Hydronic Distribution Piping | Hydronic Heating

HYDRONIC DISTRIBUTION PIPING

Hydronic heating and cooling systems utilize heated or chilled fluid, usually water and sometimes antifreeze, as a heat-transfer medium which is distributed throughout a building for the purpose of space heating and cooling. Other types of hydronic energy transfer are also related to this scope of work.

Introduction
Hydronic heating and cooling is a 100-year-old technology that is constantly evolving, and hydronic distribution piping is one of the primary applications for the plastic piping materials represented by PPI's Building & Construction Division since its founding.

The hydronic piping materials represented by PPI provide economical, safe, sustainable, and reliable piping systems for the transport of heated and chilled water, without the cost, corrosion, or environmental issues associated with traditional metal materials, such as copper and steel. Several of these materials have been used in hydronic applications for five decades.

Plastic piping materials have been approved for hydronics in model mechanical codes across USA and Canada, including the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), the International Residential Code – Mechanical (IRC-M), CSA B214 (Installation Code for Hydronic Heating Systems), and others.

Note: Plastic piping materials are not approved or intended for steam applications.

Materials
Many of the plastic piping materials represented by PPI's Building & Construction Division are intended and certified for hydronic distribution piping. This includes certain CPVC, PEX, PEX-AL-PEX, PE-RT and PP pipe and tubing materials, as well as the fittings which are designed for use with each of these piping materials. Within radiant surface heating/cooling systems, PEX, PE-RT and PEX-AL-PEX materials are most commonly used. Due to the long lengths (e.g. thousands of feet), and large surface area (e.g. thousands of square inches) of tubing used in radiant systems, some PEX and PE-RT materials are available with co-extruded oxygen diffusion barrier layers which practically eliminate the transmission of oxygen from the atmosphere through the tubing wall. This is intended to prevent oxygen from dissolving into the hydronic fluid and potentially causing corrosion in any ferrous (i.e. iron or steel) components within the piping system. The aluminum core layer within PEX-AL-PEX tubing also serves as an oxygen barrier.

Please read more about each of these piping materials, including the specific product standards to which they are produced, on the webpages for each of the materials.

Applications
Hydronic heating and cooling systems use a variety of heat emitters to transfer thermal energy to or from a space. Common examples include fan coils, convectors, radiators, chilled beams. This also includes radiant surfaces, sometimes called radiant panels, which use embedded tubing within floors, walls, or ceilings.

Hydronic piping systems are used in practically every type of residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial building.

Advantages of Hydronic Heating/Cooling Systems
Water (R718*) is the optimal heat transfer fluid for heating and cooling building spaces and equipment. In terms of system efficiency, typical hydronic systems outperform VRF (variable refrigerant flow) systems by 30 to 40 percent thanks mainly to lower pumping costs. *see ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34 for refrigerant designation codes

Hydronic distribution systems do not distribute refrigerants throughout buildings. The risk of distributed refrigerants is that in the event of a leakage, these gasses have high Global Warming Potential (GWP) factors, sometimes thousands of times higher than carbon dioxide (CO2). The GWP of water is essentially zero, since it remains a liquid. Also, certain refrigerants are flammable and have limited approvals in building codes.

Hydronic heating and cooling systems are known for delivering comfort, efficiency, and controllability (i.e. zoning) with high reliability and simplicity.

For more information about the advantages for hydronics, visit the Hydronic Industry Alliance – Commercial (HIA-C).

Advantages of Plastic Piping Materials
Plastic pipes do not erode or corrode, preventing the expensive damage that occurs when metallic pipes leak. Plastic pipes also do not experience scale build-up, which can impede flows, increase pumping costs, and reduce system efficiency.

Flexible plastic pipes such as PEX, PEX-AL-PEX, and PE-RT allow for bends and sweeps to be formed by hand, reducing installation time and pressure loss in the piping.

CPVC pipe is typically joined to fittings using solvent cement, which chemically fuses the components into a monolithic piping system. PP pipes are fittings are typically joined using heat fusion which physically welds the components into a monolithic piping system. Mechanical compression fittings are available for each of these piping materials. These proven joining techniques eliminate the use of flame for constructing the piping system.

Since these plastic materials are inherent insulators, thermal heat transfer through the pipe wall is reduced, an important factor when transferring heated or chilled water over long distances throughout buildings.

Other advantages:

Plastic pipes can reduce installation time and the need for heavy equipment
Plastic pipes are quieter and absorb most pressure spikes and water hammer
With clean and flame-free joining systems, the risk of fire is reduced when installing plastic piping systems
Materials are resistant to disinfectants such as chlorine and chloramines
Lightweight, easy to transport, reduced transportation and installation costs
These materials provide ease of installation with professional appearance
Plastic pipes deliver lower installed system cost than metal pipes
No scrap value avoids jobsite theft

Sustainability
In addition to the inherent advantages listed above, plastic piping systems are sustainable choices for numerous reasons:

No mining operations are utilized to extract ore, as with metals
Much lower net energy cost to produce plastic as compared with metal pipes
Smooth wall, excellent flow characteristics reduce pumping costs
Flexibility can dampen pressure surges and water hammer, reducing pressure spikes and extending equipment life
Plastic materials do not support biofilm growth, reducing the need for water treatment chemicals such as corrosion inhibitors
Their light weight reduces transportation energy usage and costs
Many plastic piping materials are recyclable after their service life is complete

To summarize, plastic piping systems used in hydronic heating and cooling systems protect health, safety, and welfare!

See also