Pipe Joining for Plumbing and Heating Systems
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TM 26 January 2020 JOURNAL OF DESIGN INNOVATION FOR HYDRONIC AND PLUMBING PROFESSIONALS Pipe Joining for Plumbing and Heating Systems TM 5212 Series SinkMixer Scald Protection Point-of-use Mixing Valve • 4-way design simplifies piping and minimizes connection points. • Stand-off mounting bracket for simple sturdy installation. • Patented design, wide flow range to handle a variety of fixtures. • Forged low lead dezincification resistant brass for durability. Controlling and protecting your water www.caleffi.com - Milwaukee, WI USA FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER & CEO Dear Plumbing and Hydronic Professional, It was the 1990s when I attempted my first soldering job. What a mess! Although the replacement water softener ended up working fine, my workmanship was nothing short of “bush league”. There was more solder on the basement floor and on the outside of the pipe, than there was in the completed joint. Fortunately the softener was in my own home. I’ve long since moved on from there but would not be surprised if someday that work is posted up on one of those “hacked-up install” websites! That experience gave me an appreciation for the skill that goes into producing a reliable pipe connection in a timely manner. Fast forwarding to today there are several new pipe joining technologies available that not only produce a reliable connection, but require significantly less time than traditional methods. As skilled labor becomes increasingly scarce, it’s likely that manufacturers will introduce even more innovate “quick-joining” technologies and methods. This issue of idronics discusses classic and contemporary methods of joining piping in hydronic and plumbing applications. The intent is to equip designers and installers with information that helps them select pipe joining systems that are proven effective, with emphasis on modern methods that simplify and speed installation. We hope you enjoy this issue of idronics and encourage you to send us any feedback by e-mailing us at [email protected]. For prior issues please visit us at www.caleffi.us, and click on the icon. There you can download the PDF files. You can also register to receive hard copies of future issues. Mark Olson General Manager & CEO 3 INTRODUCTION The use of pipe to convey water has been essential to Figure 1-2 the development of human civilization. Historical artifacts show that Egyptians used piping made of hammered copper sheets around 3,000 BC. Piping made from hollowed bamboo or reeds was used by the Chinese as early as 2,500 BC. The Greeks used piping made of fired clay, hollowed stone and bronze around 2,000 BC. The Romans made extensive use of lead piping, and wealthy Romans enjoyed both cold and hot water delivered from that piping. The Romans also developed crude but functional valves for their piping, examples of which are shown in Figure 1-1. Figure 1-1 Figure 1-3 During the 1600s, North American settlers used hollowed logs for piping. As peopled moved west during the 1800s, piping made from hollowed redwood logs was common, and in some cases preferred over early metal piping due to its resistance to decay. Figure 1-2 shows an example of wooden piping reinforced by external metal bands. One of the first uses of cast iron pipe was to supply water Source: sewerhistory.org, United States Cast Iron Pipe & Foundry Co.,1914 to gardens at the French Palace of Versailles during the 1600s. during the 20th century. One of the most significant developments was polymer-based piping such as During the 1800s, progress in metallurgy allowed for PVC, CPVC, PEX, HDPE and PP-R (Polypropylene production of seamless steel piping. Steel is now the Random). These materials are now widely used around most widely used piping material in the world, including the world for plumbing and hydronic systems. In some in a wide variety of HVAC system applications. applications, such as hydronic radiant panel heating, hot and cold water distribution in homes, water As was true with many materials and processes, several wells, underground gas distribution, and geothermal new and specialized types of pipe were developed heat pump systems, polymer piping now dominates 5 Figure 1-4 as the piping itself. As coupled sections of piping were established, so too were ways to change the direction of the piping without bending it. Basic pipe fittings, such as couplings, elbows and tees, greatly expanded the usefulness of nearly all types of piping. There are now many ways to join piping to achieve leakage- free joints able to withstand high temperatures and pressures. The “classic” methods of joining pipe, such as welding, soldering, and threading, now compete with time- saving joining systems, such as press fitting, thermal fusion, and cold expansion of shape memory piping materials. This issue of idronics discusses classic and contemporary methods the market. Figure 1-4 shows two unaided human eye. Some pipes of joining pipe in hydronic and common applications: The red and can handle internal pressures as plumbing applications. It describes blue PEX tubing is used for hot and high as 20,000 psi. Other specialized common applications, along cold water supply, while the white pipe can withstand temperatures with strengths and limitations of PVC pipe is used for drainage, waste over 2,000ºF. pipe joining systems. It provides and ventilation (DWV) systems. information on the associated The usefulness of any pipe is limited standards for different types of pipe Today there are hundreds of types of by its size and length. Early pipes and pipe joining systems. The goal piping used in everything from sewer made of fired clay and hollowed is to equip designers and installers systems to the rovers exploring the stone were, at most, limited to a with information that helps them surface of Mars. Pipes sizes range few feet in length. Thus, methods select pipe joining systems that are from those large enough for a city of joining multiple sections of piping appropriate and efficient for many bus to pass through, to those so together in ways that limited or hydronic and plumbing applications, small that the cavity through which eliminated leakage at the joints with emphasis on modern methods fluid passes cannot be seen by an were fundamentally as important that simplify and speed installation. 6 PIPE & FITTING NOMENCLATURE There are many terms used when referring to pipes and size refers to exact outside diameter. Thus, a 3/4-inch fittings. Some are precise, such as Diameter Ratio (DR- ACR copper tube has an exact outside diameter of 11). Others are industry slang, such as “street elbow.” 0.750 inches. ACR tubing is not used for plumbing or Those working with piping for plumbing and hydronic hydronic system applications. systems need to be familiar with these terms to enable good communication between designers, specification The term “copper tube size,” abbreviated as CTS is writers, manufacturers, supply chain staff and installers. sometimes used when referring to copper water tube This section covers the basic terminology and protocols (but not ACR tube). Some polymer tubes, such as PEX, used in the North American market. also reference CTS. For example, the exact outside diameters of a 1/2” PEX tube and 3/4” CPVC tube PIPE vs. TUBE: are 0.625 inches and 0.875 inches, respectively. Both The words “pipe” and “tube” are often used loosely and outside diameters are exactly 1/8-inch or 0.125 inches interchangeably. Both refer to a closed, round conduit greater than the nominal tube size. intended for fluid (e.g., liquid or gas) conveyance. The words closed, round conduit were used in the previous Another term used to describe pipe size is “Iron Pipe sentence simply to avoid a circular definition of either Size” (IPS). This designation is based on an old standard pipe or tube. The word conduit generally refers to pipe that was developed when pipe manufacturing was intended to hold electrical wiring. limited to three wall thicknesses called “standard”, “extra strong” and “double extra strong.” These designations The term “tube” generally refers to smooth, non-ferrous have since been replaced by a designation for pipe conduit intended for fluid conveyance and having wall thickness called “schedule.” What was referred to approximate diameters less than or equal to 2 inches. as “standard” pipe under the old IPS classification is Examples include 1/2” copper tube, 5/8” PEX tube and now schedule 40 for pipes from 1/8-inch to 10 inches 1” CPVC tube. The term “pipe” is customarily used when nominal sizes. For pipe sizes greater than 12 inches, referring to smooth, non-ferrous pipe over 2 inches in schedule 40 refers to a wall thickness of 0.375 inches. nominal diameter. Thus, one might hear reference to a The old IPS designation “extra strong” is now schedule 3-inch copper pipe. Strictly speaking, this is not accurate 80 for pipes from 1/8-inch to 8 inches nominal size. in the case of copper. Even copper “pipe” up to 12-inch Schedule 80 pipe larger than 8 inches nominal size has pipe size is properly referred to as tube. a wall thickness of 0.500 inches. The old IPS designation “double extra strong” has multiple definitions. Today this The term pipe is commonly used for pipes made of category of pipe has been consolidated to a standard ferrous metals, such as steel, wrought iron or black iron. wall thickness called schedule 160. PIPE SIZE: In Europe, pipe size is generally based on the DN The term “pipe size” also has several different and (Diametre Nominal) standard. It refers to the exact sometimes confusing meanings. In some cases, it refers outside diameter in millimeters.