STRIKING PERFORMANCE with VIPERT™ (PE-RT) Potable & Radiant Tubing
April 25, 2024 | By Michael Boudreau P.Eng., CB Supplies
The Evolution from PEX to PE-RT
The evolution of plumbing materials has seen a shift from traditional copper piping to the use of PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) tubing, thanks to its flexibility, ease of installation, and resistance to corrosion. However, as the industry continues to innovate, the next generation of product has taken the industry by storm with PE-RT (polyethylene of raised temperature resistance) tubing. PE-RT retains the advantages of PEX and offers industry leading flexibility of the tubing, increased durability in temperature and pressure resistance along with superior corrosion resistance. This evolution marks a new era in modern plumbing and hydronic systems, offering versatility and durability for the residential and commercial building markets.
PE-RT tubing has been growing in popularity over the last decade as the preferred choice by installers and building owners for potable water plumbing, hydronic heating and cooling, and ice and snow melt systems across North America, presenting advantages over its counterpart, PEX.
CB Supplies VIPERT™ Potable & Radiant PE-RT tubing offers industry leading performance with the best flexibility, lowest Greenhouse Gases (GHG) footprint, is 100% recyclable, and backed by a 25-year warranty that is not compromised by your connection choices.
PE-RT tubing’s industry leading flexibility is its standout feature, its relaxed memory means that it springs back less when compared to PEX, making PE-RT the tubing of choice for installers. This increased flexibility allows for faster installations, especially fo
r laying radiant loops and for tight spaces during construction, ultimately contributing to lower installation costs.
Choosing PE-RT tubing over PEX offers building owners long-term reliability and lower maintenance costs. PE-RT’s superior resistance to corrosion and scaling ensures the delivery of clean and safe potable water, which is essential for the health and well-being of occupants. Upgrading to PE-RT represents a forward-looking investment, meeting the evolving demands of modern plumbing systems with improved efficiency, longevity, versatility, and improved sustainability of these systems.
In summary, the use of PE-RT tubing for potable water plumbing, hydronic heating and cooling, ice and snow melt systems offers superior temperature and pressure resistance, flexibility, and durability compared to PEX. Additionally, PE-RT contributes to reducing GHG emissions, supports recyclability and sustainability initiatives. This makes it a preferred choice for the construction industry, providing installers with ease of installation and building owners with a reliable and cost-effective solution for their systems.
Applications include plumbing, water service, hydronic heating and cooling, and snow and ice melting piping systems. PE-RT is approved in all model plumbing and mechanical codes in North America. |
Overview
PE-RT is a high-temperature flexible plastic pressure pipe with a 35-year history of successful use in the European market with extensive testing for durability and material performance. It was first introduced in North America in 2003 and is used in aluminum composite (multilayer) barrier tubing and solid wall tubing and pipe. Applications include plumbing, water service, hydronic heating and cooling, snow and ice melting and ground source geothermal piping systems.1
Unlike a crosslinked material (PEX), PE-RT is 100% recyclable, making HYPERTHERM™ PE-RT the sustainable choice in plumbing pipe.2 This means that leftover pieces of PE-RT tubing on job sites can be recycled as can production waste at the manufacturing plant, resulting in a much more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution.
FEATURES & BENEFITS
NO NONSENSE 25-YEAR WARRANTY
CB Supplies stands behind VIPERT with a transparent 25-year warranty regardless of fitting systems installed.
EXPAND, CRIMP OR PUSH
VIPERT Potable and Radiant are flexible for your preferred methods of connecting with the tubing, using crimp, cold expansion or push-fittings, VIPERT does it all!
STRENGTH, DURABILITY & BUILT FOR EXTREME TEMPERATURES
Exceeds all standards with exceptional hydrostatic strength at high temperatures and burst pressures, maintains excellent flexibility in both cold and hot environments.
INDUSTRY LEADING FLEXIBILITY FOR EASIER & FASTER INSTALLATION
With relaxed memory you’ll experience less spring back than PEX for easier and faster installations.
100% RECYCLABLE
VIPERT is 100% recyclable, requires less energy to produce compared to PEX tubing, contributing to the lowest GHG emissions footprint.
EASY LINE IDENTIFICATION BY COLOUR
White, red and blue choices for Potable water and VIPERT Radiant green for Oxygen Barrier, available tubing sizes: 3/8” through 2” diameters.
MADE IN CANADA
Sources:
1 PE-RT Overview; Plastic Pipe Institute (PPI); https://plasticpipe.org/BuildingConstruction/BuildingConstruction/PE-RT.aspx
2 Dow; A Pipe’s Dream: Why choose PE-RT for Plumbing pipe?;Document Viewer | Dow Inc.
The information presented in this article was compiled based on discussions with various colleagues and research conducted online. Any resemblance to existing articles is purely coincidental.
