Aquatherm Piping Systems
We at GCI are pleased to provide a pioneer in polypropylene piping systems, working together to bring the building industry the quality, reliability, and performance they need for the most basic elements of people’s lives. For more information or to contact us for a demo, or a quote contact the Sales Department at 1-800-720-4660 ext. 121 or via email sales@greencir.com
In short… Aquatherm’s material, Polypropylene Rigid or PP-R as stated has now been included in the UFGS (Uniform Facilities Guide Specs) by all of NAVFAC and Army Corp of Engineers. It is approved for Domestic Water, Reclaimed Water, Hydronics, Chilled/Heating Water, Condenser Lines, Compressed Air and Geothermal. We have installed Aquatherm on roughly 20 buildings so far at Camp Pendleton, starting a job shorty at Twentynine Palms, just began underground installation at MCRD downtown San Diego, 6 Condenser Lines at Fort Bliss, Fort Hood, Fort Sam Houston and Fort Polk. Some of the contractors who have used the product or are currently using the product are: Sundt Turner; PCL; Harper Construction; Hensel Phelps; SSW Mechanical; Collins Plumbing; RJL; Anthier; Atlas Mechanical and more…. Depending on what the alternative is, Aquatherm can save in significant costs not only on material but on labor savings. We are roughly as efficient as ProPress with respect to labor and about 35% less than ProPress on material. Compared to CPVC, we are much closer in material cost, but much more durable as a product and our customers recieve a 10-yr warranty that covers incidentals.
GCI is a service disabled veteran owned small business / woman owned / small business enterprise that provides the government and prime contractors with an array of products and services (over 650,000) utilizing several hundred distribution centers throughout the U. S. We do this by partnering with large companies using their financial and logistical strength to benefit you and enabling us to compete nationally. There is nothing that we cannot get… and at competitive prices.
And, by doing business with an SDVOSB and a WOB you move your company toward their socioeconomic spending goals. If you do not see what you are looking for, but wish to do business with an SDVOSB/WOB/SBE you can rely on just contact us.
More on Aquatherm… we have attained international renown by always working to be the best. Relentlessly testing existing products to ensure that they continue to meet the highest performance standards…. Constantly improving and innovating on existing technologies, searching for ways to make them even better.
But while striving for excellence, also upholding the philosophy that production should never interfere with environmental responsibility. Aquatherm’s products are manufactured to the highest ecological standards. The Aquatherm Greenpipe®, Climatherm®, and Lilac systems are designed to outlast other piping systems and can be fully recycled when their service-life is complete.
For over three decades, Aquatherm has been a global leader in polypropylene pressure piping systems. Useing the most advanced technologies to provide the highest quality product manufactured anywhere in the world.
Aquatherm’s products have been installed in over 70 countries… are now being installed in Canada and here in the United States.
View our “Benefits at a Glance” pdf document.
In 1980 Aquatherm developed the polypropylene piping system Aquatherm Greenpipe® for potable water and heating installations. Since that time, this innovation has served as the foundation for steady growth.
In 2005, Aquatherm began distributing in Canada, in 2007 in the United States as well. Currently, Aquatherm piping systems are installed throughout North America in a wide range of applications.
Aquatherm pipe is manufactured to ASTM F2389 and is listed with ICC, CSA, and IAPMO.
Presently Aquatherm is manufactured at three sites in Germany covering more than 731,946 sq. ft, with facilities for offices, production and warehousing:
1. Aquatherm Headquarters at Attendorn (Biggen)
2. Aquatherm branch at Radeberg near Dresden
3. Aquatherm-metal at Attendorn (Ennest)
Each day, well over 90 miles of pipe and 230,000 fittings are produced, stored, and dispatched around the world. The Aquatherm piping systems are produced 24 hours a day, 6 days a week, in order to meet the constantly increasing demands and to guarantee accurate and punctual delivery. Today, Aquatherm operates in more than 70 countries around the world, and is an undisputed market leader in many fields. Last but not least, Aquatherm is a flexible middle-sized company which is able to compete with much larger corporations.
Tested and Proven Quality:
Aquatherm prides itself on its environmentally friendly production, its exemplary customer service, and on having the highest quality standards for all its products.
The quality of the raw materials greatly impacts the quality of a piping system. Therefore, Aquatherm independently tests the purity and strength of its PP-R material before, during and after production. To do this, Aquatherm has its own laboratory at its headquarters in Attendorn. Not only does this testing guarantee constant quality control, but it also helps ensure that the final product will perform under the most demanding conditions.
Aquatherm’s testing procedures and constant efforts to improve on its product have led to many of the innovations that make Aquatherm piping systems so highly rated.
The results of Aquatherm’s research and development program include the patented pipe materials Fusiolen® PP-R and Fusiolen® PP-R C, from which the internationally renowned piping systems Aquatherm Greenpipe®, Climatherm® and Lilac are manufactured.
The most modern process controls provide optimum quality. Only perfect products are shipped from the Aquatherm factory to the customer, ensuring satisfaction every time.
All Aquatherm pipes and fittings are manufactured to ASTM F2389 and listed under NSF 14. Aquatherm Greenpipe is also listed under ICC 15140 and 15180, IAPMO 2009, and CSA B137.11 as well as NSF 61, NSF 51, and CFAI A508. Climatherm is listed under IMC 1202 and 1203, IAPMO UMC 2009, and CSA B214.
Satisfied customers in more than 70 countries as well as numerous seals of quality and product listings confirm the high quality standard of the Aquatherm products.
Aquatherm Ecology:
From its beginning, Aquatherm has always taken environmental protection seriously. For some companies, environmental responsibility is just a fad, but for Aquatherm, it’s our way of doing business. Aquatherm piping systems feature not only a long service life, but also excellent environmental and ecological compatibility. Since the founding of the company in 1973, Aquatherm has worked hard to ensure that its products and manufacturing processes do not pollute earth’s sensitive ecosystems and to develop fully recyclable materials which can be added, waste-free, to new production. Long before environmental protection was recognized as a global issue, Aquatherm piping systems fulfilled the high ecological standards which are demanded today. For over 35 years Aquatherm has applied its philosophy that environmental and economic interests should not be contradictory, neither during production and sales, nor in the application of the product.
Aquatherm pipes require very little energy to manufacture, generate virtually no pollution, contain no hazardous chemicals or VOCs, install without flames or fumes, and are fully recyclable, making them ideal for green building initiatives such as LEED. The environmentally friendly raw material Fusiolen® PP-R is used to manufacture Aquatherm piping systems. To ensure its environmental compatibility, the basic
material polypropylene, as well as any additives used (color pigments and stabilizers), are extensively tested, not only by Aquatherm’s own laboratory, but also by independent researchers.
Their results show that the material Fusiolen® PP-R and the Aquatherm piping systems comply with the highest ecological standards and are thus “future-oriented.
About Aquatherm
For over 30 years, Aquatherm has produced the most advanced and environmentally friendly piping systems in the world. Aquatherm Greenpipe® is widely recognized by both experts and consumers around the world as one of the safest and longest lasting potable water systems available. Climatherm has low-friction walls and integrated expansion control, making it ideal for hydronic heating and cooling applications. Lilac pipe is suited for water conservation systems, such as rain water or recycled water distribution.
Climasystem provides ultra-efficient radiant heating and cooling and can easily use on-site renewable energy. Aquatherm piping systems provide the reliability and longevity that medical care facilities demand, while offering better performance and value than comparable systems.
Aquatherm piping systems combine the strength and purity of polypropylene-random (PP-R) with the security and performance of heatfusion connections to provide the industry’s most reliable piping systems.
And Aquatherm pipes are covered under a 10-year warranty, just in case.
Health and Well Being
Medical care facilities strive to provide an environment that is free of outside pollutants. Aquatherm piping systems help them do exactly that. As a non-leaching plastic, PP-R delivers water that is just as clean when it comes out the tap as it was when it first entered the system. There are no hazardous metals or poisonous chemicals contaminating the drinking water, and in the event of a fire, Aquatherm pipes burn cleanly, with no dangerous by-products. Aquatherm pipes even absorb noise, helping to promote a comfortable resting environment.
Reliable Performance
When people’s lives are on the line, equipment simply has to work. Time and energy spent servicing and repairing pipe detracts from patient care. Aquatherm piping systems are leak-free and do not require any maintenance, freeing up resources to focus on what really matters. Heat-fusion connections are seamless, and PP-R is not affected by corrosion, abrasion, or pin-holing.
Fast and Effective Solutions
In a medical care facility, things need to happen quickly. Long installations an repairs take away precious resources from patients who need them. Fortunately, Aquatherm’s heat-fusion joints only take a matter of seconds to connect and are ready for use within minutes. This helps keep systems up and running, even during expansions and renovations. Heat-fusion connections are consistent and reliable, so once the system is place, no one will have to worry about it again. And heat-fusion connections don’t use open flames or noxious glues, so they can be used in occupied buildings without disrupting daily procedures
Environmental Responsibility
Besides fulfilling a social responsibility, medical care facilities strive to have as little impact on our environment as possible. Many “green” solutions require compromises in other areas, but Aquatherm never does. Aquatherm’s joining process is clean and free of harmful chemicals. The piping systems generate virtually no pollution to manufacture and the PP-R material is fully recyclable. PP-R also lasts much longer than other materials, eliminating the waste involved with replacing an entire system. And Aquatherm pipes are completely nontoxic, even if burned, so there’s never any pollution to the local ecosystem
Comfort and safety
It’s important to create a secure and restful environment to promote healing and wellness. That’s why Aquatherm’s Climasystem combines radiant and hydronic technology to provide steady, comfortable heating and cooling without the noise of fans or water circulation. Climasystem does not rely on forced air, allowing the temperature controls to be completely independent of the ventilation system and making it easier to stop airborne pathogens. Radiant heating and cooling can also be engineered for zone-specific operation, allowing different parts of the same room to be at different temperatures without interfering with each other. This provides maximum comfort to each of the room’s occupants.
  Aquatherm Greenpipe® is a PP-R pressure piping system with heat fusion connections. It has been used around the world for over 25 years and is highly recognized by experts as one of the most extensive, long lasting, and high performing plastic pipingsystems available. Aquatherm Greenpipe is rated for use in potable water and food-grade applications. The system includes SDR 11 pipes for cold water applications and SDR 7.4 pipes for hot water applications. The hot water pipe is reinforced with a faser-composite layer that reduces linear expansion by 75%. More than 400 joining and connection elements, as well as valves and ball valves, complete the system. The products are available in nominal sizes from ½” – 10” external diameter. |
Greenpipe |
  The Climatherm® pipe system is engineered specifically forapplications outside the potable water installation, such as hydronic heating and cooling distribution, geothermal technology and industrial applications. In addition to the general advantages of the Aquatherm Greenpipe system, Climatherm is high-heat stabilized, allowing the pipe to be manufactured using thinner walls while maintaining the temperature and pressure ratings. This gives the system a higher flow rate, lower weight, and a more competitive cost. Climatherm comes as SDR 11 and has the expansion controlling “faser-composite” technology. The nominal sizes range from ½” to 12” external diameter. The Climatherm system uses the same fittings as the Aquatherm Greenpipe system, making installation simple and easy. |
Climatherm |
 Water conservation systems are being specified and installed much more frequently as building and plumbing codes are updated to encourage improved water conservation. Most codes require that these systems be kept entirely separate from the potable water supply, and that the piping be color-coded and labeled to identify it as non-potable. The water from reclaimed, recycled and rainwater sources can be used for flushing, irrigation, cleaning and laundry (local codes permitting). The Aquatherm Lilac pipe system has been developed exclusively for these applications. The piping uses the same durable, corrosion-resistant PP-R material that has been successfully used for hot-and-cold water distribution for over 25 years. This, combined with design modifications, coloring, marking, and independent third-party certification by NSF International, make Lilac the ideal choice for water conservation. |
Lilac |
 Aquatherm Climasystem: Heating and cooling system for ceiling, wall and other applications An individual’s physical well being directly depends on the basic environmental conditions of the surroundings. Working efficiency varies according to temperature, so climate control is extremely important. In offices, commercial and residential buildings, meeting rooms, and similar facilities, Climasystem panels have become increasingly popular for radiant heating and cooling through the ceilings and walls. The revolutionary Aquatherm Climasystem delivers pleasant room conditions without noise and forced air movement. With this technology, cooling or heating is easy to control. The system can be designed with automatic change-over of hot or chilled water, allowing for individual room or zone control. And radiant zones won’t interfere with each other, so everyone can be as comfortable as possible.
- For wet and dry construction |
Climasystem
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 All Aquatherm pipes and fittings are made of Fusiolen® PP-R, which is manufactured exclusively by Aquatherm. The Fusiolen PP-R material is both physically and chemically Different fields of application require different performance |
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 Taking convenience and versatility to a whole new level, the Aquatherm Advanced upgrade combines fire protection, vapor barrier, and thermal insulation into one external wrap, making Aquatherm piping systems that are truly complete. The Aquatherm Advanced upgrade uses a reflective insulation |
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Introduction to LEEDS
The following document is a practical guide for applying Aquatherm piping systems to the LEED credits program. This document was produced by Aquatherm to illustrate the various ways in which upgrading to fusible polypropylene piping systems can earn and contribute to LEED credits.
This current edition focuses on major strategies that address several credits at once, earning a number of points by implementing one large innovation. There are many ways to help protect environmental and human health while promoting sustainable development. Switching to Aquatherm piping systems from the current industry standards offers a wide variety of health and safety benefits, not all of which are addressed by the LEED program at this time.
This document is intended to address Aquatherm’s relevance to LEED credits based on Version 3.0 of the LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations Reference Guide. The strategies outlined in the document act as a starting point for earning the appropriate LEED credits. Depending on the situation, upgrading to Aquatherm could offer an even larger contribution to the LEED credits than listed here.
Aquatherm is proud to be a member of the USGBC and a pioneering contributor to the development of sustainable, environmentally-responsible building materials.
Click here to download the full document.
Case Studies:
Ft. Hood:
Piping Alternative Provides Extensive Savings and Helps Fort Hood “Go Green”
Aquatherm Climatherm delivers an estimated 20% savings on labor and material over metal piping while offering several eco-friendly benefits.
Located in central Texas, Fort Hood is the only post in the United States capable of stationing and training two U.S. Army Armored Divisions. The 340-square-mile installation is home to more than 52,000 currently assigned soldiers and 100,000 family members.
With an estimated economic impact in 2008 of $10.9 billion statewide, the installation is also the largest single location employer in Texas. So when the Army’s Department of Public Works (DPW) was considering its HVAC piping options for several new Fort Hood construction projects, a cost saving and environmentally friendly piping alternative was very appealing.
Staff engineers at Fort Hood sought an environmentally |
Thus, the fact that Aquatherm Inc.’s polypropylene- random (PP-R) piping would be able to come in at roughly 20% less than copper or steel while also contributing to several USGBC LEED points made it very compelling. The German-manufactured pipe has been one of the world’s greenest piping systems for the past 35 years and proven successful in 70-plus countries. Aquatherm also produces the most environmentally friendly piping option available.
The fusion process is fundamental to polypropylene’s eco-friendliness. Simply putting a piece of pipe and a fitting on opposite
ends of an Aquatherm welding iron for a specified time (about 24 seconds for two-inch pipe), and then joining them together creates an incredibly strong connection.
An Intriguing Alternative
Lou Castillo, project manager for the DPW, was intrigued when he was presented with PP-R by Aquatherm distributor, David Wheeler, of ProLine Marketing in San
Antonio. He was, however, “a bit skeptical” about replacing metal with PP-R.
“We were a little concerned, but once we read more about it, we decided to go ahead and give it a try. We liked the way it was easy to run and took less time for labor, and it really looked cleaner on the design when we installed it,” Castillo said.
After plenty of due diligence, the DPW asked Marvin Carter, president and co-owner (along with Scott Hunter) of HVACmasters in Round Rock, Texas, to try Aquatherm on two Fort Hood HVAC renovations. Carter, with 35 years of industry experience – including 15 years at Fort Hood – was also a bit hesitant.
| We liked the way it was easy to run and took less time for labor, and it really looked cleaner on the design when we installed it,” Castillo said. |
“We all had reservations with the product at first. As you know change is not easy for employees or companies that have predominantly used other products for years,” Carter recalled. However, Carter agreed to try Aquatherm. The product is distributed in the U.S. and Canada by Aquatherm, Inc., and was approved for use on these projects due to its environmental friendliness and since all new projects allow a certain percentage of items to be manufactured outside the U.S.
The trial installation was to take place on two “five-company buildings” that were originally built in 1983 and 1984. The 25,000-square-foot, one-story structures are used for the administration and supply of an entire company. Neither had air conditioning in the supply room and both had substandard air conditioning in the administration areas.
The goal of the project was upgrading the HVAC systems via new chillers; DDC controls; new, larger AHUs; and replacement of the existing four-pipe system. The piping jobs would traditionally have been specified with standard copper and A-53 steel pipe. However, Castillo said, Aquatherm’s flexibility and durability were critical factors. “Also, not having to use a lot of chemicals in the system and not having to worry about rust in the chilled water systems and the boilers was a benefit,” he added.
About the Transition
Aquatherm conducted a training session at the HVACmasters shop. Since the HVACmasters technicians were then factory-certified, the installed Aquatherm piping has a 10-year warranty on pipe and fittings with a product liability valued at 9 million Euros for personal injury and 4.5 million Euros for property damage per event.
HVACmasters’ expertise in pipefitting helped the staff quickly understand the fusion process. “They actually grasped it pretty fast, but a lot of companies are going to fight it, they don’t want the change. The transition itself is very simple,” Carter added.
HVACmasters purchased the necessary welding irons and jigs to handle Aquatherm piping from 1-inch to 3-inch. “It’s a bit costly upfront to get into, but you will save money down the road on labor time,” said Carter.
Carter was quite satisfied with Aquatherm’s training and support. “They were knowledgeable with the product and installation,
and they also came to the jobsite and worked with us at the very beginning,” he recalled.
This photo shows the new AHU and the Aquatherm Climatherm piping. According to Marvin Carter, president of HVACmasters (which performed the work), “The Aquatherm product works. It looks good, and the ball valves turn, open, and close really easily, and you can’t do that with copper or steel.” |
Construction began in January 2009, and was completed in June 2009. Aquatherm’s Climatherm, which is designed specifically for HVAC applications, was the specified pipe (the company also makes Aquatherm Greenpipe® for potable water and Lilac for reclaimed water).
Almost 4,000 linear feet of Climatherm piping was installed for chilled and hot water in the buildings. The boiler supply and return lines didn’t need any insulation thanks to PP-R’s natural R-value, providing further savings. The pipes installed on this project range from 1” to 3”.
Overall, the installation proceeded remarkably smoothly. In the thousands of connections made, there were only a couple leaks. Carter said with steel and copper there would have been many more leaks, and added that on a recent job, there were “no leaks, which would have been unheard of with copper or steel.”
The Future is Fusion
The five-company building installations were so successful that base officials approved Climatherm for use in a number of other projects and are considering using Aquatherm for compressed air and potable water applications. “Now, all the engineers are impressed with the installations and quality of material, and the product is being used throughout several new projects at Fort Hood,” said Carter.
Finally, the Fort Worth Army Corp of Engineers has incorporated Aquatherm into its specifications, so that from now on Aquatherm can be installed at U.S. Army installations throughout the southern region of the U.S. “Ray Schroeder, the head engineer at Fort Hood and Kelly Mollenkopf, the base’s senior mechanical engineer, who has been instrumental on the job, have both said that Aquatherm has a bright future here on the base,” Carter said.
Utah State University
Polypropylene pressure piping system improves server reliability
| “[USU] wanted welded pipe, but without the welding fumes. The Aquatherm system seemed like a good way to give them that.” |
When Utah State University first planned to upgrade its data center, improving the server cooling system was a top priority. USU engineers considered using welded steel but had concerns regarding condensation as well as the difficulty of installing and repairing the system in an occupied space.
“Our problem with the data center was using a piping system that was reliable,” said Lorin Mortensen, a mechanical engineer at USU. “We originally specced stainless steel, but the environment of the data center was not suitable for welding, so we looked at alternatives.”
Another option they explored was running single lines of flexible PEX tubing from a main line outside the data center to and from each cooling unit, but it quickly became clear that with the insulation needed to prevent condensation, there would not be enough room to run all the lines cleanly.
Welded pipe without the fumes
Fortunately, Jon Burrows from Colvin Engineering suggested an alternative system.
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These pipes carry 40˚ F chilled water to cooling |
“We were working with an existing system. We had to maintain the fire protection and the air quality,” Burrows said. “[USU] wanted welded pipe, but without the welding fumes. The Aquatherm system seemed like a good way to give them that.”
Aquatherm, a German-based pipe manufacturer, produces a fusible polypropylene system called Climatherm, a system specially designed for heating and cooling applications. While only recently available in North America, Climatherm, and its sister-system Aquatherm Greenpipe (for potable water applications) have enjoyed decades of success in over 70 countries around the world.
Climatherm uses heat-fusion to form connections, a process often used in natural gas piping because of its exceptional reliability.
Heat fusion bonds both sides of a joint into a single, homogenous material, without the use of chemicals or mechanical connections. This tends to eliminate systematic weaknesses and fail-points in the pipe. The heat fusion connections, combined with polypropylene’s resistance to corrosion and abrasion, eliminated the concerns of pipe leaking.
The engineers at USU took the innovation a step further by installing the system without additional insulation. Polypropylene has a natural insulation value, and Climatherm is made from over 97% pure polypropylene. Based on the minimum operating temperatures of the system and the maximum humidity levels in the data center, the engineers determined that no condensation would form on the uninsulated pipes during normal operation.
Steve Clark, P.E. and president of Aquatherm Inc., stated that, “Based on the temperature of the water in the pipes and the air around it, and the relative humidity of the room, the bare pipe will not sweat, even under extreme conditions. Ironically, if they do insulate it, and someone damages the vapor barrier, then you’ll almost definitely see condensation.”
Re-purposing the elevated floor
Shut-off valves at each of the branches allow |
USU’s central energy plant provides the chilled water, which is carried through steel mains up to the server room. From there, six-inch Climatherm lines are flanged directly into the steel and carry the water securely into the data center.
The first phase of the remodeled cooling system supplies 22 APC modular cooling units, with threaded outlets taken from three four-inch Climatherm branch loops. A second phase, still in planning, will add at least 15 more units on an addition branch line. All the piping is installed inside
an elevated floor, previously used to circulate chilled air underneath the data center.
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“This system saves the owner a lot of floor space. If we’d installed [flexible tubing] it would have been spaghetti in there. The Aquatherm cleaned it up very nicely.”
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“We’ve been running the system for about a month now,” Mortensen said, assessing the system’s early performance. “We basically
have to run the system 24/7. We can’t afford to have any shut-down time. We can isolate zones and units if we need to. It’s allowed us to plan for future expansions.”
By integrating Aquatherm’s polypropylene pressure piping systems into their design, the engineers at USU were able to avoid many of the major pitfalls sometimes associated
with other systems. Corrosion and impact resistant pipes, combined with leak-proof fusion connections, allow for more pounds of cooling to be brought into the data center without jeopardizing the delicate equipment. The result is improved server performance and reliability.
“This system saves the owner a lot of floor space,” Mortensen added. “If we’d installed [flexible tubing] it would have been spaghetti in there. The Aquatherm cleaned it up very nicely.”
Case study originally printed in June 2008 issue
of Engineered Systems magazine. Reprinted with permission.
Olympic Village
Nontraditional Piping Option Tapped for Domestic Water at Olympic Village Housing Project
| Jim Myers is owner/manager of Jeda Mechanical, the mechanical contractor serving those parcels using Aquatherm. “Aquatherm is recyclable and using it resulted in not using acetylene and acid to solder pipes, resulting in a safer work environment and considerably less fire hazard.” |
While the bulk of the Millennium Water South East False Creek Olympic Village housing project parcels used the traditional option, copper piping, for domestic water, a couple of them took a different route. Parcels 3 and 6 were piped with Aquatherm Greenpipe®, which is made from polypropylene-random (PP-R), and is designed specifically for potable water applications. Each parcel included 150 high-end residential units ranging between 750-2,500 square feet.
Jeda Mechanical, which served as the mechanical contractor on those parcels, suggested the PP-R product about two years ago in the design stage. Jeda’s owner/ manager, Jim Myers, explained that he had been introduced to Aquatherm by the local EMCO office and was immediately interested in it.
“It has so many good characteristics. It will last the lifetime of a building. It is much lighter than other metals, and isn’t going to get stolen like copper. Its flow rates are far better, and it has a natural insulation value,” he said.
The entire Olympic Village project was supposed |
When Myers, who has been in the industry for 25 years, presented PP-R to Cobalt Engineering (the job’s designer) and the owner, all of these factors and one additional one sold them on it. “The area’s water is extremely corrosive to copper, thus the notion that the material used in German-manufactured Aquatherm is so corrosion resistant that it’s often used in acid waste applications closed the deal.”
“When I talked with the owner and told him that it would last the life of the building he was sold. Around here, the corrosiveness of the water tends to eat up copper piping within 15 years,” Myers said. Part of the reason he could safely say the PP-R will last as long as the buildings is that it has been proven for over 35 years in 70-plus countries.
Additionally, Aquatherm backs their product with a 10-year warranty on pipe and fittings, with a product liability valued at 9 million Euros for personal injury and 4.5 million Euros for property damage per event.
While Jeda automatically offers a two-year warranty, the added manufacturer’s warranty (which is dependent upon completion of factory certified training) certainly helped. Jeda had a total of 16 employees complete the Aquatherm training, which lasted a half day.
Heat fusion welding is a process essential to the Aquatherm system. Joints are formed via a quick and simple fusion process in which the pipe and desired fitting are simply inserted onto an Aquatherm welding device and heated for a specified time (typically only seconds), then joined together.
Once fused, pipes and fittings have the same physical properties, eliminating systematic weaknesses. Additionally, a faser-composite fiberglass layer in the pipe reduces linear expansion of the pipe by 75% compared to other plastics, and ensures that it hangs rigidly.
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“It reduced labor and material costs, saved tens of thousands of dollars, and you don’t need to insulate Aquatherm with fiberglass, because of the pipe’s insulation properties itself,”
- Jim Meyers |
Jeda purchased the necessary Aquatherm fusion welding equipment, and Myers said the investment was worth it. “We bought it with the intent of using it again. The price of it was tough up front, but now we have the equipment, and the system as a whole provided a lot of labor and material savings. We didn’t have to have any solder, flux, acetylene, or torches that we would have had, so you have to consider that, too.”
The lighter weight and ease of installation offered by the PP-R was also valuable. “We were able to downsize the pipe since Aquatherm’s flow rate is so much better than copper or ductile iron, and it’s also lighter and easier to use,” Myers said. Plus, copper is stolen faster than you can put it on the job, so it saved us money there too.”
The mechanical work on the two buildings was valued at $35 million. Since the job, like the entire Olympic Village project,
was a on an expedited time frame, time was of the essence. Jeda deployed eight employees on each parcel and while there was an initial learning curve, those installers quickly became expert fusion welders.
| The German-manufactured pipe has been one of the world’s greenest piping systems for the over 35 years and proven successful in 70-plus countries. A few additional environmentally friendly characteristics: •Polypropylene-random (PP-R) requires less energy for initial production than other piping materials and involves none of the environmental effects associated with mining operations. • The fusion connection process involves no flames, VOCs, or mechanical connections. The pipe itself has an insulation R-value of 1. • PP-R is made of chains of hydrogen and carbon and contains no VOCs, heavy metals, or other toxins, which helps to protect the purity of the drinking water and our planet. • It is 100% recyclable. |
All domestic water mains were run with Aquatherm, with a total of roughly 8,500 linear feet of Aquatherm installed in pipe sizes 2-inch through 6-inch, along with hundreds of fittings. Myers explained that in all those fusion connections, there were virtually no leaks. “It reduced labor and material costs, saved tens of thousands of dollars, and you don’t need to insulate Aquatherm with fiberglass, because of the pipe’ insulation properties itself,” he said.
While the product’s natural R-value of 1 was beneficial, in order to meet the UL 25|50 flame spread rating Jeda wrapped the pipe with Aquatherm Advanced, a foil wrap that Myers said was 50% less expensive than traditional fiberglass insulation.
While this was the first PP-R installation of pipe this size in British Columbia, the pipe met all of the necessary codes and also all expectations. Myers said they were able to use 4-inch Aquatherm instead of 6-inch ductile iron, thanks to the former’s superior flow rate. He estimated that project wide, they downsized by 40-50% compared to iron.
“I was open to it from day one. Any time you can use a piping system that’s going to last a lifetime and provide the customer with a far superior product, you want to do it. That system will not need to be re-piped for 75-100 years,” Myers said. “Those are the only parcels like that, and the others will need to be re-done in 15 years or so.”
The project, which took about two years, concluded in October 2009 and the units are now occupied. While the residents might not know it, they are also benefiting in terms of tap water quality since the domestic piping system is completely non-leaching, and has no impact on taste, smell, and micro-organism-free.
