittings in the U.S. market as the SharkBite push-to-connect plumbing system in 2004. Today, SharkBite has become so popular that it is estimated a fitting connection is made every 2.5 seconds, according to the manufacturer’s data.
Fittings That Pushed the Boundaries of Plumbing Tech
Before push-to-connect technology, plumbers could only rely on soldering, gluing or using a specialized tool to connect pipes. These methods are sufficient in some cases but can be challenging when transitioning between different pipe types or installing in tight spaces.
To address these issues, SharkBite designed its push-to-connect fittings to connect different pipe types such as PEX, copper, CPVC, PE-RT and HDPE in tight spaces without special tools, crimps, glue or soldering.
Further Advancing Push-to-connect Technology
With SharkBite’s success, especially as a solution for emergency repairs and pipe transitions, RWC continued to build upon its innovations in push-to-connect technology:
- SharkBite introduced its own brand of durable yet flexible PEX pipe into North America. The pipe enables quicker leak repairs compared to rigid copper pipe and is often quicker to install in tight spaces.
- The company launched 1-1/4 in., 1-1/2 in. and 2 in. SharkBite fittings, which gives contractors who work on commercial projects the ability to work quicker using push-to-connect technology.
- SharkBite launched EvoPEX fittings. The groundbreaking PEX-only fitting system for meter-to-fixture installation allows for faster and more reliable installations on new construction jobsites.
A Connection You Can Trust
Plumbers can trust the secure fit of a push-to-connect fitting thanks to its tight-sealing o-ring, pipe-locking stainless steel grab ring and corrosion-resistant brass body. All of its parts work together to make a 3-second connection long-lasting, and the fittings require no tools, can be connected in wet lines and are compatible with multiple types of pipe.
SharkBite’s Legacy
Every new product SharkBite introduces is created to empower contractors to work smarter, not harder. By reducing installation times, SharkBite gives contractors time back that they can spend on parts of their job that require more resources, like growing their business and investing in their workforce.
Michael Kornegay is the SharkBite product manager at RWC — a market leader and manufacturer of water control systems and plumbing solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications.
Jones Stephens, an industry leader in the manufacture and distribution of plumbing products, has launched a new line of Copper Stub Outs. Jones Stephens’ new Stub Outs line is a comprehensive assortment offering a broad range of product options sure to deliver the quality and reliability that installers expect on the job site. Essential for Read more
Jones Stephens, an industry leader in the manufacture and distribution of plumbing products, has launched a new line of Copper Stub Outs. Jones Stephens’ new Stub Outs line is a comprehensive assortment offering a broad range of product options sure to deliver the quality and reliability that installers expect on the job site.
Essential for any plumber, the new Stub Out product line provides a complete menu of sizes and styles that will support a job’s specific applications. Made with high quality, lead-free materials, Jones Stephens Stub Outs allow plumbers to install with confidence: each one carries the IAPMO approval and has a one-year Jones Stephens warranty.
The new line offers Stub Outs with both crimp and cold expansion designs for PEX connections with CPVC Socket connections arriving in Fall of 2020. The variety of styles include straights and elbows with and without mounting flanges and include closed end options for pressure testing. Additionally, the line includes Copper Tub/Shower Valve Connectors.
The new Stub Outs are available in a wide assortment of diameter and length sizes, ensuring that plumbers will find the exact dimension and configuration that they need to do the job.
To find out more information, visit www.jonesstephens.com.
Led by Vice President Doug Fulton, this new function will seek growth opportunities through corporate acquisitions and joint ventures, as well as internal product development. To further enhance Uponor North America’s ability to deliver innovative plumbing and heating solutions to its customers, the company has announced the creation of a new business function. This new business Read more
Led by Vice President Doug Fulton, this new function will seek growth opportunities through corporate acquisitions and joint ventures, as well as internal product development.
Vice President Doug Fulton, will lead new business venture development, for Uponor North America.
To further enhance Uponor North America’s ability to deliver innovative plumbing and heating solutions to its customers, the company has announced the creation of a new business function. This new business function will be led by Vice President Doug Fulton and called New Venture Development.
Reporting directly to President Bill Gray, Fulton will lead the exploration, incubation and integration of new products into Uponor’s existing business offerings, while also forging external partnerships. The overarching goal is to expand the company’s growth opportunities in ways that align with Uponor’s business strategy and customer insights.
Fulton’s responsibilities will encompass numerous areas related to corporate growth and expansion: Business Development (M&A/Partnerships), Business Incubation, Construction Services (including Building Information Management), Codes & Standards, Government & Industry Affairs, Project/Stage-Gate Management, and Uponor Innovation LLC.
As part of his business-incubation work, Fulton will oversee the company’s recently announced partnership with Reno, Nevada-based Pestan North America (PNA) to market and sell PNA’s proprietary PP-RCT pipe and fittings. (Note: PP-RCT stands for polypropylene, random copolymer, with modified crystallinity and temperature resistance.) Currently preparing for a formal launch of the product offering, Uponor will serve as PNA’s exclusive distributor throughout the United States and Canada.
“With the creation of our New Venture Development function, Uponor is doubling down on innovation,” says Gray. “We are emphasizing more than ever our commitment to providing innovative plumbing, heating and fire safety solutions to our customers.”
“The name New Venture Development reflects the way we see the business world evolving in the month and years ahead,” Gray continues. “While Uponor will continue to aggressively pursue direct product innovation internally, we envision an equal, if not greater, role for acquisitions, strategic partnerships and joint ventures, as we broaden our scope and capabilities.”
Most recently serving as Vice President of Product Marketing at Uponor, Fulton joined the company in 2017 as senior director of Corporate Strategy and Segment Marketing. He holds an M.B.A. from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Toledo.
Before joining Uponor, Fulton worked as Director of Marketing at Andersen Corporation, a national manufacturer of windows and patio doors. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Business Development – Midwest, for the Walt Disney Company. Fulton spent the first part of his career in various marketing leadership roles in the consumer products industry.
Residential plumbing and HVAC installers take note: you can pipe an entire home with the durability, flexibility and cost-effectiveness of PEX — for plumbing, fire sprinkler systems and radiant floor heating. Here’s how… PEX plumbing With more new homes plumbed with PEX than copper and CPVC combined, you’re probably already aware of the benefits of Read more
Residential plumbing and HVAC installers take note: you can pipe an entire home with the durability, flexibility and cost-effectiveness of PEX — for plumbing, fire sprinkler systems and radiant floor heating.
Here’s how…
PEX plumbing
With more new homes plumbed with PEX than copper and CPVC combined, you’re probably already aware of the benefits of plumbing with PEX. However, you may not know about a newer, smarter way to install a PEX plumbing system that goes in faster, uses less materials, requires fewer connections and minimizes your liability.
This innovative design is called Logic plumbing.
The Logic approach uses the flexibility of PEX pipe to minimize connections and reduce potential leak points while also incorporating multiport tees located near fixture groupings to limit the amount of pipe and connections needed.
What’s a multiport tee, you ask? It’s essentially a bunch of tees all molded together to create one long tee with multiple outlets. This design greatly reduces the number of fittings and connections needed to plumb a home (think: reduced materials cost and labor time).
Here’s an example of how a multiport tee saves installation time and materials: a flow-through multiport tee with six outlets has eight connections (six connections for the ports, a main flow-through inlet and a main flow-through outlet). Six regular tees, on the other hand, have a whopping 18 connections. That’s an increase of more than double the connections — and double the installation time.
Best of all, multiport tees are not considered manifolds, so they can be installed behind walls without the need for an access panel. Double win, there!
For a Logic layout, a main line connects to a multiport tee with distribution lines going out from the multiport to provide water to all fixtures in a single or adjacent grouping. This design uses significantly less pipe than a home-run layout, with just a few more connections. Plus, it requires considerably fewer connections compared to a trunk-and-branch installation.
For example, a 2,300-square-foot, two-story home using a Logic design requires only 637 feet of pipe while a home-run system uses 1,515 feet of pipe. And, while it’s true a Logic installation uses slightly more connections than a home-run layout (59 vs. 48 in the 2,300-square-foot, two-story home example), the amount of pipe savings is significantly more beneficial with the labor and material savings you get with less pipe to install.
A Logic layout also installs much faster compared to a trunk-and-branch system due to the vast reduction in connections. With the two-story home example, a Logic layout uses a mere 16 fittings and 59 connections compared to a whopping 96 fittings and 165 connections for trunk and branch.
PEX multipurpose fire sprinkler systems
If you’re a licensed plumber who wants to add an additional service to your offering, check out PEX multipurpose fire sprinkler systems. These systems combine the fire sprinklers with a home’s cold-water plumbing. It’s genius!
Installation is remarkably easy — the sprinkler is essentially just another fixture to tie into the plumbing line. For most contractors who already install PEX plumbing systems and have the tools, knowledge and, most importantly, the relationships with the home builders, this is a slam dunk.
Depending on the jurisdiction, multipurpose systems typically don’t need check valves or backflow preventers, and because they combine with the potable plumbing, they don’t use antifreeze, so all those added costs are eliminated.
To get started in most jurisdictions, licensed plumbers just need the appropriate training and a quality design that meets the NFPA 13D standard requirements for home fire sprinkler systems.
If you’re interested in learning more, email me at kim.bliss@uponor.com, and I can get you all the information you need to add this profitable new service to your business.
PEX hydronic radiant floor heating
There’s nothing like the comfort of radiant floor heating — ask anyone who has experienced it. And, homeowners will pay nicely for a quality radiant floor heating system, so there is definitely income potential if you can learn to do it right.
That said, with radiant floor heating, there’s a little more to learn. But, like fire sprinkler systems, starting with a proper design is key. If your design is wrong in the beginning, there’s not much you can do to fix the system once it’s installed.
Take advantage of the radiant design services many PEX manufacturers offer to guide you through the process. There are several design factors to know, including floor R-values, heat-loss calculations, pipe sizing, loop lengths, pump sizing, manifold types and more.
Once you learn the basics of radiant design and get a few small jobs under your belt, you have the potential to take your expertise to the next level with bigger, more profitable projects. But again, be sure to get the proper design and training before you tackle a radiant project. It will be well worth it in the long run.
To get a jumpstart on all things radiant, visit the following industry websites at radiantprofessionalsalliance.org, healthyheating.com or heatinghelp.com.
Kim Bliss is the content development manager at Uponor. She can be reached at kim.bliss@uponor.com.