In a hydronic radiant heating and cooling system, warm or cool water flows through flexible plastic tubing called PEX that is located underneath or within the floors. (PEX is an acronym for crosslinked polyethylene.) The PEX tubing carries the water into specific areas or “zones” to effectively heat and cool people and objects located in every corner of the radiant area.
Uponor (formerly Wirsbo) was the first to bring radiant floor heating to North America more than 40 years ago. And the concept of radiant floor heating has been around since ancient Roman times. Radiant has been, and continues to be, used in many countries around the globe to effectively bring comfort in even the most extreme climates in the world.
The main components in a radiant heating and cooling system include a heat or cooling source, pumps, manifolds, PEX tubing and controls.
PEX is an acronym for crosslinked polyethylene. It is a flexible, durable, corrosion-resistant product that possesses distinctive properties that make it ideal for radiant floor heating and cooling as well as plumbing and multipurpose fire sprinkler systems. There are three different types of PEX tubing: PEX-a, PEX-b and PEX-c. Uponor manufactures PEX-a tubing, which is considered the superior type of PEX in the industry.
All three PEX manufacturing processes generate tubing that is crosslinked to varying degrees and are acceptable for potable-water and hydronic radiant floor heating applications.
- PEX-a is manufactured using the Engel or peroxide method
- PEX-b is manufactured using the Silane method
- PEX-c is manufactured using the E-beam (electron beam) or radiation method
Uponor manufactures PEX-a tubing. The PEX tubing industry considers PEX-a superior because the crosslinking is done during the manufacturing process when polyethylene is in it amorphic state (above the crystalline melting point). Because of this, the degree of crosslinking reaches around 85% (higher than PEX-b or PEX-c), resulting in a more uniform, more flexible product with no weak links in the molecular chain.
Uponor PEX carries the following hydrostatic temperature and pressure ratings.
- 200°F (93.3°C) at 80 psi
- 180°F (82.2°C) at 100 psi
- 120°F (48.9°C) at 130 psi (½" tubing only)
- 73.4°F (23°C) at 160 psi
In accordance with ASTM F876 Standard Specification for Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing, the excessive temperature and pressure capability for Uponor AquaPEX® is 210°F (99°C) at 150 psi.
Uponor PEX is manufactured to the following standards.
- ANSI/NSF Standard 14 — Plastics Piping System Components and Related Materials
- ANSI/NSF Standard 61 — Drinking Water System Components — Health Effects
- ASTM F876 — Standard Specification for Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) Piping
- ASTM F877 — Standard Specification for Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) Plastic Hot and Cold Water Distribution Systems
- ASTM F1960 — Standard Specifications for Cold Expansion Fittings with PEX Reinforcing Rings for use with Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) Piping
- ASTM F2023 — Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Oxidative Resistance of Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Piping and Systems to Hot Chlorinated Water
- ASTM F2657 — Standard Test Method for Outdoor Weathering Exposure of Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) Piping
- ASTM E84 — Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
- CAN/ULC-S102.2 — Standard Method of Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Flooring, Floor Covering and Miscellaneous Materials and Assemblies
- ASTM E119 — Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials
- UL 263 — Standard for Safety for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials
- CAN/ULC-S101 — Standard Methods of Fire Endurance Tests of Building Construction and Materials
- ASTM E814 — Standard Test Method for Fire Tests of Through-Penetration Fire Stops
- CAN/ULC-S115 — Standard Method of Fire Tests of Firestop Systems
- AWWA C904 — Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) Pressure Pipe, ½ in. (12 mm) Through 3 in. (76 mm) for Water Service
- CAN/CSA B137.5 — Cross Linked Polyethylene (PEX) Piping Systems for Pressure Applications
- CAN/CSA B214 — Installation Code for Hydronic Heating Systems
- UL 1821 — Standard for Safety for Thermoplastic Sprinkler Pipe and Fittings for Fire Protection Service
- CAN/ULC/ORD-C199P — Combustible Piping for Sprinkler Systems
Uponor PEX conforms to the following listings. Be sure to visit the listing agency’s website for complete details.
- PPI TR-4
Uponor PEX meets the following codes:
- NPC of Canada
- NBC of Canada
A hydronic radiant cooling system is an installation of embedded tubes or surface mounted panels that are designed to absorb and remove energy from a space, 50% to 80% of which is radiant energy. Just as in heating, a radiant cooling system uses the structure and surfaces of an area to transfer energy. In radiant heating systems, the energy moves away from the heated surface towards the cooler area. In radiant cooling systems, the energy moves towards the cooled surface from the warmer area.