Polypropylene water pipes are widely used for installation of water supply systems, how cold, and hot. They have a long service life, ecological, are characterized by low hydraulic resistance and resistance to the formation of growths on the inner surface. Such pipes are strong and resistant to corrosion, and welds differ in reliability and tightness.
A master of any qualification will be able to install a polypropylene heating system
Features of the choice of polypropylene pipes
The choice of elements of the water supply system is based on the conditions of their operation, temperature and operating pressure. There are several types of polypropylene pipes for plumbing: single-layer and multilayer, with aluminum or fiberglass layer. Product characteristics are reflected in the labeling:
- PN25 - most often used in heating systems.
- PN20 - pipes for heating and hot water supply.
- PN16 - for hot and cold water supply.
- PN10 - for cold water supply systems.
If the temperature passes the liquid is higher 90 ° C, then polypropylene pipes with marking PN20 and PN25 are used for installation of a water supply system by own hands. Their structure includes a reinforcing aluminum or fiberglass layer: blue color corresponds to cold water, red - hot.
Polypropylene pipes come in different purposes
For systems up to 10 m used PP pipes with a diameter 20 mm, length 10-30 m - 25 mm, more 30 m - 32 mm. If the water supply network provides for the presence of a riser, then its diameter should be 32 mm.
It is important to choose quality products for the installation of polypropylene plumbing, on which there should be no inflows and roughness.
Single-layer and multilayer products
Single-layer polypropylene pipes are represented by the following types: РРН, РРВ, PPR і PPs. PPP pipes are made of homopolypropylene and are used in cold water supply systems, ventilation and industrial pipelines. For underfloor heating systems and the production of impact-resistant pipes and fittings, the LRW type is used. PPR pipes are made of a special type of polypropylene, which can evenly distribute the load on the pipe wall.
pay attention! When laying PPR pipes open, the products must be protected from ultraviolet rays with a special shell.
The type of PPs pipe is made of non-flammable material, which has a maximum operating temperature 95 degrees.
Reinforced polypropylene pipes have greater strength, than usual
Multilayer reinforced pipes have lower temperature elongations, than single-layer. Ware, which are reinforced with aluminum foil, are smooth and perforated. The perforation has the form of a grid with small holes. Before welding in the socket, the outer polymer layer and the aluminum shell are removed with a special tool..
Options for piping
The first stage of installation of PP pipes for water supply is to compile a detailed wiring diagram, pipe fastening and connection. Excessive details and bends should be avoided.
There are two ways to organize the installation of polypropylene water pipes - open and closed. The second option is more complicated and requires accurate calculation and execution. In this case, the number of joints is minimized, and access points are arranged.
The advantages of open wiring are ease of installation, ease of maintenance, the ability to replace parts of the system if necessary.
Piping is consistent (tee) and in parallel (collector). At consecutive distribution installation of a water supply system from polypropylene pipes is carried out by the hands from the main highway to places of water consumption. Cold and hot water pipelines depart from the main riser. Tees are used to divert to water consumption points.
Piping is impossible without the use of tees
Along with ease of installation and economy of materials, such a system has a disadvantage - when repairing one device or consumer, you must disconnect the entire network.
The collector system has one input with several outputs. Consumption points are independent, but this increases labor costs and the cost of installation work.
Equipment for installation
For installation of the pipeline from polypropylene pipes the device with nozzles for welding of plastic pipes will be required., perforator, Bulgarian, device for cutting products and chamfering. Additionally, an adjustable wrench may be required, level and angle, sealant, required for threaded connection.
Nozzles are not always included with the welding machine. They come in different diameters, appropriate pipes and fittings: 1,6; 2,0; 2,5; 3,2 see, etc.. D.
Special tools will be needed to install the pipes
Cutting of polypropylene pipes is carried out by special scissors, but in the case of a small amount of work you can use an ordinary hacksaw on wood.
Importantly! Regardless of the tool used, the cut should be most perpendicular to the axis of the pipe.
Permissible deviations from perpendicularity are given in the table.
Table 1
| Pipe diameter, cm | Tolerance, mm |
| 20 | 8 |
| 16 | 7 |
| 12,5 | 6 |
| 11 | 5 |
| 9 | 4 |
| 6,3 | 3 |
| 4 | 2 |
| 3,2 | 2 |
| 2 | 2 |
It is important to follow safety requirements when installing plumbing. Work with a Bulgarian or other cutting tools should be carried out in goggles. A respirator must be worn when strobing walls or welding.
Auxiliary elements of the system are needed
Not only polypropylene water pipes are required for installation work. Couplings may also be required, corners, taps, tees, plugs, crosses, clips and clamps. Pre-created pipeline scheme will help to purchase the required number of elements. When choosing, it is important to consider their size, diameters and other characteristics. It is better to choose fittings from one manufacturer, the same, as well as PP pipe.
Pipes and fittings for them must be the same diameter
Couplings are used to connect straight sections of pipe or when switching to products of other diameters. By means of corners it is possible to organize bypass of obstacles and installation of the pipeline under a necessary inclination. Crossroads are used at the points where the elements of the system cross.
Wrinkle! It is recommended to install the rotation of the inner corner of the hot water pipeline at a distance of approx 30-40 mm from the wall.
Reliable fastening of PP pipes to a wall is made by clips, fixing of a riser - metal collars with linings from rubber. Their connected ends are fastened with bolts and nuts to increase rigidity. Clips can be used both on straight sections, and in corner joints. If the pipelines are located one above the other, then there are double clips for fixing them.
Welding connection of polypropylene pipes
Before the beginning of works on welding of software of pipes on the welding machine put on nozzles of necessary diameter with a teflon spraying, the thermostat is mounted on 260 ° C, the appliance switches on and heats up. The process is carried out in stages.
To connect the pipe to the fitting, their edges must be heated with a special device
First, the pipe is marked, on which it is cut into segments of the desired length. The ends, to be connected, are cleaned up. You can use sandpaper or a special tool to clean the PP pipes. The marker indicates the depth of entry of the pipe into the fitting. There should be a gap between the polypropylene pipe and the fitting 1 mm.
A pipe fitting is placed on the heated nozzle of the device, warming up which must begin simultaneously. The endurance of details depends on their diameter.
Table 2
| Diameter, cm | Time, with | |
| melting | cooling | |
| 1,6 | 5 | 120 |
| 2,0 | 5 | |
| 2,5 | 7 | |
| 3,2 | 8 | 240 |
| 4,0 | 12 | |
| 5,0 | 18 | |
| 6,3 | 24 | 360 |
| 7,5 | 30 | |
| 9,0 | 40 | |
| 11,0 | 50 | 480 |
Next, the parts without rotation along the centerline are placed on top of each other. The hardening of the joint also depends on the diameter. At the same time details, welded must be fixed. At the last stage control of existence of backlashes and cracks is carried out.
For polypropylene pipes, the welding machine is quite expensive, therefore, if necessary, it is better to rent.
Stages of installation of water supply system
First, than start installing new pipes, the water supply is blocked and the old system is dismantled. The room is free of equipment and materials, which will not be needed at work.
If there is a need for additional sealing of the parts, you can use FUM tape
Pipes are cut into pieces of the required size, and the upper part of their ends is chamfered. According to German DVS regulations, its angle should be 15 degrees, and deepening - to 3 mm. State standard regulates depth, equal 1/3 pipe thickness and slope 45 degrees.
pay attention! At installation of a water supply system at first separate branches gather. They later merge into a single system.
Then the ends of the pipe are cleaned of dirt and degreased. With the help of welding equipment for polypropylene pipes, its connection to the fitting is made. In this process, it is important not to overheat the parts, as their melting and deformation will not allow further connection.
With the help of clips, the pipes are attached to the walls. In equal areas between adjacent parts, the distance should not exceed 1 m. Elements of equipment, the fittings are rigidly fastened with clamps. The joints are sealed with fume tape.
Possible errors in the work
In case of introduction of a polypropylene pipe into a fitting not up to the stop at their combination, there is some space between the inside of the fitting and the end of the pipe. In the finished pipeline, this place is a section with a large inner diameter and smaller wall thickness, than the primary pipe.
In improperly installed pipes, the pressure will be low, and the water pressure in the tap is weak
For this reason, the rated design pressure of such a section will be lower, than the rest of the pipeline.
Efforts are also important, with which the polypropylene pipe and a fitting at heating are combined. If it is used excessively, a large lattice is squeezed between the end of the pipe and the inner part of the fitting. This creates an obstacle to the movement of fluid in the finished plumbing system.
Before operation, the water supply is checked for leaks. It is subjected to pressure, which in 1,5 times the nominal (but, not below, than 0,15 MPa). The system is filled with water and with the help of a pump it rises, controlling its value with a manometer. Particular attention is paid to the joints. If any joint leaks, then it is cut out and a new element is installed, after which the verification procedure is repeated.
Design and installation of plumbing can be done with your own hands. Technical characteristics of polypropylene pipes allow to establish high-quality system with long service life.