Reinforced ppr. What is the advantage of fiberglass reinforced polypropylene pipes? Types of fiberglass reinforced pipes

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general characteristics

Pipes, fiberglass reinforced, create serious competition with analogues, fortified aluminum foil. Such risers are characterized by a three-layer structure: polypropylene - fiberglass - polypropylene. The reinforcing layer is also made from propylene, reinforced with fiberglass - glass fibers.
According to their own technical parameters, the adhesion of plastic to glass fibers can be compared to the strength of a monolith.

Glass fiber reinforced pipes are characterized by the following marking: PPR-FB-PPR.

If we compare risers with aluminum and fiberglass frames, the first option has one significant advantage: the products have greater rigidity. This means that when installing systems 1.5 meters long or more, such risers must be secured to the walls with special fasteners. Otherwise, sagging, deformation, and failure of the structure are possible.

Regarding diameters, it should be noted that products can be produced with diameters from 20 mm to 110 mm. It is these risers that can be found on sale more often than others. Although, for example, elements with a diameter of 17 mm or less are used to install heated floors.

Products of small diameters are secured with plastic clips, and large ones with clamps.

Polypropylene products

Fiberglass reinforced ones depend on the polymer used to make them. All products are marked, which makes it possible to immediately determine the areas of use of tubular parts.

Let's find out. So, PPR is an English name, and PPR is a Russian name meaning that this is a Polypropylene pipe made from Random copolymer.

Such glass fiber reinforced polypropylene pipes are used for heating, plumbing, ventilation systems, industrial pipelines.

When settling in utility networks PPR pipes reinforced with glass fiber are increasingly being used. There is nothing strange in this, since they are reliable, quite lightweight, and there are significantly fewer problems with their installation.

Another important factor is cost. For example, the price of PPR pipes reinforced with glass fiber for heating is lower than their metal counterparts, which helps save the family budget. These, as well as other characteristics possessed by fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene pipes, contributed to its popularization and use in various spheres of the national economy.

Read with this article: Main characteristics and scope of application and what influences its choice. Classification by pressure and composition of raw materials. Polar questions and answers to them.

10 advantages

High-quality material with the use of modern production technologies, in combination, ensures the popularity of the communications in question.

What are the main positive characteristics of glass fiber reinforced pipes?

The advantages can be confidently included:

1. Corrosion resistance.
   To be more precise, this material does not rust at all. Thanks to this, systems made of fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene pipes, which are used for heating, plumbing, and ventilation, do not require replacement for many years.
2. Long service life.
   Subject to operating standards and rules, polymer products last approximately 4 times longer compared to metal counterparts.
3. Low thermal conductivity.
   This property completely eliminates the appearance of condensation on pipelines during their operation.
4. Small noises and vibrations.
   Thanks to their design, polypropylene pipes almost do not transmit sound that occurs as a result of the movement of liquid media. Therefore, the occurrence of uncomfortable conditions in the premises is completely excluded.
5. Complete absence of defrosting.
   This means that even with sub-zero temperatures There is only a slight expansion of fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene pipes, which cannot be said about products made of steel, copper, and metal-plastic. The last three options for water risers can simply burst under the influence of frost.
6. Easy to install.
   You do not need to have special knowledge and skills to lay the highway. You just need to try to install the system with your own hands once, and then everything will go like clockwork. Engineering Communication The most complex configurations are carried out very easily. This is facilitated by the presence of a large number of fittings.
7. Absolute tightness of joints.
   , which means, in the future, ideal functioning of the pipeline.
8. No minimal deposits, pressure loss, which is ensured by the smoothness of the inner surface.
9. Chemical inertness, which is expressed in increased resistance to aggressive environments.
10. Lightness, ease of maintenance.
    The products do not require painting, and the reliability of the connections allows the pipelines to be used for decades without repair.

Some of the best fiberglass-reinforced pipes today are considered to be German pipeline systems from aquatherm GmbH. You can purchase from a representative of the Agpipe Group of Companies plant (https://agpipe.ru/trubi_armirovannie_steklovoloknom) - detailed description products, characteristics, range and much more.

4 minuses

According to reviews, fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene pipes for heating or water supply systems have some disadvantages.

1. Mandatory pre-installation treatment.
   This means that there are PPR pipes that must be trimmed before welding. This procedure can be performed with a simple file or special device. This, in some way, complicates the installation work.
2. Sensitivity to mechanical influences.
   Although PPR pipes are not brittle, they are not highly durable, such as metal parts. Taking this into account, when the highway passes under highways, the risers are protected with special boxes.
3. It is not recommended to bend the products, but only joined using fittings or welding.

What types of polymer pipes are there?

Currently, 2 types of polymer products are known:

• single-layer;
• multilayer.

What characteristics do each type of product have?

Single layer

There are 4 modifications of polypropylene risers of one-piece construction, used for heating or water supply.

1st type: PPN pipes.
Homopolypropylene is used for their production. They are used in engineering pipeline structures for supplying cold water, arranging ventilation, and industrial pipelines.

2nd type: RRV pipes.
The basis for production is polypropylene block copolymer. The products are intended for installation of underfloor heating and cold water supply networks.

3rd type: PPR pipes.
The material for the production of parts is random polypropylene copolymer. The main property of the substance: promoting uniform distribution of loads on the internal walls of pipelines.

Hot and cold water supply, underfloor heating systems, water radiator heating - this is a list of applications for risers of this type.

4th type: PPs pipes.
The main characteristics of the products: polypropylene with increased heat resistance is used for production.

The parts of such a line are able to withstand temperatures of transported media up to +95⁰С. If necessary, it is possible to transport media with temperatures up to +110⁰C for a short period of time.

The first three analogues are designed to operate at temperatures around +70⁰С. In short-term mode, operation is allowed at slightly higher temperatures.

Products of the 3rd type are covered with a special shell, which can completely eliminate the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation.

Important! You should not often use the system operation in the maximum permissible parameters mode.

About multilayer analogues

Polypropylene (PP) pipes consisting of several layers are reinforced with fiberglass for water supply. Compared to solid cast structures, PP products practically do not change linear dimensions at high temperatures of transported media. Thanks to this property, the scope of application of solid-cast communications is significantly expanding.

The following modifications of multilayer risers can be distinguished.

1. Products for the reinforcement of which perforated aluminum foil is used.

They are characterized by the presence, on the outer or middle layer, of small diameter holes in the form of a mesh. The strength of the connection with the polymer is achieved due to the viscosity and fluidity of the substance that penetrates into the holes of the aluminum layer.

Product advantages

• Low coefficient of linear expansion;
• increased strength.

Minuses

• During the welding process, it is quite reliable to connect only the top layer of the riser to the fittings;
• aluminum reinforcement must be removed before welding, since failure to perform this operation may cause a poor-quality connection.

2. PP pipes with reinforcement in the form of solid aluminum foil.

The foil can be located both on the outer and on the middle layer of the pipe part, but it is imperative that polymer layers are placed on both sides of the metal.

Before you start welding, you need to trim the risers. Thanks to the procedure, the possibility of contact of aluminum with a moving medium is eliminated.

Advantages

• Low coefficient of thermal expansion;
• increased strength properties.

The disadvantages include:

• not all layers are welded reliably. In welding areas, only the outer layer is absolutely reliable;
• mandatory removal of unnecessary aluminum residues, which takes a lot of time.

Important! To remove the aluminum layer before welding, you need to use a special tool. Its purpose: to accurately measure the depth to which the pipes should be lowered into the fittings in order to clean the inner surface to the same distance.

Failure to comply with this condition can lead to an unreliable connection, which is fraught with the occurrence of electrochemical processes when the foil comes into contact with water.

Some enterprises have mastered the production of communications of this type, the design of which does not provide for preliminary cleaning before welding.

3. PP products with polyethylene reinforcement.

That is, the outer layer of the pipe looks like a thick polyethylene layer.

Advantages

• Not large coefficient thermal expansion;
• no cleaning required before joining by welding;
• operation at high temperatures.

Minuses

• When joining, a reliable connection of the fitting is possible only with the outer layer;
• full contact of the transported medium and polyethylene is not excluded;
• strength characteristics want to be the best, since the layers are interconnected.

4. PP pipe with fiberglass reinforcement.

Design feature: the presence of a middle polypropylene layer filled with fiberglass. Fillers are often colored to make them better visually distinguishable.

Advantages of this type more communications than previous analogues combined.

Firstly: structures with pipes reinforced with fiberglass for heating or water supply are highly durable and solid.

Secondly: glass fiber reinforced risers are characterized by a relatively low coefficient thermal expansion, which is approximately 25% less than that of non-reinforced analogues.

Third: Before hot joining, there is no need to clean the ends of the elements being connected.

Fourth: The fiberglass line has increased rigidity.

Fiberglass elements have one drawback, and even that has not yet been fully proven: the penetration of oxygen through the material.

If this fact is fully confirmed, it is possible accelerated process corrosion of the metal from which the boilers are made.

Theoretically, such a disadvantage is possible, but in practice, research is still being carried out.

How elements are connected to each other

PPR pipes reinforced with glass fiber can be joined into a single structure by diffusion welding or fittings (adapters, couplings, tees and other parts).

In each of the methods, the so-called welding machine. The risers joined in this way create a monolithic, non-demountable structure.

The presence of special adapters in the form of threaded or flanged connections makes it possible to fasten a PPR polypropylene pipe reinforced with glass fiber to a metal line corresponding to the fittings.

What is a fiberglass reinforced polypropylene pipe?

These products are 3-layer polypropylene pipes reinforced with FIBER glass fiber.

They differ:

• increased resistance to corrosion processes and chemical influences;
• abrasion resistance;
• hygiene. Thanks to this property, the products have found their application in the installation of drinking water pipelines;
• environmental safety;
• long service life;
• ease of installation.

In addition, the products are universal in their use.

This is manifested in the fact that they are used:

• when installing heated floors, water heating;
• for supplying hot and cold water;
• in the process of arranging drainage and sewer systems.

Thanks to design features risers, the product practically does not change its linear dimensions, which is very important when installing heating and ventilation communications.

How to choose the right one

This question is asked by everyone who deals with the arrangement of pipe structures during repairs or when building a new house. The main thing is that the planned highway is of high quality and cheap.

To optimally resolve the issue, you need to have knowledge about technical specifications system that is planned to be built.

Experts advise adhering to certain recommendations regarding other characteristics, the main ones being:

• diameter;
• pressure;
• manufacturers.

1. Required diameters.

Today's market is saturated with products with diameters of 20-110 mm.

In everyday life, elements with a diameter of up to 40 mm are most often used. Risers of this thickness are used in the installation of heating, ventilation systems, hot and cold water supply.

In some cases, the most accurate calculations are needed when installing certain communications. In such situations, it is necessary to use the services of specialists who, using formulas, will make the necessary calculations. Taking into account the maximum water flow rate and the speed of its movement, professionals will tell you as accurately as possible what diameter riser should be used in a given case.

2. What pressure are the parts designed for?

To a person not familiar with the specifics of such work, the task of choosing a riser that can withstand a certain pressure seems quite difficult. But this is at first glance. In fact, the problem is easily solved.

To do this you need: to know what pressure the heating or plumbing system is designed for and... to be able to read. This means that since all glass fiber reinforced PPR pipes are marked, it contains all the information about the product. That's where it says what maximum pressure the product is designed for.

Mostly, in everyday life, communications with the inscription PN20 are used, which means that the part can be used in lines with a pressure of up to 20 atm. This number is exaggerated, since such pressure is not observed in household lines. For example, in heating systems one-story buildings nominal pressure 2.5 - 4 atmospheres. But a margin of safety won't hurt.

Regarding the diameter, it is necessary to select the appropriate fittings.

Important! The optimal option for selecting pipes and fittings is to have parts not only of the same diameter, but also of the same manufacturer. When installing a structure made from such elements, minimal problems are eliminated.

3. Manufacturers

The correct choice of PPR risers also includes the choice of manufacturer. There is no one specific company whose products would satisfy all customers.

The question is to avoid unnecessary problems. Therefore, preference should be given to that (or those) enterprises whose reputation in the market for similar goods is impeccable.

Companies from Europe have a certain advantage in this regard. High quality, operational reliability, affordable price, which means that products from companies from Germany and the Czech Republic are popular.

In recent years, the quality of goods from Turkey and China has increased significantly.

Domestic manufacturers are slightly behind them, whose products today are distinguished not only by relatively low prices, but also by proper quality. The choice is yours. The main thing is not to buy fakes. Therefore, buy goods in branded stores, requiring a quality certificate.

In addition to these, there are other reasons that influence the choice of product. There is, however, one thing: we did not remember at all about the service life of products made from white polypropylene. There is a reason for this. Sticking to the requirements correct operation, the elements of the pipeline structure are fully capable of withstanding the period of time needed to start the next overhaul building.

These are the materials today.

conclusions

It can be concluded that, given positive characteristics pipes PPR reinforced fiberglass, their budget price, scope of use - heating, ventilation, water supply systems, the products are not in vain claiming to be a leader in their class.

The future lies with polymer communications, as they will a worthy replacement traditional metal pipelines.

Video

To avoid spoiling everything when installing a heating system with low-quality pipes, you need to choose the “right” manufacturer and pipes of the appropriate category. There are quite a lot of manufacturers of polypropylene pipes in the world, but it has not yet been developed one system markings and often products made of the same material with similar characteristics have different designations. However, some designations are standard, and knowing them will make it easier to select a material with the required technical characteristics.

Characteristics and markings of polypropylene pipes

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

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

If the system contains a solid fuel unit without automation, no polypropylene will withstand it. 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 changes, increase the safety of the system and reduce the cost of heating, while simultaneously increasing its comfort.

The next thing you need to pay attention to is pressure. This parameter is marked with the 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 o C. Pipes PN 10, PN 16, PN 20 and PN 25 are produced. Accordingly these products will last 50 years at pressures of 10, 16, 20 and 25 bar/cm2 and an ambient temperature of 20 o C.

When temperature and/or pressure changes, the service life is significantly reduced. For example, the service life of PN 16 products at 50 o 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 layer of reinforcement, which is why their walls and outer diameter are smaller than those of their PN 16 counterparts.

In principle, for individual heating You can also use brands PN 10, PN 16. They are suitable for coolant temperatures not higher than 70 o C. Peak and short-term they can withstand heating up to 95 o C. Their service life under such conditions, of course, is not 50 years, but they are ten years will work. How positive point Such pipes can be noted to be lower in cost (compared to PN 20 and PN 25). But there is very significant drawback: high expansion coefficient. Each meter of pipe when heated to 70 o 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 some time they will destroy nearby materials. If they are laid on top (fixed to the wall with clips/holders), they will sag noticeably. If in a “cold” form such a pipeline looks normal and the eye does not linger on it, then hanging pipes noticeably spoil appearance. Therefore, such pipes are used more often for distributing cold or hot water (DHW temperature rarely exceeds 45-50 o C and temperature expansion is not of such magnitude).

Reinforced polypropylene (PPR) pipe

For heating, reinforced polypropylene pipes (marked PN 20 and PN 25) are usually used. Both types are suitable for both centralized and individual heating. These brands differ in the type of reinforcing material: PN 20 uses fiberglass, PN 25 uses aluminum (solid or perforated sheet 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 high-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 place the aluminum layer 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. In the photo above you can see the overlap seam. This a clear sign cheap pipes, and of low, to put it mildly, quality.

Outdoor and inner surface original products smooth. The inscription is applied clearly, evenly along the ruler, not blurred. In addition, in order to avoid claims in crafts, the name is often slightly distorted: an extra letter is omitted or added, or another is replaced.

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

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

Glass fiber reinforced pipes

In PN 20 pipes, glass fiber is used as a reinforcing material. In general, initially, this type was intended to supply hot water. Of course, they will feel good in most heating systems. And they will work well. Not 50 years, but not a year or two either. Provided that these are really high-quality pipes and not a fake. And now we come to important point: how to determine quality. Unfortunately, you need to focus on price: Europeans produce the most best pipes. There's no arguing here: experience. But their prices are high.

Now about the pipes themselves and their use in heating. In this type of product, neither the color of the reinforcing gasket nor the material from which it is made play practically any role. Fiberglass can be orange, red, blue or green. It's just a coloring pigment and doesn't affect anything. If you can focus on color, then only on the longitudinal stripe, which is applied to the surface of the pipe: red indicates suitability for hot environments, blue for cold environments, both together indicate versatility.

Now about the features of using fiberglass-reinforced pipes specifically for heating. They can be installed, but with some reservations. This is due to the second disadvantage of polypropylene (besides high 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 truly reliable and high-quality aluminum radiators that comply with certificates ( required condition- made of primary aluminum), then there should not be any big problems. But if their quality is in doubt, or cast iron radiators are installed, then you only need to use pipes with foil, which significantly reduces the amount of oxygen passing through the walls PPR pipes. And one more point: permeability depends on the thickness of the walls, but not greatly, but depends on the quality of the material. So we are back again to the fact that in order for heating made from polypropylene pipes to work for a long time, quality is required.

But most of installers, advises installing pipes with fiberglass for heating. Why? They are faster to install. About twice. And all because in order to obtain a high-quality weld in foil-lined pipes, it is necessary to remove a layer of foil and part of the material that is located above it. To do this, you need a special device (one for each diameter). As usual, good tool It doesn’t come cheap, and you don’t want to spend money on it at all. In addition, the stripping procedure itself almost doubles the length of the system installation procedure. And skill in this matter is also needed. Actually, their reasons are clear. But if you do heating for yourself, then they are unlikely to solve anything for you. Therefore, carefully read about foil reinforcement. Everything is not easy here either.

Foil reinforced pipes

Aluminum-reinforced polypropylene pipes are designated as follows: PEX/Al/PEX. There are two types of foil placement: closer to the outer edge and in the middle. There is one caveat to 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 coolant, it is not chemically neutral (salts are always present even in soft water). By entering into an oxidation reaction with the foil, water destroys it, seeping further into the pipe. Sooner or later (more likely sooner) such a pipe will burst. Almost all European manufacturers produce pipes with foil located closer to the edge. They are the ones that 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 is required. A special device is also used for this, but of a different type - it cuts off the foil inside the pipe by several millimeters without destroying the layers of polypropylene. This procedure is simpler and faster (sellers call such pipes “lazy”, can you understand why?). In principle, if the seam is made competently and correctly, the polypropylene is welded together, then such a seam is more or less reliable. But if there is a micropore, then water will penetrate into it and cause delamination of the pipe. And the presence of micropores is guaranteed if the cut is not vertical enough, there is insufficient experience (incorrect holding time during welding) and incomplete removal of the foil, and it is unrealistic to control how thoroughly the foil is removed between the layers of polymer... All this is fraught with ruptures, leaks and violation of the integrity of the system. How they are formed is demonstrated in the figure below.

This phenomenon especially causes a lot of trouble when your pipes are hidden in the wall or floor. The 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 seams occur very often: it is almost impossible to control the quality of removal of foil between layers of polypropylene, which means it is impossible to guarantee the tightness of the seam. And this is in the case of a high-quality pipe, but what if you come across a fake, like the one in the photo above? How to trim such a product? There can be no question about the quality of the seam here at all.

The difference in the weld 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 when welding without a micro-gap, significantly reduces the reliability of the pipeline. On the other hand, such products (lenivki) are much cheaper than their European counterparts. Here everything is explained simply: they are produced by companies that try to win on price (Turkish and Asian manufacturers). But how will these savings affect us in the future? Most likely, an urgent replacement or repair of part of the pipeline, or the entire system, will be required.

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

Results

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

Today, fiberglass-reinforced pipe products successfully replace conventional metal structures and are used for transporting 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 - polypropylenes - are now widely used for various pipeline systems.

They are affordable, easy to install, and hygienic. But they have one significant disadvantage: under constant exposure to 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 due to temperature changes, so using them in heating systems is not always advisable.

In order to increase the service life of pipes and their wear resistance and reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion, a 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 PPR pipe reinforcement

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

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

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

Note! More greater strength Reinforced pipes are strengthened using a composite, i.e. a mixture of fiberglass and polypropylene. This creates robust design at the molecular level.

Structure of a glass fiber reinforced pipe

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

With the development of technology, new materials appear on the market that are superior in their characteristics to their predecessors. In the field of communications, replacing the old ones metal pipes modern ones are coming, made on the basis of polymers.

One of the most popular materials in heating systems and water supply is polypropylene (PPR in the Russian abbreviation or PPR in the international marking). Polypropylene pipes have a number of advantages, due to which builders are increasingly leaning toward them when laying sewerage and heating systems.

Polypropylene pipes are used in the installation of communication systems of residential buildings, public buildings, as well as technical and industrial buildings:

• for filing drinking water,
• in cold water supply,
• for supplying hot water,
• in central heating of premises,
• for installation of heated floors and walls,
• in irrigation of farmland,
• at industrial enterprises,
• in fire safety systems,
• in swimming pools and other sports facilities,
• in shipping and so on.

Depending on the diameter of the pipe and the presence of additional layers, polypropylene products are used for laying both household pipelines and highways.

Types of PPR pipes

There are several types of polypropylene pipes:

1. PN 10 is a product with thin walls that can be used for cold water supply or installation of heated floors. The water temperature should not exceed +45°C. Such a pipe can withstand pressure up to 1 MPa (10.2 kg/cm²). This option is very convenient if the pipeline will supply only cold water, since a thin-walled product requires the least resources for production, and therefore costs less than other types of PPR pipes. PN 10 pipes are manufactured with a diameter from 20 mm to 110 mm, with a wall thickness of 2.3-10 mm. The standard pipe length is 4 m.
2. PN 16 has thicker walls and can be used to supply both cold and hot water (but the temperature must be below +60°C). Working pressure in PN 16 pipes is up to 1.6 MPa (16.32 kg/cm²). On average, the wall thickness of such a product is 0.5 mm greater than that of PN 10, which allows it to transport liquids of higher temperatures.
3. PN 20 is used to supply hot water (up to +80°C) and can withstand pressure up to 2 MPa (20.4 kg/cm²). This product has much thicker walls, up to + 1 mm compared to PN 10.
4. PN 25 are polypropylene pipes that can withstand temperatures up to +95°C, and therefore are used in hot water supply and heating systems. Working pressure - up to 2.5 MPa (25.49 kg/cm²).

Any water-type heating system requires the presence of circuits through which coolant circulates. These pipe lines connect the boiler with all, even the most remote, heat exchange devices - heating radiators. As a result, in a building or even an apartment large area the overall system can take on a very complex branched form, and the length of the laid pipes can be tens or even hundreds of meters.

Not so long ago there was practically no alternative to steel VGP pipes. But, you must admit, their acquisition, transportation and installation itself are very difficult, expensive and not accessible to everyone for independent execution. And, to be honest, such pipes have many other disadvantages. Another thing is inexpensive, lightweight, easy to install, and simply attractive polypropylene pipes. True, not all of their varieties are suitable for such purposes, due to the characteristics of the material used. But fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene pipes for heating will be an excellent option.

You might be interested in information about what types of and their benefits

In addition to them, polypropylene pipes are also produced with aluminum reinforcement, so in order to figure out which of them is better, it is worth comparing them. Only in this way will it be possible to evaluate and identify characteristics different types these products.

Why are reinforced polypropylene pipes needed for heating?

The heating system will be reliable in operation if you select the “right” pipes for it that meet certain requirements. These criteria include the resistance of products to high temperature and pressure loads. to the aggressive effects of the coolant circulating through them. It is especially important to take these requirements into account if the pipes and their connecting elements are planned for installation in a system connected to the central heating supply.

In specialized stores you can find reinforced polypropylene pipes with different thickness walls made from materials of different quality, differing in resistance to increased pressure and temperature, ultraviolet exposure, and having different coefficients of linear expansion. Therefore, if you decide to install a new circuit or replace the old pipes with polypropylene ones, you need to know the evaluation criteria that the materials used for these purposes must meet.

So, for the installation of a heating circuit, it is necessary to select pipes that meet a number of important requirements.

• Coolant temperature in the system central heating Usually it is 75÷80 degrees, but sometimes it can reach higher values, close to 90÷95 ºС. Therefore, when purchasing these products, you should choose them with a margin of thermal stability, that is, their characteristics must indicate a temperature of at least 95 degrees.
• Polypropylene is an excellent material for pipes, but it has a characteristic quality - too significant a coefficient of linear expansion with temperature changes (according to tabular data - 0.15 mm/m × ºС). A little? But what if we look at this matter “through the prism” of absolute values?

Let’s say the installation of the heating circuit was carried out at a temperature of +20 ºС. After starting the heating system, the temperature in the supply pipe is planned to be even just 75 ºС. So, we have a difference with an amplitude of + 55 degrees. With the above coefficient of thermal expansion, each meter of our contour will increase in length by 8.25 mm. Even on a relatively small straight line at 3 meters this will already give 2.5 centimeters of extension, not to mention longer sections. But this is already very serious!

As a result, pipes located openly become deformed, bend, and jump out of their fastening clips. Naturally, at the same time, internal stresses in their walls increase, connecting nodes are overloaded, and the tightness may be compromised threaded connections on fittings. The system clearly loses not only the aesthetics of its appearance, but also its overall reliability.

What happens to such pipes if they are firmly embedded in the walls or floor? It is even difficult to imagine how large internal stresses their walls experience. It is clear that there is no question of any durability of such a heating circuit.

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But reinforced pipes have a coefficient of linear expansion that is almost five times less. With the same initial data, a three-meter section will lengthen by only 4.95 mm, which is not at all critical. Of course, this does not eliminate the need to compensate for linear expansion on very long sections, but the expansion joints themselves (loop or bellows) will be required significantly less, and they can be placed in places inaccessible to the naked eye.

• In addition to high temperatures, the central heating system is not characterized by pressure stability, since especially when starting test activities after summer season, as a rule, uncontrolled surges occur in it, up to powerful water hammers. Therefore, pipes must be resistant to baric overloads, and only products reinforced with aluminum or fiberglass have such qualities to a much greater extent.
• The service life of pipes for heating systems declared by the manufacturer must be comparable to the durability of other devices and elements included in the overall circuit. And in this position a clear advantage Reinforced polypropylene pipes have the same characteristics.
• A good property of propylene is its inertness to the aggressive coolant environment, since the wall material should not be subject to corrosion and destructuring from the effects of various chemicals, the presence of which, alas, cannot be excluded in any way. central system heating.
• Perfect smooth surfaces The inner walls of polypropylene pipes make it possible to freely circulate coolant through the heating circuit.
• Polypropylene has the ability to muffle the sounds of coolant circulation inside the system, which distinguishes it from traditional steel. Fiberglass-reinforced pipes have this advantage to a more pronounced extent.

Marking of polypropylene pipes

Without exception, all polypropylene pipes must have alphanumeric markings on their surface, which indicate their main physical, technical and operational characteristics. When purchasing pipes, it is recommended to carefully study the markings so as not to make a mistake in choosing the best option.

For clarity, let's look at the markings using an example:

A– as a rule, the marking begins with the logo or name of the company of the material manufacturer. In any case, those companies that really enjoy authority in this area of ​​​​production do not hesitate to put their name on each unit of their products. Well, if the manufacturer has been “modest” and nothing like this is indicated in the labeling, this should be a reason to think about whether it is worth purchasing such a product, whether it is a cheap imitation.

B– The following abbreviation refers to the structural structure of the pipe. The following notation options are usually found here:

— PPR - polypropylene pipe that does not have any internal reinforcement;

— PPR-FB-PPR - fiberglass reinforced pipe;

— PPR/PPR-GF/PPR or PPR-GF - pipe reinforced with composite material, which includes fiberglass and polypropylene;

— PPR-AL-PPR - pipe reinforced with aluminum foil.

- PP-RCT-AL-PPR - this complex abbreviation indicates that the pipe consists of several layers made of different materials. So PP-RCT - the inner one is a modified polypropylene with improved thermostatic properties, AL - the middle layer is aluminum foil, and PPR - the outer layer is polypropylene.

IN– The next designation, PN, is the type of pipe, which largely indicates its performance characteristics and areas of possible purpose, The numbers indicate the nominal operating pressure in the system (in bars or technical atmospheres):

- PN-10 - such pipes can withstand a pressure of 10 bar, and can be used for cold water supply or, as an exception, for installing connections to heated floor circuits while maintaining appropriate temperature regime, since they are designed for temperatures not exceeding + 45 degrees.

— PN-16 - products are designed for cold and hot water supply with temperatures up to + 60 degrees and operating pressure up to 16 bar.

— PN-20 is the most popular option, since it can be called universal, since it is used for both hot and cold water supply, as well as for heating system circuits. Pipes with this marking can withstand temperatures of 95 degrees and pressures of up to 20 bar.

— PN-25 - such pipes are the most durable, withstand a pressure of 25 bar and a temperature of 95 degrees. They are used for installation in risers of heating and hot water supply systems, including for circuits connected to the central heating supply.

The main standard dimensional parameters of pipes according to this classification are presented in the table below:

G — Next indicator- this is the outer diameter of the pipe and the thickness of its walls in millimeters.

D– Service class (the parameter is set by GOST for pipes domestic production) indicates the recommended area of ​​application for this type of pipe:

AND– The last alphanumeric designation indicates the one normative document(GOST, ISO or TO, according to the standards of which these products are manufactured.

Having received information about the classification of the pipe, you can immediately estimate the possible duration of its operation under the planned conditions. The following table will help with this:

Prices for glass fiber reinforced polypropylene pipes

reinforced polypropylene pipes

Structure of polypropylene pipes with fiberglass reinforcement

As mentioned above, polypropylene pipes are reinforced to make them resistant to elevated temperatures and baric loads and to sharply reduce the rate of linear thermal expansion. In order to decide which option is better to choose - pipes reinforced with aluminum or fiberglass, it is worth comparing their main characteristics.

Fiberglass began to be used to strengthen polypropylene pipes much later than aluminum foil. Products reinforced with this material are a three-layer structure, with the reinforcing layer located between two layers of polypropylene.

"Armobelt" can consist only of fiberglass, or of composite material, containing fiberglass and polypropylene. In any of these options, the layers have excellent adhesion to each other, practically becoming a monolithic structure.

Thanks to such reliable soldering, delamination of the walls of a well-made pipe is even theoretically impossible.

Fiberglass perfectly inhibits thermal expansion, which prevents the pipes from deforming or stretching in any way as the temperature rises

This type of reinforced polypropylene pipes is produced in various dimensional parameters. Thus, products with a diameter of less than 17 mm are used mainly for installing a “warm floor” system; pipes Ø 20 mm are well suited for in-house hot water distribution, and from 20 to 32 mm (sometimes more) – for arranging circuits of heating systems .

Connection of polypropylene pipes with fiberglass reinforcement carried out by welding, sometimes by other installation methods. Moreover, during welding work, this type of pipe does not require a rather labor-intensive stripping operation, which greatly facilitates and speeds up the work. The absence of metal elements in the design of these pipes eliminates the appearance of deposits of hardness salts, and the connections of all parts of the heating system become completely monolithic.

Let's compare the advantages and disadvantages of fiberglass and aluminum reinforcement of PPR pipes

• The first thing that needs to be said is that the coefficient of thermal expansion for pipes with aluminum and fiberglass reinforcement is almost the same, and ranges from 0.03 to 0.035 mm/m׺С. Thus, both types, from this point of view, are equivalent.
• The fiberglass reinforcing layer covers the entire space between the outer and inner layer polypropylene. Therefore, these pipes are resistant to ruptures, reliable and durable, and their estimated service life is about 50 years. In pipes reinforced with aluminum, the reinforcing layer has a welded seam (and sometimes, in inexpensive products, even the simply joining edges of the foil are overlapped), which makes them more vulnerable to elevated temperature and pressure.
• Pipes reinforced with glass fiber are a good anti-diffusion layer that does not allow oxygen to pass through to the coolant.

The diffusion process will certainly lead to the acceleration of corrosion processes metal equipment heating system - a boiler, pump, shut-off and control valves and other elements.

Since products reinforced with aluminum sometimes have a non-continuous layer of foil, the risk of penetration into the coolant increases. In addition, aluminum itself is very unstable to oxygen corrosion.

• When installing pipes with a fiberglass layer, the density and strength of their connections does not require regular monitoring and maintenance. If products reinforced with aluminum are installed, the reliability of the connection will depend on the quality of calibration and cleaning before installation.

The fact is that pipes with an aluminum reinforcing belt are glued construction walls If during the soldering process there is a section of metal left on the cut that is in contact with the coolant, then this is where the process of wall delamination can begin. And this, in turn, will most likely lead first to swelling, and then to a breakthrough in the pipe body.

And for pipes with fiberglass reinforcement, which are practically monolithic structure, this “Achilles heel” is missing.

And it’s much faster and easier to weld pipes without stripping, especially since you don’t need a special tool (shaver) for these purposes.

• Pipes reinforced with glass fiber have good thermal insulation properties, which minimizes heat losses. Pipes reinforced with aluminum foil have slightly higher thermal conductivity.
• All materials used in the manufacture of polypropylene reinforced pipes for heating are non-toxic and do not emit harmful fumes both when cold and when heated. This applies equally to both types of pipes.
• The resistance to chemical influences is no different, which allows both types to withstand the “aggression” of low-quality coolant.
• The temperature range within which these types of pipes normally operate is from -10 to +95 degrees. But, even with a short-term increase in temperature above the specified value, the pipe may sag a little, but there should be no damage to it.

Based on the considered data characteristics, we can conclude that the best option for installation in a heating system for supplying coolant to radiators are PN-20 and PN-25 pipes with diameters from 20÷25 mm. But when installing pipes with a smaller diameter into the heating system, the internal seam formed during the soldering process can prevent the free flow of coolant.

For the installation of risers, pipes with a diameter of at least 32 mm are usually selected, otherwise it may also be small for the full movement of the coolant. Larger diameters can also be used in the collector sections of the system - the range of products on sale allows this.

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Manufacturers of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene pipes

At the end of the publication - short review high-quality polypropylene pipes with fiberglass reinforcement, domestic and imported production, deserved positive reviews professionals.

"METAK"

"METAK" is a Russian company that produces various products from polypropylene for heating and cold water supply systems, including fiberglass-reinforced pipes under the "METAK FIBER" brand. These products are excellent for installation in highly loaded heating systems.

The pipes are produced in white design and have a maximum operating temperature 95 degrees, designed for a working pressure of 25 bar with a destructive pressure of 50 bar.

Fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene three-layer pipes from the METAK company and connecting parts for them (fittings) are produced in accordance with GOST. They are used for the installation of cold and hot water supply pipelines, heated floors, wiring systems and process pipelines, so they can have different diameters.

This table provides information on the sizes of fiberglass reinforced pipes produced by this company. The common length for all products is 4000 mm.

These products are excellent for heating systems of country houses and apartments in multi-storey buildings. All METAC products comply with all domestic and European standards and requirements established for these products, as they are produced on high-tech equipment under the strict supervision of qualified specialists.

"FV Plast"

The Czech company FV Plast specializes in the development and production of polypropylene pipes intended for pressure water pipes for supplying cold drinking water, hot water supply and heating systems. The company produces polypropylene pipes and fittings for them only gray, with a reinforcing aluminum and fiberglass layer.

"FV Plast" was one of the first to start producing glass fiber reinforced products - this product range is called "FASER".

Prices for polypropylene pipes FV Plast

reinforced polypropylene pipes FV Plast

Characteristics of FV Plast FASER pipes reinforced with glass fiber:

• The operating temperature of the coolant is up to 80 degrees.
• A short-term increase in temperature is allowed up to 90 degrees.
• The operating pressure of the system is 20 bar.
• Extremely permissible pressure– 36 bar.
• The service life of the products declared by the manufacturer is 25÷50 years.

In addition to the pipes themselves, the company presents on the market all the necessary components for them, which allows using materials from one manufacturer to create heating circuits of any complexity with guaranteed reliability.

You may be interested in information about what they are

"Kalde"

Kalde is a Turkish leading manufacturer of modern heating and plumbing systems assembled from PPR pipes and components. The material of this company is characterized by maximum protection against build-up and contamination inside the pipes throughout the entire service life. Reliable, lightweight, durable, comfortable and economical Kalde systems are inert to corrosion and chemical attack. Available in wide range diameters - from 20 to 110 mm.

Kalde Fiber is three-layer pipe with white outer surface, made of polypropylene and glass fiber reinforced. It is distinguished by excellent heat resistance, with an upper limit of coolant temperature reaching up to 95 degrees. Even at such a system temperature and pressure not exceeding 10 bar, the manufacturer declares a service life of at least 50 years.

Prices for Kalde polypropylene pipes

Kalde reinforced polypropylene pipes

In addition to the above, the company also produces polypropylene pipes of various types:

• PN10 and PN20, made of polypropylene, PPRC– without internal reinforcement.
• PN20 and PN25, reinforced with aluminum foil - pipes for heating and heat supply, air conditioning systems and similar industrial uses.
• AL-Super is a polypropylene pipe reinforced in the middle layer with aluminum foil that does not require trimming or stripping.

The range of Kalde components is very diverse and is intended for different, even the most complex heating circuits.

"BANNINGER"

BANNINGER is a German company that produces products that are distinguished by genuine European quality and undeniable reliability in operation. The company produces polypropylene pipes and a full set of necessary components for the installation of heating circuits, hot and cold water supply. Distinctive feature is the unusual, emerald green color of BANNINGER polypropylene pipes.

The products are characterized by high plasticity, therefore they calmly respond to high and low temperatures. The parameters of polypropylene parts were selected taking into account research on the fatigue properties of the material, during operation for 50 years, at a constant temperature of 70 degrees and pressure up to 10 bar.

The company's product range includes polypropylene pipes without reinforcing materials, as well as with an aluminum and fiberglass layer. Within the framework of this article, samples of the “WATERTEC” series deserve attention » and "CLIMATEC". Their use will provide the created heating circuit with guaranteed reliability and durability.

A few words in conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to recommend not to purchase pipes from unknown manufacturers who do not even mention the name of their company in the product labeling. By saving a little, you can buy a product that will not last even one heating season, failing at the most inopportune moment. In such a situation, you will have to pay a much larger sum to replace the heating system pipes and repair your own and, possibly, your neighbor’s apartment.

One more small note. One of the most frequently asked questions is the following: “What information does the color of the reinforcing layer located in the pipe wall convey?” The answer is simple - none. The color of the reinforcement is rather a “whim” of the manufacturer, a desire to highlight their products against the general background.

By and large, any fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene pipe is itself designed for operation in elevated temperatures. So whether the reinforcing “ring” will be red, green, blue or gray - it doesn’t matter. The main information is in the alphanumeric marking of the pipe and in its technical documentation, which, by the way, do not forget to get acquainted with in the store when choosing a material.

And finally, to “consolidate” the information received about polypropylene pipes, watch the video attached below:

Video: Recommendations for the correct selection of polypropylene pipes

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Evgeniy AfanasyevChief Editor