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What are the differences between common PEX brands?
¿ Is one brand better than the other?
What type of PEX should I use for my project?
To answer these questions and help installers and homeowners make an informed decision meeting, we decided to create a guide that is simple yet provides details for further independent research.
We think it would be correct to let the reader know from the start that we sell PEX-B and PEX-A pipes, but for the purposes of this article we will try not to advertise Make or disparage any type of pipe unless supported by independent research data.
PEX Classification by Manufacturing Process
Regardless of brand, only (3) major manufacturing processes are used to produce PEX -Pipes used:
Peroxide process (for making PEX-A tubes)
Silane process (for PEX-B tubes)
Irradiation process (for PEX-C -pipes)
Contrary to popular belief, A, B, and C are not PEX classes. These letters are only used to identify the manufacturing process and have nothing to do with quality or performance ratings of the final product, except as explained later in the text.
Indeed, all of the above criteria must match Standard:
Pressure and Temperature Ratings
Minimum Bend Radius
Tube Wall Thickness and Inside/Outside Dimensions (subject to manufacturing tolerances)
* Please note these are for US sold only and trademarks listed below apply. There are many little-known or unbranded products that may or may not meet these criteria.
More information on PEX pipe dimensions, grading and other technical specifications can be found here. All PEX grades (A, B, C) must meet the same ASTM standards F876 and ASTM standards meet F877 and SDR9 dimension standard before they can be used anywhere in the US. Tubing that meets these standards is clearly marked accordingly. The following is a brief description of each manufacturing process and some of the leading brands: PEX-APEX -BPEX-CPEX-A tubing is manufactured using peroxide (or "Engel"), named after inventor Tomás Engel. During the manufacturing process, free radicals are generated when the HDPE polymer melts and crosslinks form between the molecules at temperatures exceeding the polymer's decomposition temperature.
PEX-B is manufactured using a “silane” or “moisture cure” crosslinking process, where the bonds between the HDPE polymer molecules are formed after the extrusion process using a catalyst and the PEX tubing is exposed to water (water bath). becomes. Steam). ). This type of PEX is probably the most common and is manufactured by a large number of companies. PEX-C tubing is manufactured using the “Electron Irradiation” crosslinking process, also known as “cold” crosslinking. Here, the molecules are crosslinked after the extrusion process by exposing the tube to an electron beam. The emitted radiation breaks the bonds between the polymer molecules and starts the crosslinking process.
Manufacturer:
Uponor (formerly Wirsbo)
Rehau
Mr. PEX
Manufacturer:
Watts
Viega
Everhot
Manufacturer:
Nibco
Roth
Cash-Acme
End product comparison
AdvantagesContraPEX-AHighest flexibility (softness) of all PEX types.
Kinks can be repaired with a heat gun.
Highest level of crosslinking.
No coil memory.
Higher price (100-160% higher than PEX-B)(1). Lower burst pressure than PEX-B. Potential residual chemicals or leachate from manufacturing process. Variations in wall thickness .PEX -BHighest resistance to chlorine and oxidation(2) Highest explosive pressure.
Lower price compared to PEX-A and PEX-C(1). Tighter dimensional tolerances. Stiffer than PEX-A. Lower degree of cross-linking than PEX-A.
Remarkable coil memory. Kinks can only be repaired by splicing (with clutch). PEX-CSofter than PEX-B. More environmentally friendly manufacturing. Little or no memory coils.
There is insufficient data available on PEX-C hoses to allow for a competitive analysis. Prone to cracking. Less uniform crosslinking. Lower kink resistance that can only be repaired with a clutch. To compare PEX fittings and connection methods (crimp, expansion, compression) click here.
Which PEX hose to choose?
The most flexible of all PEX hose types, PEX-A has little to no coil memory and gives the installer the ability to fix kinks with a heat gun used for over 50 years (ie longer than other types) with few publicly known problems (3), which is a good indicator of reliability.
This type has two major disadvantages. First and foremost is a high chemical leaching rate: 50% to over 200% higher than PEX-B(2), which is a major concern in sanitary applications.
The second is the price, which together with accessories and tools can be up to 2-3 times higher than PEX-B or PEX-C options. While a leading manufacturer of PEX-A claims that its tubing this has the highest resistance to crack propagation, independent tests (2) show that PEX-B does in fact have equal or greater resistance to long-term oxidation, which appears to be the primary reason for tubing cracking and subsequent failure. A smaller bend radius in PEX-A (6 times the outside diameter versus 8 times the outside diameter in PEX-B and C) is useful but offers few practical benefits in most cases. PEX -B is a clear winner in terms of price vs.
both ways. It has been used for over 40 years with no known problems as a typical warranty for any type of PEX is only 20-25 years. It also has a higher burst pressure than PEX-A and similar or better oxidation resistance. a very important factor for plumbing. The main disadvantage of PEX-B is its rigidity and coil memory (tendency to return to the coil's original shape). While there is little difference at smaller sizes like 1/2 inch, larger pipe diameters, especially 1 inch, can be noticeably more difficult to bend.
Any kinks (which in our experience are very rare but do occur) during installation can only be repaired by installing a coupler and cannot be repaired with a heat gun like PEX-A. PEX -C was the most difficult to evaluate due to the lack of test data and publicly available information. In late 2013, a major US manufacturer of PEX-C hose became the subject of a class action agreement, finding that its PEX hoses were susceptible to pipe rupture due to early oxidation. Because of this, we believe this type of PEX should be avoided entirely in plumbing applications. While PEX-C may be suitable for radiant and hot water heating, it offers few practical advantages over the other (2) types.
For hot and cold water installations and open heating systems, both PEX-A and PEX-B are the obvious choice, but the latter offers a more attractive combination of better health safety, longer durability and lower price. For baseboards, radiators, underfloor heating, snow melting and other types of closed heating systems, each type can be selected based on personal preference or various comparison factors that we mentioned above. When purchasing PEX -Hose be sure it is certified by a third party for the end use: For plumbing applications, hose must meet ANSI/NSF61 and ANSI/NSF372 for safe drinking water and lead-free standards and must be marked “pw-G”, “NSF -61-G” or other NSF-approved marking. When used with chlorinated water, compliance with ASTM F2023 is required and must also be printed on the pipe. For underfloor heating, the pipe must meet ANSI/NSF 14 standards and be marked "nsf-rfh" or the current standard .
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