User Guide

Plumbing Design Assistance Manual l Chapter 6 – Installation methods l 87
Insulation
Some local codes require
insulation on cold-water lines
to mitigate condensation that
can occur on the outside
of the piping. This is more
specic to metallic piping.
The thicker, more insulating
walls of PEX piping give it a
very low coefcient of thermal
conductivity (0.219), whereas
copper has a coefcient of
thermal conductivity around
173-231. In short, PEX piping
does not sweat like copper
piping.
Best practice is to insulate all
domestic hot-water supply and
return piping as well as any
hydronic distribution piping to
conserve energy and maintain
desired uid temperature.
Uponor also recommends
insulating any piping installed
in an unconditioned space or
poorly ventilated areas with
excessive moisture content.
Always comply with local and
energy codes.
Icynene
®
spray
foam insulation
Direct contact with Icynene
®
LD-C-50™ and MD-C-200™
spray foam insulation will not
compromise the performance
of Uponor PEX piping or EP
ttings.
Icynene LD-C-50 is a light-
density, open-cell, exible
and 100% water-blown
polyurethane foam insulation.
The spray formula has a
nominal 0.5 lbs/ft³ density and
is a free-rise material.
Icynene MD-C-200 is a
medium-density, open-cell,
exible and 100% water-blown
polyurethane foam insulation.
The spray formula has a
nominal 2 lbs/ft³ density and is
a free-rise material.
Successful chemical
compatibility testing has been
performed on all Uponor PEX
piping as well as all Uponor
EP tting materials, including
Udel
®
GF-120, Udel
®
P-1700,
Acudel
®
22000 and Radel
R
®
5100. The compatibility
evaluation showed no signs of
cracking, crazing or reduction
in ductility.
Icynene LD-C-50 and MD-C-
200 must be installed by an
Icynene-licensed dealer and
factory-trained installer. For
further information, refer to
the Icynene installer’s manual
or contact Uponor Technical
Services.
Closed-cell spray
foams
Closed-cell spray foam
insulation will not compromise
the performance of the
Uponor AquaPEX piping
or brass ttings, nor will it
void the warranty as long
as a maximum temperature
of 250ºF/121.1ºC is not
exceeded during the chemical
reaction process of installation.
The majority of closed-cell
spray foams on the market
are polyurethane-based.
Polyurethane, the harshest
of all bases, is chemically
compatible with both Uponor
PEX piping and brass ttings.
The primary concern in using
spray foams with Uponor
PEX piping is the temperature
limitations of the piping relative
to the temperature outputs of
the chemical reaction during
application of the spray
foam. Table 6-10 shows
temperatures with relation to
the lift or depth of foam.
As shown in Table 6-10,
an application of 1" of foam
creates a maximum of
130ºF/54.4ºC. As the material
is applied more generously,
the reaction temperature
increases. If more than 2"
of lift is required, Uponor
recommends using a two-lift
application. Apply the rst
layer, 2" or less. Wait 15
minutes (the time required
for the heat from a 2" lift to
dissipate). Then, apply the
second layer.
Note: Place an initial layer
of spray foam over the PEX
piping prior to the entirety of
the foaming to insulate the
lines from the heat generated
by the chemicals.
Uponor recommends closed-
cell insulation for use with
Uponor PEX piping and brass
ttings. EP ttings require an
overwrap of 4 to 6 mil poly
or other suitable waterproof
protection where contact is
possible.
Recessed light xtures
Do not install Uponor
AquaPEX within 12" of any
recessed lighting xtures
unless the piping is protected
with a suitable insulation, such
as closed-cell polyurethane,
polyethylene and polyolen-
based products, or the light
xture is I.C.-rated.
In an application using
I.C.-rated light xtures,
the minimum clearance to
the PEX pipe is 2" unless
protected with a suitable
insulation, such as closed-cell
polyurethane, polyethylene
and polyolen-based products.
Depth
of lift
Temperature
1" 130ºF/54.4ºC
2" 200ºF/93.3ºC
3" 320ºF/160ºC
Table 6-10: Closed-cell
spray foam temperatures in
relation to depth of lift