PP pipe reinforced with fiberglass inner diameter. Polypropylene pipes reinforced with fiberglass

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.

Pipe products reinforced with fiberglass today successfully replace the usual metal structures and are used to transport hot coolant in plumbing and heating systems. Reinforcement gives pipes the necessary resistance to high pressure and temperature.

Modern materials for the manufacture of pipes - polypropylene today are widely used for various pipeline systems.

They are affordable, easy to install, hygienic. But they have one significant disadvantage: under the constant influence of high temperatures and high pressure, especially if they act simultaneously, they quickly deform and wear out.

Such pipes are extremely susceptible to linear expansion, i.e. elongation and sagging with temperature changes, so it is not always advisable to use them in heating systems.

In order to increase the service life of pipes and their wear resistance and reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion, the reinforcement method is used, i.e. strengthening the walls with more heat-resistant materials that create a strong frame inside the pipe and prevent it from elongating.

Types of reinforcement PPR pipes

To strengthen polypropylene pipes by reinforcement, the following materials are used:

• fiberglass is located inside the pipe;
• aluminum can reinforce the pipe walls from the inside or outside, and can be soldered between polypropylene layers.

Both types of reinforced pipes are suitable for installing a heating system in an individual residential building, as well as for connecting to a centralized system. But builders usually prefer fiberglass reinforced pipes because they are easier to install.

Note! Strengthening with the help of a composite, i.e. a mixture of fiberglass and polypropylene, gives even greater strength to reinforced pipes. This creates a strong structure at the molecular level.

The structure of a fiberglass reinforced pipe

Fiberglass is a material that began to be used for reinforcement later than aluminum foil.

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. Here 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).

To what extent are fiberglass reinforced polypropylene pipes for heating better than classic metal structures? Having understood the properties and qualities of innovative pipes, it will be easier not only to answer these questions, but also to make the right choice for a particular system. It is equally important to determine the main criteria for evaluating products when comparing.

When choosing pipes, it should be taken into account that the material properties are optimized due to the multilayer structure of the products. Thanks to it, the polymer acquires the ability to withstand high temperatures, while not expanding linearly, unlike unreinforced types of pipelines made of this material. The advantages of polypropylene include:

• ease of installation,
• low weight of the system elements, which greatly simplifies transportation and installation,
• environmental safety,
• lack of vibration and noise during operation,
• minimum hydraulic losses,
• resistance to the formation of mineral deposits on the inner surface,
• insulating properties that allow pipes not to conduct stray currents,
• longevity (50 years or more),
• higher strength of welded joints (compared to collet joints),
• economy (due to reduced heat loss),
• immunity to mechanical influences,
• chemical resistance,
• affordable price.

Aesthetically pleasing polypropylene tubes do not require painting.

Scope of application

Even knowing all the advantages of products, how to choose polypropylene pipes for heating for a particular object is decided individually. Polypropylene (or thermoplastic) is able to change its properties with temperature changes. The limit values ​​are marked on the pipes. For most systems, polypropylene pipes for heating are suitable, the technical characteristics of which allow them to withstand temperatures up to +95 ° C. This limit value is specified taking into account a kind of “margin”, a short-term increase in temperature to +110 ° C will not destroy the system and will not adversely affect its performance. The polymer begins to soften only at +140 °C, and melts at +175 °C.

Polypropylene products should not be used for the installation of centralized communications in regions where severe frosts are possible, and the coolant temperature sometimes exceeds the boiling point. For autonomous heating systems with the ability to control the temperature of the coolant by the user, polypropylene is excellent. Polymer pipes are suitable for classic home heating systems and for.

Types of reinforcement

Reinforcement of polypropylene allows to increase its strength and reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion.

Aluminum

Reinforcement with aluminum thin sheet (foil) can be performed inside or along the outer layer. In the first case, aluminum foil is located in the middle or closer to the inner surface of the pipe.

Reinforcing aluminum layers may differ in structure:

• solid,
• perforated.

Fiberglass

The advantages that a polypropylene pipe reinforced with glass fiber for heating has: the price is affordable and attractive to buyers for such quality products and even lower thermal conductivity. Such products are recommended for installation of heating by an open method. It should also be noted that fiberglass as a reinforcing layer does not require, unlike a layer of aluminum, additional cleaning of pipes before welding.

Polypropylene pipes for heating, reinforced inside with fiberglass, are made by co-extrusion and the reinforcing layer is located in the middle, the outer and inner surfaces of the pipes are polypropylene.

The disadvantage of this type of products is fragility.

Composite

Composite or composite material is a mixture of fiberglass and polypropylene. Such reinforcement improves the performance of products and eliminates the main drawback of fiberglass reinforcement. When mixed with polypropylene, fiberglass forms a strong bond at the molecular level, the product does not become brittle. At the same time, composite-reinforced products are the most durable and durable, and there is no need to perform stripping during their installation. Composite is the best answer to the question: “which polypropylene pipe to choose for heating?”.

Criterias of choice

Studying the polypropylene pipes on the market, they decide which ones to choose based on the totality of the main operating parameters.

Operating pressure

The marking parameter is denoted by the letters PN. The choice of value is determined by the characteristics of the system. If it is necessary to periodically carry out pressure testing for ordinary pipelines, it is optimal to choose products of the PN20 brand, but for high temperatures typical for heating systems (from +70 ° C), PN25 pipelines with composite or fiberglass reinforcement are suitable.

The pressure in floor and autonomous heating systems, as a rule, is less (up to 10 atmospheres), therefore, PN20 polypropylene pipes with monolithic or perforated aluminum reinforcement are suitable for their installation.

Working temperature of the coolant

Which polypropylene pipes are best for heating depends on the type of system. Due to the fact that the temperature of the coolant in "warm floor" systems is lower (usually up to +40 ° C), they can use not only pipes with any type of reinforcement, but also monocomposition products.

In radiator-type systems with a coolant temperature of about +85 ° C, any reinforced polypropylene pipes can be used.

Pipe diameter

• For large objects (large saunas, hotels, hospitals, etc.), pipes of 200 mm or more will be required.
• For the installation of heating systems in private homes, the necessary water passage will be provided by pipes of 20-32 mm. They are easy to lay on their own, including giving the necessary bend.
• Heating polypropylene pipes with reinforcement are also used for the installation of hot water supply lines. In this case, a diameter of 20 mm is chosen, and products of 25-32 mm are optimal for risers.
• 25 mm pipes are used in central heating systems.
• For a warm floor, 16 mm is enough.

An integrated autonomous heating system will require the use of pipes of various diameters.

• For example, when installing heating in a private house with a single-pipe system, radiators are connected in series to the main line. For the installation of such a ring, pipes of 32-40 mm are required, and for taps to radiators - up to 26 mm.
• With a two-pipe system, the principle of operation of heating is different. The parallel operation of the supply and return lines reduces the pressure in the lines, so you should choose pipes of a smaller diameter - up to 30 mm.

Polypropylene pipes are environmentally friendly, in many properties they show themselves superior to steel pipes. They are more technologically advanced, their price is lower, they do not need to be protected from corrosion, the process of connecting them into a pipeline is much less laborious, and their service life is much longer.

Mainly used for heating fiberglass reinforced or aluminum polypropylene pipes. This is due to the fact that the temperature of the coolant in heating systems can reach 100 degrees Celsius. At such a temperature, unreinforced pipes laid on clips will linearly lengthen and sag, which requires the introduction of compensators into the pipeline.Polypropylene pipes reinforced with fiberglass, have a coefficient of linear expansion five times less than unreinforced. Their sagging is much less, which allows you to install clips at a greater distance from each other.

Historically, the first reinforced polypropylene pipes were pipes reinforced not with fiberglass, but with a layer of aluminum deposited on the surface. Their price is slightly higher compared to non-reinforced ones. But they have one inconvenience - before installation, such pipes must be cleaned of aluminum, and this is quite painstaking work that increases the assembly time of the pipeline. For glass fiber reinforced pipes, the reinforcing layer is buried inside the structure, which does not require such stripping before connecting them.

Reinforced polypropylene pipes, price which are approximately the same as those coated with aluminum, have greater thermal resistance, since there is no metal in their design. In view of this, they can be insulated with energy flex or k-flex tubes with a slightly thinner wall thickness than aluminum tubes.

In the warehouse of the organization, polypropylene pipes reinforced with fiberglass are available. External diameter from 20 to 110 mm.