Polyvinyl chloride reinforced with fiberglass for external walls. Polypropylene pipes reinforced with fiberglass

In order not to spoil everything with low-quality pipes when distributing the heating system, it is necessary to choose the “right” manufacturer and pipes of the corresponding category. There are a lot of manufacturers of polypropylene pipes in the world, but a unified marking system has not yet been developed and often products from the same material with similar characteristics have a different designation. However, some designations are standard, and knowing them will make it easier to select a material with the required technical characteristics.

Characteristics and marking of polypropylene pipes

To navigate the names and understand the difference, let's talk a little about grades of polypropylene. Any of them is indicated by two Latin letters: "PP" or in the Russian version "PP". Then there may be numbers or other letters that “mask” the types of materials:

It is PPR pipes (PPR in the Russian version) at this stage that are considered the best, safest and most reliable. Products PPR, PP-random can be used in centralized heating systems, as well as individual, if there is a gas or liquid fuel boiler. If a solid fuel boiler with automatic overheating protection is installed (it works at a coolant temperature of 95 ° C), a special polymer can be used for wiring the heating system, which has an increased temperature resistance: PPs. It normally tolerates an internal environment of 95 ° C and brief overheating up to 110 ° C.

If there is a solid fuel unit without automation in the system, no polypropylene will survive. Then for wiring you will need either copper or steel pipes. Polypropylene can be used in networks with such a boiler only if there are liquid heat accumulators, which smooth out temperature differences, increase system safety and reduce the cost of heating, while increasing its comfort.

The next thing to pay attention to is pressure. This parameter is marked in Latin letters PN, and the numbers behind them indicate the nominal water pressure that this pipe can withstand for 50 years at an ambient temperature of 20 ° C. They produce pipes PN 10, PN 16, PN 20 and PN 25. Accordingly these products will last 50 years at a pressure of 10, 16, 20 and 25 bar / cm 2 and an ambient temperature of 20 ° C.

Changes in temperature and/or pressure significantly shorten the service life. For example, the service life of products PN 16 at 50 ° C is no longer 50 years, but only 7-8. You also need to know that the greater the pressure, the thicker the pipe wall, although PN 20 and PN 25 have a reinforcement layer, which is why their walls and outer diameter are smaller than those of PN 16 counterparts.

In principle, PN 10, PN 16 brands can also be used for individual heating. They are suitable for coolant temperatures not higher than 70 ° C. Peak and for a short time can withstand heating up to 95 ° C. Their service life under such conditions, of course, is not 50 years, but they will work for ten years. As a positive aspect of such pipes, a lower cost can be noted (compared to PN 20 and PN 25). But there is a very significant drawback: a large expansion coefficient. Each meter of pipe, when heated to 70 ° C, increases by almost 1 cm. If such pipes are hidden in a wall or in a floor screed without a compensation circuit or loop, then after a while they will destroy nearby materials. If they are laid on top (fixed to the wall with clips / holders), then they will noticeably sag. If in a “cold” form such a pipeline looks normal and the eye does not linger on it, then hanging pipes significantly spoil the appearance. Therefore, such pipes are used more often for distributing cold or hot water (DHW temperature rarely exceeds 45-50 ° C and thermal expansion is not of such magnitude).

Reinforced polypropylene (PPR) pipe

For heating, reinforced polypropylene pipes are usually used (marking PN 20 and PN 25). Both types are suitable for both centralized and individual heating. These brands differ in the type of reinforcing material: fiberglass is used in PN 20, aluminum is used in PN 25 (solid sheet or perforated depends on the manufacturer). Despite the different materials of the reinforcing layer, both types have an expansion coefficient significantly lower than that of purely polymer pipes - ¾ less. But when using fiberglass, it is 5-7% higher than in foil products.

The best brands (Wain Ecoplastik, Valtec, Banninger, etc.) have a large number of fakes. In addition to the low price (compared to the original ones), fakes can be identified by eye. A quality pipe has even layers. This is the main indicator of quality. If the reinforcement is located in the middle, then both layers of polypropylene have exactly the same thickness in any place, although all of the above manufacturers have a layer of aluminum closer to the outer edge.

Another sign by which you can identify a fake: almost all market leaders use aluminum butt welding. Such pipes are more reliable, although their production requires expensive equipment. The photo above shows the seam "overlap". This is a clear sign of cheap pipes, and low, to put it mildly, quality.

The outer and inner surfaces of the original products are smooth. The inscription is applied clearly, exactly along the ruler, not smeared. In addition, in order to avoid claims in crafts, the name is often slightly distorted: an extra letter is omitted or added, another is replaced.

One of the EcoPlastik fakes. If you look closely, you will see a spelling error (click to enlarge)

So, just by looking closely at such “little things”, you can identify a fake. In general, if you have definitely decided on the brand, do not be too lazy to go to the official website and ask how the pipes of the selected brand should look, what the surface should be: matte or smooth, what color, what the logo that is applied looks like, study the range of products that it produces this firm.

Fiberglass reinforced pipes

In PN 20 pipes, fiberglass is used as a reinforcing material. In general, initially, this type was intended for supplying hot water. Of course, they will also feel good in most heating systems. And they will work well. Not 50 years old, but not a year or two either. Provided that these are really high-quality pipes, and not a fake. And now we come to the important point: how to define quality. Regrettably, you need to focus on the price: Europeans produce the best pipes. You can't argue here: experience. But their prices are high.

Now about the pipes themselves and their use in heating. In this type of products, neither the color of the reinforcing insert, nor the material from which it is made, play practically no role. Fiberglass can be orange, red, blue or green. This is just a coloring pigment and does not affect anything. If you can focus on color, then only on the longitudinal strip that is applied to the surface of the pipe: red indicates suitability for hot environments, blue for cold ones, both together - about versatility.

Now about the features of the use of fiberglass-reinforced pipes specifically for heating. They can be set, but with some reservations. This is due to the second disadvantage of polypropylene (except for a large thermal expansion) - high oxygen permeability. At high temperatures, a large amount of oxygen in the system leads to a fairly active destruction of metal-containing elements. If the system uses really reliable and high-quality aluminum radiators that comply with certificates (a prerequisite is from primary aluminum), then there should not be any big problems. But if their quality is in doubt, or cast-iron radiators are installed, then only pipes with foil should be used, which significantly reduces the amount of oxygen passing through the walls of the PPR pipes. And one more thing: the permeability depends on the wall thickness, but not much, but depends on the quality of the material. So we again returned to the fact that in order for heating from polypropylene pipes to work for a long time, quality is required.

But most of the installers advise installing pipes with fiberglass for heating. Why? Installing them is faster. Approximately twice. And all because in order to obtain a high-quality weld in foil pipes, it is necessary to remove the foil layer and part of the material that is above it. This requires a special device (each diameter has its own). As usual, a good tool is never cheap, and you don’t want to spend money on it at all. In addition, the stripping procedure itself in total lengthens the installation procedure of the system by almost two times. And skill in this matter is also needed. Actually, their reasons are clear. But if you are doing heating for yourself, then they are unlikely to solve something for you. Therefore, carefully read about the reinforcement with foil. Here, too, everything is not easy.

Foil reinforced pipes

Polypropylene pipes reinforced with aluminum are designated as follows: PEX / Al / PEX. There are two types of foil location: closer to the outer edge and in the middle. There is one nuance in the installation of reinforced polypropylene pipes: the foil should not be allowed to come into contact with the coolant. Because even if water is used as a heat carrier, it is not chemically neutral (salts are always present even in soft water). Entering into an oxidation reaction with the foil, water destroys it, seeping further and further into the pipe. Sooner or later (rather sooner) such a pipe will break. For a descendant, almost all European manufacturers produce pipes with foil located closer to the edge. It is they who require stripping: removing the outer layer of polypropylene and foil. But as a result, during welding, it turns out that the metallized layer is protected from interaction with water by a thick layer of material.

When using pipes in which the foil layer is in the middle, not stripping is required, but trimming. For this, a special device is also used, but of a different plan - it cuts off the foil inside the pipe by a few millimeters without destroying the layers of polypropylene. This procedure is simpler and faster (sellers call such pipes "lazy" understand why?). In principle, if the seam is made correctly and correctly, polypropylene is welded to each other, then such a seam is more or less reliable. But if there is a micropore, then water will penetrate into it and cause the pipe to delaminate. And the presence of micropores is guaranteed with an insufficiently vertical cut, insufficient experience (incorrect exposure during welding) and incomplete removal of the foil, and it is unrealistic to control how carefully the foil is removed between the polymer layers ... All this is fraught with ruptures, leaks and violation of the integrity of the system. How they are formed is shown in the figure below.

Such a phenomenon brings especially a lot of trouble when your pipes are hidden in the wall or in the floor. Repair will be long and difficult. In some cases (in winter) it is faster to make a new wiring “on top”, leaving the old one in the wall (but draining the water). And micropores in the seams happen very often: it is almost impossible to control the quality of the foil removal between the layers of polypropylene, which means that it is unrealistic to guarantee the tightness of the seam. And this is in the case of a high-quality pipe, but what if a fake comes across, like the one in the photo above? How to trim such a product? The quality of the seam is generally out of the question.

Weld difference after several years of operation (click to enlarge)

This arrangement has one more drawback: only the upper part of the pipe material is welded to the fitting, and not both layers. And this, even under the condition of welding without a microgap, significantly reduces the reliability of the pipeline. On the other hand, such products (sloths) are much cheaper than their European counterparts. Everything is explained simply here: they are produced by firms that are trying to win in price (Turkish and Asian manufacturers). But how will these savings affect the future? Most likely, an urgent replacement or repair of a part of the pipeline, or the entire system, will be required.

All of the above is true for a continuous sheet of foil as a reinforcing layer. But there is also perforated foil. It is produced by the Turkish company Kalde. The manufacturer claims that due to the presence of perforation, it is not necessary to remove the foil layer: when welding through the pores, adhesion of materials occurs, which ensures the strength of the connection. As far as durability, it's probably the same. But what about the reaction of foil with water and oxygen permeability? Surely these figures are worse than those of pipes with solid foil. Although here the situation is the same as in PPR pipes reinforced with fiberglass: when using high-quality aluminum radiators, the system will serve for a long time.

Results

I don’t know about you, but for myself I can draw the following conclusions. If the wiring is hidden, polypropylene pipes reinforced with solid foil are definitely needed. Moreover, the foil should be located closer to the outer edge, and not in the middle. If the pipes are located “on top”, it is quite possible to use high-quality pipes for heating with fiberglass (but not in those systems where there is a solid fuel boiler).

According to its technical characteristics, polypropylene is a universal building material that is used for the installation and reconstruction of industrial facilities, public and residential buildings.

Currently, reinforced polypropylene pipes are widely used for the installation of heating systems, water supply and sanitary facilities. In many respects, they are significantly superior to similar products made from other materials.

The main characteristics of polypropylene pipes with fiberglass

Reinforced plastic pipes are more convenient and reliable in operation than conventional polypropylene pipes. When heated, polypropylene pipes increase and lose the necessary rigidity. Therefore, fiberglass is used to enhance the rigidity and durability of products. Fiberglass products are more resistant to extreme temperatures and aggressive substances.

Polypropylene pipes reinforced with fiberglass by extrusion, in the process of which a three-layer structure is formed. The outer and inner layers are made of polypropylene, the inner layer is made of fiberglass.

Fiberglass reinforces the pipe structure. Such products have increased strength and ductility. They are not subject to stratification, as they have a holistic structure. The fiberglass layer is organically fused into the polypropylene.

Advantages of reinforced polypropylene pipes

have anti-corrosion properties;
withstand high working pressure;
weather resistant;
low level of hydraulic resistance;
environmentally safe.

Polypropylene pipes reinforced with fiberglass can be operated at temperatures from -50 to +350 degrees and have a service life of approximately 50 years. Reinforced models are marked as PPP-FB-PPR.

Features of the installation of polypropylene products

There are several types of welding:

polyfusion (coupling), pipes with a diameter of not more than 63 mm are used;
butt (flange), diameter not less than 63 mm;
using electrical fittings.

fiberglass products cannot be bent, therefore, tees and corners are used for connection. Polypropylene pipes are used to create a variety of designs using fittings, which are divided by fastening methods, material of manufacture, etc.

According to the connection methods, there are:

flanged;
crimp;
threaded;
welded.

Polypropylene fittings are mainly welded and threaded, and have certain notches that set their position when welding. For repair in difficult conditions electric fittings are used having an electric heater.

During the installation of the pipeline, a certain order of work is observed. Since the structure of the products does not contain metal, the elements necessary in size are measured and cut with wire cutters.

In case of insufficient heating joints will be unreliable, and when overheated, deformation of the structure occurs. Installation of the product must be carried out at an air temperature of at least 5 degrees.

To avoid contact of water with fiberglass in the water supply system and possible adverse effects on human health, facers are used during pipeline installation. With their help, the internal reinforced layers are cut to a shallow depth. In the process of heating the pipe and its welding, the outer layers are melted and cover the middle one. As a result contact of fiberglass with water is excluded and at the same time improve the quality of installation.

The disadvantage of fiberglass structures is that they have a lower resistance to internal pressure. Therefore, during the installation process, more fasteners must be used. However, they have low thermal conductivity, which allows you to maintain the temperature of the coolant.

When heated, fiberglass has a greater expansion compared to the aluminum layer (by 5-6%). However, the process of installing such a pipeline is much simpler than for models with aluminum reinforcement and does not require additional processing of products. As a result saves installation time and additional costs without compromising the quality of the work.

The areas of application of polypropylene reinforced pipes are very versatile. The traditional direction is the use in plumbing, sewerage or heating systems.

For sewer facilities, products with a length of about 4 m and a diameter of 16 mm to 125 mm are used, in water supply systems - with a diameter of up to 110 mm. For underfloor heating, products with a diameter of not more than 17 mm are used.

Systems of polypropylene pipelines located under the roads are protected by reinforced concrete boxes. The advantage of reinforced products is that when freezing, the material retains its integrity. Also, they do not form deposits.

Large diameter fiberglass products can be used in ventilation systems, as they are light in weight and do not create large loads on the wooden partitions of structures.

Fiberglass reinforced polypropylene pipes are widely used in agriculture - in drainage and irrigation systems. They are used as technological pipelines for the transportation of liquids and gases that are non-aggressive to the pipe material.

Fiberglass pipes are usually reinforced with fiberglass in various colors - orange, red, blue or green. Such a coloring pigment does not affect anything. A colored strip can be applied on the longitudinal surface, which means that the red one is suitable for hot water supply, the blue one for cold water supply, and two at once - about the versatility of the model.

When choosing polypropylene pipes, you must be guided by the following parameters:

product diameter;
maximum temperature value;
limiting pressure value;
chemical impact;
linear extension.

Of great importance is the degree of expected load on the pipes, the type of water supply, the main points of installing the heating system.

Polypropylene reinforced pipes in many respects and characteristics have proven to be the most reliable and easy to use. At the same time, they are affordable, aesthetic and make it easy to create a modern and durable system of engineering communications.

Polypropylene as a material for the production of pipes appeared a long time ago. Its appearance on the market cannot be called an unexpected fact. The world has long and hard moved towards the polymer revolution, especially when it comes to the construction industry.

However, the advent of polypropylene or PP, as it is called for short, has significantly shaken the position of old materials, which were previously well sold.

Polypropylene has occupied its niche, concerning mainly high-quality pipelines for cold and hot water supply. Reinforced polypropylene pipes, which are practically devoid of flaws, are especially popular now. Let's consider them in more detail.

Article content

Why does polypropylene need reinforcement?

Is it really impossible to do without reinforcing this durable polymer? After all, PP itself has excellent strength characteristics. It is considered perhaps the most durable plastic in the pipe industry.

It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. Yes, on the one hand, PP really has unique strength characteristics. Only PP pipes are marked from PN10 to PN20, that is, they are able to withstand pressures up to 20 bar. The highest pressure threshold in private water supply pipelines, if encountered, is rather an exception.

Polypropylene products are difficult to bend. They have thick walls that improve the annular rigidity of the structure. For large PP pipes, the wall thickness can reach up to 20 mm, which, you see, is quite an impressive figure.

All this together and gives such a unique increase in strength. What can be called a weak point of PP is thermal strength or the level of thermal expansion.

Any material has a certain coefficient of thermal expansion. The higher it is, the more the line is deformed during prolonged contact with high temperatures.

So, for PVC, this figure is very high. PVC products must not be used for transporting hot media. With PP, the situation is similar, except that it can withstand much higher temperatures.

However, this does not solve the main problem. The thermal expansion coefficient of PP is almost twice that of metal products. This negatively affects the quality of the entire system.

If the pipe expands, then the distances between the molecules in its walls change. The material is deformed, its strength level decreases. Not to mention the increased likelihood of breakouts and damage.

It is the reinforcement of PP pipes that allows you to get rid of this problem.

Reinforcement methods

There are two options for reinforcing products. Each option involves solving some specific problems.

Reinforced products are called PPR pipes. Reinforcement of polypropylene occurs:

aluminum;
fiberglass.

We note right away that both the first and second options differ significantly in price from standard models. Polypropylene reinforced pipes at times more expensive than usual, but the quality is much higher.

PPR pipes are conceived in such a way that they can be easily integrated into a water supply or hot heating system with a nominal high pressure. Therefore, their price is more than justified. In addition, reinforced PP pipes have few competitors. No other plastic can boast of the same properties, and you are probably already familiar with the prices of metal products and the costs of working with them.

Use of aluminum

Aluminum reinforcement of PP pipelines consists in embedding a layer of aluminum. This layer can be either solid or profiled.

Most often, reinforcement occurs due to the introduction into the polypropylene base:

aluminum foil.
aluminum sheet.
aluminum profiled sheet.

Foil reinforcement is the cheapest, but at the same time quite a popular option. Reduces the coefficient of thermal expansion of the pipe, allowing it to be used in hot water systems. They easily withstand temperatures up to +90 degrees Celsius.

Using a single sheet is a rarer option. There are more such products. Their frame absorbs almost any load and allows you to bend the workpiece as you wish. The temperature regime of such products already reaches 140 degrees Celsius.

A profiled or perforated aluminum pipe sample is the same PP billet, only with non-uniform aluminum. As a rule, a reinforcement sheet has a certain number of holes.

The use of aluminum is fully justified. It is widely used to strengthen the properties of the product, giving them the necessary stability for use in heating systems.

Combined with the durability, lightness, and other well-known properties of PP, this results in an almost perfect piece.

Use of fiberglass

Fiberglass reinforced polypropylene pipes are an alternative to aluminum. Unlike aluminum, fiberglass is easier to manufacture and incorporate into a structure.

There are even fiberglass samples synthesized with plastic. The advantage of fiberglass is in the simplification of manufacturing processes.

Pipes reinforced with fiberglass are easily manufactured at the factory. They are cheaper and easier to handle. Even connecting them together is more convenient.

The glass fiber layer in butt welding fittings should only be cleaned superficially, while the aluminum layer should be removed until the pipe profile is completely cleaned.

However, it was not without drawbacks. The coefficient of thermal expansion of fiberglass reinforced products is lower than that of aluminum competitors. They withstand pressure up to 15 bar, while aluminum pipes hold 25 bar, and this is far from the limit.

In general, fiberglass PP pipes are softer and more pliable than aluminum ones, but they are also cheaper, which means they will definitely find their buyer.

The use of reinforced PP pipes (video)

External features

It remains to consider the characteristics and external features. They are somewhat different from standard polypropylene products.

We have already partially described the characteristics of PP products, it remains to add a little about their dimensions. The most popular version of the size of products made of polypropylene from 20 to 50 mm. In the range from 20 to 50 mm, it is the nominal diameter of the pipe that is taken into account, and not its full cross section.

As we noted above, the walls of PP pipes are unlike the thicker walls of pipes made of other materials. For example, in a pipe with a diameter of 50 mm, the total sectional size will be approximately 70 mm, because 50 mm will have a nominal diameter and 20 mm will have a wall thickness.

There are some restrictions associated with the diameters of polypropylene pipelines. Samples larger than 50 mm are found, but less frequently, and the actual production limit for a mass sample is at the level of about 150 mm. Everything that follows already concerns private orders. Such restrictions are justified by the characteristics of the material itself.

From a visual point of view, reinforced polypropylene is quite easy to distinguish. Take, for example, a sample with a diameter of 50 mm. The thickness of its walls will be at least 10 mm. In conventional PP pipes, the entire wall has a uniform white or gray color.

In reinforced pipes, the wall is heterogeneous and consists of rings. The inner and outer ring are in polypropylene and still have the same light gray hue. The middle or second ring will have a different color. It can be red, green, yellow and even blue. The presence of such a colored layer indicates that the presented products belong to the class of reinforced ones.

Unfortunately, it is impossible at first glance to distinguish fiberglass-reinforced materials from aluminum-reinforced ones. Manufacturers rarely adhere to any unified standards. The green color of the intermediate layer will not necessarily mean that the workpiece is reinforced with aluminum sheet.

To make sure completely better contact the seller for clarification.

Polypropylene in the construction industry is used for various tasks. However, the most useful and popular area of its application is the creation of pipes for heating and water supply systems.

It is from polypropylene that plastic modern pipelines are assembled. Polypropylene pipes reinforced with fiberglass are especially popular, as the reviews and their characteristics are truly unique.

Purpose and application

Technical polypropylene samples are used for the assembly of predominantly civil pipelines. By itself, polypropylene has excellent properties, as well as good reviews. It does not react to corrosion, has a high operating pressure and is very durable.

In terms of strength, this material is head and shoulders above all other building polymers. However, strength is also achieved due to the rather impressive thickness of the pipe walls. For polypropylene samples, their thickness can reach up to 6-7 mm.

The only problem with such products is that polypropylene is able to expand from thermal loads. In this case, the pipe not only increases in size, but also loses a substantial percentage of its rigidity.

It was to eliminate such problems that polypropylene products were invented inside with fiberglass. Their peculiarity is that inside the pipe there is a reinforcing layer of fiberglass. This is a kind of rigid frame for the pipe, which will keep the polymer in its normal state.

They also manufacture products with aluminum reinforcement. They are also good and suitable for various jobs that are associated with the installation of pipelines. However, aluminum is not as reliable in terms of limiting thermal expansion. But welding pipes made of polypropylene reinforced with fiberglass is much more reliable in this regard.

It is worth noting that the developers have a special marking for polypropylene pipes reinforced with fiberglass. Labeling was invented in order to simplify the task for buyers. Products made from ordinary polypropylene are labeled with an indicator of PP.

The PPR indicator is already the marking of a reinforced pipe. And PPRS is a model made of polypropylene, which is reinforced with the latest development in this area. In their manufacture, a special copolymer is used, which qualitatively improves all the properties of the product.

Characteristics and properties

Characteristics of a polypropylene pipe reinforced with fiberglass are its main advantage. Which, by the way, is quite natural.

PP pipe reinforced with fiberglass is able to withstand severe loads. First of all, welding takes into account the increase in rigidity and ductility of the product. Fiberglass here works as a stabilizing frame.

The operating temperature limit is also significantly increased. PPR tube reinforced with fiberglass is operated without problems at temperatures from -50 to + 350 degrees. Moreover, in the specified range, the size and welding of the pipe will change only slightly. The average thermal expansion is only 1 centimeter per meter.

With an increase in working marks, the pipe will lose in rigidity, but only slightly. And the most important thing is that the inner reinforced layer of fiberglass threads will not allow it to burst even if critical indicators are exceeded.

The technical characteristics of glass fiber reinforced pipes also allow them to be used in outdoor pipelines.

When working with conventional materials, it is not recommended to use standard plastic products outside the building, since after several cycles of freezing and thawing there is a high chance of damage to them. But a plastic pipe reinforced with fiberglass does not set such restrictions.

Another big plus is that PPR pipe reinforced with fiberglass is much easier to install, welding is better than its aluminum counterparts. When trimming models with aluminum reinforcement, they need to be additionally cleaned, calibrated and the remains of the metal sheet removed.

Fiberglass is introduced into the product by extruding it. As a result, welding provides a completely monolithic material, which lends itself perfectly to various manipulations and is easy to work with.

Advantages and disadvantages

Based on the properties described above, we can highlight the main pros and cons of polypropylene pipes with fiberglass reinforcement.

Main advantages:

Durability;
Corrosion resistance;
Minimum temperature expansion;
Increased structural rigidity and overall strength;
Simplified installation process;
Versatility;
Wide operating temperature range;
The price of a fiberglass-reinforced pipe, although higher than other polymer products, is still quite acceptable and justified.

As for the minuses, these products also have them and are rather related to the diseases of most polymeric materials of this type.

Main cons:

With direct and prolonged contact with sunlight, the polymer begins to break down;
The linear expansion of products of this type is higher than that of metal ones.

Types and differences

There are several main types of such products. Each type has its own marking so that welding meets its working pressure. The higher this indicator, the stronger the welding, the more reliable and more expensive the product.

Products marked PN-10 withstand a pressure of 10 bar and are used for equipment of predominantly cold water supply systems. The price of a PPR pipe reinforced with fiberglass PN-10 is 0.7-1 dollar per 1 meter;
Pipelines PN-16 withstand a pressure of 16 bar and are used for equipment of heating and water supply systems. The price of PP pipe reinforced with fiberglass of this type is at the level of 1-2 dollars per 1 running meter;
Products marked PN-20 are considered the most popular and in demand. It is used to create contours in underfloor heating systems, stationary heating systems, etc. These pipes are sold for 3-4 dollars per meter;
Polypropylene pipe PN 25 reinforced with fiberglass withstands pressure from 25 bar, is used as the main element for the assembly of central heating systems. The price of a PN25 pipe reinforced with fiberglass is 4-6 dollars per 1 meter;
PPRS pipe reinforced with fiberglass is not inherently a separate type, but it would be a mistake not to indicate it here. As mentioned above, a high quality polymer is used in its creation, which significantly improves its performance. These products are very durable, resistant, and also elastic. Can dampen noise and vibration. You can buy them for 4-8 dollars.

It should be understood that the price of polypropylene products reinforced with fiberglass is largely determined by their thickness. A piece with a diameter of 16 mm will cost 2-2.5 times cheaper than a similar one with a diameter of 40 mm.

Welding of reinforced (PP) polypropylene pipes (video)

It is very easy to find polypropylene pipelines in the store. They differ from other plastic products in matte color with wall thickness. Reinforced samples are also distinguished by the fact that in the center of the wall in the section you can see a line of a certain color. This is a layer of reinforcement.

The color of this layer and the polypropylene itself can tell you little. Each developer uses his own technologies and in this regard, the standards are almost not unified. However, be careful and remember that before you buy fiberglass reinforced polypropylene pipes, you need to make sure that they are reliable.

The fact is that many manufacturers are trying to save their resources, so they produce products from recycled materials. It is quite obvious that they will be inferior in quality to the original products. It is better to refuse the purchase of such products.

Make sure in advance that the seller has all certificates with sales permits. The presence of documents almost always guarantees that you are buying really branded products that will serve you for decades.

Increasing the pressure is not critical, but reduces the possible duration of their operation. In this case, the manufacturer can no longer guarantee their normal operation.

Pay attention to the diameter of the product, as well as the thickness of their walls. For example, products made of polypropylene reinforced with fiberglass 40 mm in diameter are rather intended for laying the main branches of water supply or heating.

However, it will not be profitable to buy it for the equipment of the entire system. For such purposes, samples with a diameter of 15-25 mm are better suited.

Remember that polypropylene products have a serious thickness. Therefore, a pipe with an outer diameter of 20 mm can have half the nominal bore, which will necessarily affect its throughput.

For communication systems in a residential building, reliability and simplicity of design are always in the first place. In order for the cold and hot water supply system to function normally in an apartment, at home or in a country house, the heating equipment must work to the fullest, it is necessary to correctly and competently lay the pipeline. Here, pipes come to the fore - an engineering and technological element, on which the entire water and heat supply system is based in the future. When choosing pipes for a heating system, literally every little thing has to be taken into account, from technological parameters to the material used and the method of manufacture.

The complexity of the task lies in the fact that today the consumer has at his disposal pipes for heating of various types and types. , a new type of consumable, which is successfully used for laying household pipelines. for the installation of a heating system, with fiberglass or reinforced with aluminum - this is the "know-how" of recent years. Cheap, reliable, practical and easy-to-use consumables.

Do synthetic consumables meet the tasks set for the heating system? How reliable are fiberglass reinforced polypropylene pipes, how to make the right purchase? These questions need to be dealt with in more detail.

What is reinforced polypropylene pipes

Life support communications systems that use metal pipes are becoming a thing of the past. Despite the fact that metal consumables are highly durable and quite reliable in operation, the high cost of the material and complex installation have affected the fact that interest in such materials has noticeably weakened at the household level. As an alternative to metal pipes, the consumer today focuses on reinforced synthetic consumables.

In the process of manufacturing products, polypropylene is strengthened by the addition of special components to the structure. As a result, at the output we have a completely different, qualitatively new consumable material - reinforced polypropylene pipes. Reinforcement is a traditional way of mechanically strengthening communications. Due to the inclusion of synthetic fibers in the form of a braid in the composition of the polypropylene channel, it was possible to significantly increase the strength and rigidity of the material. Reinforcement is carried out both in the middle of the product itself and on the inside. Internal reinforcement is extremely rare, but the inclusion of an additional middle layer of fiberglass in the structure of the finished product is a fairly common technology.

On a note: reinforcement on the inner wall of the pipe is not advisable. There is a high probability of an early blockage due to the formation of salt deposits on the walls of the internal channel. The quality of water used for domestic purposes, including heating, is not always ideal.

Replacing metal pipes, reinforced polypropylene consumables have radically changed the entire technology of laying pipelines of the heat supply system. Synthetic material is not inferior to metal in strength, is resistant to corrosive processes and copes well with temperature changes.

We especially bribe the consumer with the fact that, reinforced and reinforced with fiberglass, they are suitable for heating any premises. Polypropylene consumables are able to effectively interact with almost any type of heating equipment and heating equipment.

The cost of such products is an order of magnitude less than the cost of metal, copper or metal-plastic pipelines. This aspect is especially important when it comes to organizing a heating system throughout the house. In houses and apartments of a large area, in two-story residential buildings, the use of synthetic reinforced channels makes it possible to literally entangle the entire building with a network of pipelines. The length of a pipeline made of synthetic materials in some cases reaches several hundred meters. With other products, you will not allow yourself such luxury, trying to save on every centimeter.

For reference: the length of the heat supply system in a private residential building with an area of 100 m 2 is about 100 meters, including the return. Compare the cost of reinforced polypropylene pipes required for laying a pipeline of this length and the price of metal products or metal-plastic.

Let's summarize. Reinforcement is carried out in order to give the polypropylene pipe the necessary strength. Why fiberglass is used for this purpose. The answer is simple. Fiberglass inserted in the middle is impregnated with an elastic plastic mass, creating a single whole with the surrounding outer and outer layers of polypropylene. As a result, the necessary integrity of the product is achieved. Due to the inclusion of a fiberglass layer in the pipe structure, it was possible to significantly reduce the thickness of the inner wall, while maintaining the main working diameter of the channel.

On a note: reinforced with aluminum, polypropylene pipes can delaminate over time. Frequent sudden changes in the temperature of the coolant cause such a negative phenomenon.

Features of Polypropylene Consumables Reinforced with Glass Fiber

For a home heating system, the most important parameter is ease of operation and long service life. The functionality of each component and element of the water heating system determines the level of comfort and the degree of reliability of the equipment. What is the main thing when installing a heating system in a house? Durability and convenient operation. Carrying out the installation of the heating system in the house, we want to make sure that the whole complex of equipment works autonomously, without our participation.

They can reassure you in this regard. , taking into account thermal calculations and operation features, will ensure long-term and uninterrupted operation of the home heating system. Reinforced synthetic consumables used in heating communications are designed for 20-25 years of service.

Resistance to corrosion processes, the ability to withstand high pressure and significant temperature changes, make synthetic pipelines and communications very convenient and practical to use. The permissible temperature range for such material is: -10 0 C +90 0 C, which is especially important when completing autonomous heating. Not afraid of polypropylene with fiberglass and freezing. When the coolant in the system freezes, synthetic lines, unlike metal products, retain their shape, structure and integrity.

Synthetic, fiberglass-reinforced pipes are an excellent dielectric, and when in contact with fire, polypropylene is non-toxic and decomposes into water vapor and carbon. Along with the listed features, fiberglass-based synthetic water channels have other advantages. For example:

simple, fast and convenient installation;
pipe laying does not require special skills and specialization;
the strength of the seams allows the use of even pieces of pipe in the installation, minimizing waste;
interchangeability of individual elements in case of damage to the pipeline;
affordable price of the material.

And the most important advantage that reinforced polypropylene pipes have is the absence of the effect of sagging of the pipeline.

Important! For conventional polypropylene pipes, the sagging effect is a significant disadvantage. Polymers tend to have a high coefficient of thermal expansion. Upon contact with a hot coolant, polymers acquire additional elasticity and begin to change their structure.

Fiberglass or aluminum give polypropylene pipes the necessary resistance when heated. Pipelines for hot water or heating systems withstand temperature loads without losing their main technological parameters. In addition, reinforced synthetics and fittings are perfectly combined with any interior decoration options. The pipeline of the heating system can be laid inside the walls, significantly increasing the usable volume of the interior.

Types of reinforced polypropylene pipes. Product marking

At the moment, the market for consumables for heating systems is rich in choice. The marking of products deserves attention, thanks to which we can get all the necessary information about the working parameters of the pipe and operational capabilities. For polypropylene reinforced pipes, marking plays a key role. Based on the information, we will be able to correctly and accurately select the required type, type of product.

Let's start with the classification of polypropylene pipes, which is based on the diversity of products. Synthetic consumables are divided into the following types:

The first type - products made from homopolypropylene, have a PPH index (H - homopolymer). This type is characterized by high strength. They are usually used in cold water supply systems.
The second type is pipes, which include a block copolymer (B - block copolymer). These consumables are marked with PPB indices and can be used in low-temperature heating systems (warm water floors).
The third type is the most common. Products are used for underfloor heating and hot water supply. PPR pipes are marked, where R is a random copolymer. Usually this type of product is made reinforced. The letter C is added to the existing PPR marking, which means overestimated requirements for temperature jumps (up to 95 0 С).

The European abbreviation PP corresponds to the Russian version of PP, which means polypropylene.

Further, after the designations of the product belonging to the type of material, there are designations characterizing the value of the nominal working pressure. For this purpose, PN indices are used. At the household level, reinforced pipes with indexes PN20, PN25 are usually used for water supply and heating systems. These two types are optimally suited for heating systems, both for centralized heating options and complete with individual heating devices. The difference is that products with the PN20 index are reinforced with fiberglass, and those with the PN25 index have an aluminum layer.

Important! Unlike conventional polypropylene consumables, both PN20 and PN25 have a low thermal expansion coefficient. For products reinforced with fiberglass, this figure is 5-7% higher than for foil-coated polypropylene pipes.

The required quality, compliance of the product with the declared parameters can be obtained by purchasing original, branded products. The price is an aspect on the basis of which it is possible to determine a fake from a branded consumable. Reinforcing component - fiberglass can be of different colors, orange, blue, red or green. The color scheme does not play any role. Some manufacturers, in addition to existing designations, apply strips along the surface of the pipe:

red stripe, scope of use - pipelines with hot water or coolant;
blue stripe, products are used for cold water supply;
two colors - the versatility of the highway.

This is what the standard marking on the product looks like.

Conclusion. Pipe laying and installation features

Having an idea about which components are best to take for the heating system, it is worth saying a few words about the features of laying polypropylene lines and the specifics of installing pipelines.

With the help of calculations, you can get an idea of \u200b\u200bwhat length pipes should be bought and in what quantity. Already in the process of laying the pipeline, the material is cut into fragments in accordance with the required dimensions. The cutting of consumables is carried out with special scissors.

Important! Polypropylene channels are cut quite easily, hence the conclusion can be drawn. Transportation and installation of finished products must be carried out with due care. Any significant mechanical force can lead to a violation of the integrity of the product.

Where there is a high probability of mechanical damage to the pipeline, it is better to install metal fragments.

It is believed that polypropylene pipes are environmentally friendly and safe, so the location of the pipeline can be chosen in accordance with the technological need. However, before installation, it is better to have at hand the calculated data on the flow rate of the coolant, the pressure force and the heating temperature. The calculated data should not exceed the permissible operating parameters for the selected brand of goods. Otherwise, a technological inconsistency may occur, resulting in an emergency.

The installation of the pipeline is carried out taking into account the coefficient of thermal expansion, which for consumables with fiberglass is slightly higher (by 5-6%) than for products with an aluminum insert. The cut fragments are connected into a single line by diffuse soldering, using fittings, couplings, angles, tees and adapters for connections and branches. Reinforced pipes are soldered in the same way as conventional polypropylene products. The material is easy to combine with metal elements that have a threaded connection.

At the moment, the price-quality ratio of polypropylene pipeline products is the best among other consumables. Strength, reliability and durability make it quite easy, without much skill and effort, to lay the pipeline of the heating system in the house.