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What is PE-X?
PE-X is the term used by pipe manufacturers for cross-linked Polyethylene. In heating installa-
tions, PE-X pipe is additionally equipped with a diffusion barrier (EVOH or Aluminium) layer ac-
cording to DIN 4726 which functions as an oxygen barrier. The pipe measurements correspond to
DIN 16892/16893. A major advantage concerning their installation is the flexibility of these pipes.
The minimum bend radius is in accordance with 5 x d. Therefore, PE-X pipes are well suited for
the use in floor-heating and radiant systems.
Cross-linked Polyethylene is highly temperature and pressure resistant (in-service temp of 95° C /
at 10 bars).

In the European standard, PE-X material is currently listed under draft ISO/FDIS 15875-1, edition
2002-11 „Plastic Pipe Systems for Hot and Cold Water Installation – Cross-linked Polyethylene
(PE-X)” - Part 1,2,3,5 and 7. Each European country accepts this European norm or has corre-
sponding working papers for this material available allowing the application of PE-X for various
applications.

The Molecule Structure of Polyethylene and Crosslinked Polyethylene

What about standards and regulations?

Despite their strong growth in Europe over the past ten years, PE-X pipes have mainly been regu-
lated via national standards, such as BS EN 1055 (test method measuring resistance to elevated
temperature), DIN 16892 and DIN 16893 (pipes made from cross-linked PE (PE-X)), ISO 13479
(resistance to crack propagation) and ISO/TR 9080.
Especially the requirements for materials used in contact with drinking water and their respective
performance on taste and odour, have been regulated under national acceptance schemes (NAS).

PE-X drinking water systems are under permanent control and therefore are in line with the latest
KTW -recommendations of the German Department of Public Health for all ingredients which are
used in the sense of the Food and Implement Regulation for drinking water applications.

Example: As a basis for the entire drinking water installation within buildings, DIN 1988, part 1 to
8, the TwVO as well as the accepted technical regulations have to be observed in Germany.
The pipe insulation for cold and hot drinking water application is to be carried out according to
DIN 1988, to the Energy Saving Regulation (EnEV) and to the accepted technical regulations. PE-
X systems which have already been certified are permanently dense??? pipe joints in accordance

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with DIN 1988. This will be confirmed by the examination performed corresponding to the DVGW -
working paper W 534, and by the DVGW -registration.

Pressure testing according to DIN 1988, part 2

All pipes are subject to a special pressure test during installation. The completed but not yet cov-
ered pipes are to be filled with filtered tap water (protection against frost).
The pressure measurement instrument is to be connected to the lowest part of the installation
which has to be tested. Please note that only pressure measurement instruments are to be ap-
plied which allow a secure reading of pressure change of 0.1 bar.
Valves are to be closed upstream and downstream of the heating unit (e.g. boiler) to enable the
test pressure to be isolated from the rest of the plant. Afterwards the pipe system is to be sub-
jectto the test pressure and finally to be reduced to the operating pressure. The pressure for
such an installation is the permitted operating pressure plus 5 bars. With pressure increasing sys-
tems, the maximum operating over-pressure is to be tested.
Test pressure: maximum operating over-pressure plus 5 bars
Test period: after temperature conditioning between pipe and test medium, 2 hours
Test difference pressure: > 0.2 bar
After the pressure test according to DIN 1988, part 2, an additional pressure test with 0.5
bar over a period of one hour is requested.
Finally, all pipe joints are subject to visual examination.

In future, European legislators are looking at harmonizing these under a European Approval
Scheme (EAS) with the objective to ensure that such products do not risk consumers’ health, or
cause unacceptable effects on drinking water quality

Rinsing of PEX-drinking water pipe systems

For the removal of coarse pollution, the system has to be rinsed with water after the pressure
test.

1) What are the advantages of PE-X?

No corrosion
Increased maximum operating temperature
Reduced deformation under load (creep)
Improved ageing resistance
Improved chemical resistance
Increased abrasion resistance
Improved impact strength
Reduced raid crack propagation (RCP) even at low temepratures
Outstanding resistance to slow-crack growth

2) What kind of cross-linking techniques are available?

The following cross-linking techniques are available:

Peroxide cross-linking (PE-Xa)

Cross-linking achieved by using peroxides
Cross-linking in an amorphous state ( ϑ > 136 degrees Celsius)
Homogeneous cross-linking over the entire wall thickness
Highest degree of cross-linking k > = 70 %

Silane cross-linking (PE-Xb)

Cross-linking by sil-oxane cross-linking groups
Cross-linking in a semi-crystalline state
Degree of cross-linking k > = 65 %

Irradiation cross-linking (PE-Xc)

Cross-linking achieved by high-energy radiation
Cross-linking in a semi-crystalline state
Only wall thicknesses s <4 mm are economically cross-linkable

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Degree of cross-linking k > = 60 %

Azo cross-linking (PE-Xd) (nearly no more used today)

Cross-linking achieved by use of AIBN initiators (2, 2 ’ – Azobisisobutyronitril)e
Cross-linking in an amorphous state ( ϑ > 136 degrees Celsius)
Homogeneous cross-linking over the entire wall thickness
Highest degree of cross-linking k > = 70 %

Remark: Please note that all of the above-mentioned cross-linking techniques are refer-
enced in one standard only.

3) What is the application temperature?

The maximum application temperature is 95 degrees Celsius.
The permanent operating pressure is 10 bars at 70 degrees Celsius .
Maximum temperature
The highest temperature of the water in the piping system during operation (up to 120
degrees Celsius), that occurs during a certain part of the lifetime of the piping system
(the highest occurring temperature during a short time).
Peak temperature
The highest temperature of the water in the piping system under abnormal circumstances,
for example due to malfunctioning, during a short time (maximum 100 hours per 50
years).

4) What about the situation regarding the processing ability of such a system?
Due to the notch impact strength according to DIN 53453 tests can also be carried out at
a temperature of minus 20 degrees Celsius. Naturally, pipes are less ductilein these low
temperatures which means that the manufacturer has to advise on handling when selling
the pipes.

5) For what kind of application is PEX used?

PEX is used in the following applications:
District heating
Domestic hot and cold water
Air-conditioning systems
Underfloor heating
Central heating
Automotive and ship-building
Transport of industrial gases, compressed air and fluids
(Including fuel oil, gases, acids and alkalis)
Process engineering and other specialised applications
District heating
Natural gas supply in extreme ambient conditions

6) Is PEX resistant to SCG?

Use of standard PE pipes requires the adoption of cares in the installation of the pipe to
avoid excessive external point loads and notches, which may reduce the lifetime of PE
pipes. PE-X is absolutely stress-crack-resistant
The lifetime of PE-X pipes is not influenced by stones or scratches/notches.
Pipes made out of PE-X can be used without sand-embedding-without risk.

7) Can PEX-material be welded?

Yes, it can be welded with electrofusion fittings. PEXb pipes can also be butt-welded.

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Electrofusion
welding

Quick&Easy

Buttfusion welding

8) What kind of joint techniques are available for PEX-pipes?

The following joint techniques are available for PEX-pipes:
Press technique
Welding technique

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Flange technique
Screwing technique
Connection based on relaxation

9) How long does PEX-material exist on the market?

PEX-material has been applied in the field since approx. 40 years.

10) Can PEX be used for potable water?

Yes, PEX can be used for potable water conforming to the latest drinking water regula-
tions.
Naturally, PE-X material is also part in the prevailing national drinking water regulations.
This material corresponds to the European Acceptance Scheme’s (EAS) positive lists
which are currently valid and which shall later on serve as a basis for a CE-marking when
it comes to a European merging

11) What are the differences between PE and PE-X?

• the molecule chains are connected together ‘non-detachable cross links’,
• high resistance against gouging or scratches
• no growth from notches up to 20% of the wall-thickness
• very resistant tot dynamic loads (water hammer)
• no rapid crack propagation down to temperatures of -50 °C and 20 bar pressure

12) What about the danger of Legionella

Over and over again, cases of the so-called legionella disease are known to the public. In
heating and distribution systems, there is danger of a longer stagnation of water within
the pipe system which could create conditions for growth of legionella bacteria. The tem-
perature range in which legionella growth appears is often between 30 and 45 degrees
Celsius.

Measures regulating legionella growth

Origins of Legionella Growth
Legionnella growth can occur where stagnated water and favourable temperatures (25 to
50 degrees Celsius) dominate. According to special reports, they are able to survive at
temperatures lying between below freezing up to plus 60 degrees Celsius. With single
and two family houses in which the water runs only short distances within the pipe system
and a regular and complete water exchange takes place within this system, there is only

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a very low risk of legionella growth. This can be different in larger buildings equipped with
a more complex equipment.

Contamination sources within drinking water systems may be e.g.:

less or non-used system areas (especially ‘dead pipes’),
Ventilation pipes
Evacuation pipes
Drinking water heater
Membrane expansion container
Therefore, operating conditions, building size including a possibly complex network (e.g.
hospitals, row showers or indoor swimming pools etc.) and the type of use (e.g. whirl-
pools) are of great importance.

Most cases mistakes with planning, installation, assembly (design, hydraulic comparison
etc.) are responsible for the legionella growth within a pipe system.

13) The material from which pipes are made is rather insignificant. Legionellas can settle on
all kind of materials such as iron, steel, copper, plastics, ceramic or glass.. Preferentially,
they grow in imperfections of the inner pipe surfaces. .

14) What PEX-pipe dimensions are available?

Dimensions
The dimensions of the pipes are given in table 6. For the determination of the dimen-
sions, the ISO 3126 method is followed.

Table 5 - Dimensions of PE-X pipes. Dimensions in mm.

dn (dem) Out of Wall thickness
round-
SDR 11 SDR 9 SDRS 7.4
ness
Min. Max. S=5 S=4 S = 3.2
emin,b. emax emin,b. emax emin,b. emax
18 18,0 18,3 0,5 1,6 1,9 2,0 2,4 2,4 2,8
20 20,0 20,3 0,5 1,9 2,2 2,3 2,7 2,8 3,2
22 22,0 22,3 0,5 2,0 2,3 2,5 3,0 2,9 3,3
25 25,0 25,3 0,6 2,3 2,7 2,8 3,2 3,5 4,0
28 28,0 28,3 0,6 2,5 2,9 3,2 3,7 3,9 4,4
32 32,0 32,3 0,8 2,9 3,4 3,6 4,1 4,4 5,0
40 40,0 40,4 1,0 3,7 4,2 4,5 5,1 5,5 6,2
50 50,0 50,5 1,2 4,6 5,2 5,6 6,3 6,9 7,7
63 63,0 63,6 1,4 5,8 6,5 7,1 8,0 8,6 9,5
75 75,0 75,7 1,4 6,8 7,6 8,4 9,4 10,3 11,5
90 90,0 90,9 1,4 8,2 9,2 10,1 11,3 12,3 13,7
110 110,1 111,0 1,6 10,0 11,1 12,3 13,7 15,1 16,8
125 125,0 126,2 1,6 11,4 12,7 14,0 15,4 17,1 18,9
140 140,0 141,3 1,6 12,7 14,1 15,7 17,4 19,2 21,3
160 160,0 161,5 1,8 14,6 16,2 17,9 19,8 21,9 24,2
180 180,0 181,5 1,8 16,3 18,1 20,0 22,1 24,6 27,2
200 200,0 201,5 2,0 18,1 20,1 22,4 24,8 27,4 30,3
225 225,0 226,5 2,0 20,4 22,6 25,0 27,6 30,8 33,9
250 250,0 251,5 2,0 22,7 25,1 27,9 30,9 34,2 37,6

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PE-X pipes
Table 6 – Requirements for PE-X pipes
Aspect Requirement Test parame- Test method
ter
Dimensions According table 5 Dimensions EN 496
Appearance Smooth without Soundness??? Visual
any flaws inspection

Extent of PE-Xa Peroxide system ≥70 % EN 579 EN 579

cross link- PE-Xb Silane system ≥65 % EN 579
ing1) PE-Xc Radiation ≥60 % EN 579
System
PE-Xd AZO-system ≥60 % EN 579
Resistance to internal pressure ≥ 1 h4) 20 °C 12 2) ISO 1167
≥ 1 h4) 95°C 4,8 2)
≥ 22 h4) 95°C 4,7 2)
≥ 165 h4) 95°C 4,6 2)
≥ 1000 h4) 95°C 4,4 2)
Thermal stability ≥ 8760 h4) 110°C 2,52 2) ISO 1167
Influence of heat ≤ 3 %3) Change of NEN-EN 743
length method B
EN ISO 15875-2
1) The maximum allowed percentage of cross-linking of the system must be stated by
the manufacturer. The percentage measured during the determination according the
above-mentioned method, shall be in between both values.
2) σ(N/mm2)
3) After the test, the test pieces may not show any cracks, blisters or cavities.
4) Minimum required test time

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