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Flexible Systems – PEX-Flex
 Only a professionally manufactured insulated pipe will maximize the efficiency of an outdoor wood furnace system by keeping heat losses to a minimum. By effectively heating the house (not the ground), less fuel is required, less wood is burned producing less emissions. Whatever your budget, you simply can't afford not to install PEX-Flex! Supplied in coils, this 2-in1 (supply and return bundled together) pipe is economical, simple to install and highly effective even in harsh soil conditions.
PEX-Flex is “self-compensating” with respect to expansion and contraction … just uncoil and snake into trench, then backfill. The pipe installs quickly and easily without solvent welding, special tools or heavy equipment resulting in a lower installed cost when compared to other insulating methods. No drainage tile, gravel fill or deep/wide trench required. PEX-Flex can be shallow buried even in high water table areas. The flexible nature of coiled PEX-Flex all but eliminates the need for joints, elbows and fittings making it a true seamless pipe system.
The PEX-Flex carrier pipe is made of plastic cross linked polyethylene (PEX) with EVAL coating which keeps oxygen from penetrating the pipe wall. The PEX is surrounded by a factory applied layer of closed cell, eco-friendly polyurethane foam – the best insulation material on the market. The whole package is encased in a tough but flexible extruded polyethylene jacket with UV stabilizer.
The pipe system is bonded … meaning the carrier pipe(s), insulation and jacket are mechanically linked to one another and move collectively during expansion/contraction. This also isolates a moisture problem to damaged area should the jacket be punctured … water cannot migrate through entire pipe system.
All PEX-Flex pipe comes equipped with a “smart” membrane between the outer casing and the insulation. This leak proof diffusion barrier prevents (cyclopentane) gas in the foam from escaping through the jacket and being replaced by atmospheric air which has inferior insulating properties – a process called “aging”. This keeps the operating performance high throughout the entire service life of the pipe.
PEX-Flex is manufactured by Kingspan LOGSTOR of Denmark, the world’s largest producer of pre-insulated pipe systems employing over 1400 people in 9 production facilities. Kingspan LOGSTOR has over 30 years experience of pre-insulating flexible PEX tubing. Urecon Ltd. distributes Kingspan LOGSTOR products throughout Canada and the US.
The Payback:
Installing PEX-Flex actually pays for itself over time*, and you're also helping to do your part to reduce emissions.
The expected yearly savings is approximately 1 ½ cords of wood based on the following assumptions:
- An average cord of wood yields 24 million BTU's (7 MW/hr).
- The trench from the furnace to the building(s) is approximately 30 m (100 ft) long.
- The payback is based on a comparison to bare or poorly insulated piping systems. These inferior systems may be the result of using materials with insufficient insulating properties, inadequate insulation thickness, or may simply be insulation that absorbed moisture due to water ingress through the jacket or joints.
* Individual payback times will vary relative to the severity and length of the heating season.
Using 2 x 32 mm x 110 mm OD (2 x 1 in x 4.3 OD) with following operating parameters:
- Supply temperature: 82°C (180°F)
- Soil temperature: 0°C (32°F)
| Flow |
Distance |
| GPM (US) |
1/sec |
30 m (100 ft) |
46 m (150 ft) |
| 3 |
0.19 |
81.4°C (178.5°F) |
81.0°C (177.8°F) |
| 5 |
0.32 |
81.7°C (179.1°F) |
81.5°C (178.7°F) |
| 10 |
0.63 |
81.9°C (179.5°F) |
81.8°C (179.3°F) |
Single PEX-Flex Dimensions
Nominal
pipe size |
Carrier
pipe OD |
Carrier
pipe ID |
Carrier
pipe
wall
thickness |
Jacket
pipe OD |
Minimum/
Maximum
coil
lengths * |
Minimum
bending
radius |
Weight |
in
(mm) |
in
(mm) |
in
(mm) |
in
(mm) |
in
(mm) |
ft
(m) |
ft
(m) |
lb/ft
(kg/m) |
½
(20) |
0.79
(20) |
.632
(16) |
0.079
(2.0) |
3.0
(77) |
164/984
(50/300) |
2.6
(0.8) |
.67
(1.0) |
¾
(25) |
0.98
(25) |
.784
(20) |
0.098
(2.5) |
3.0
(77) |
164/984
(50/300) |
2.6
(0.8) |
.67
(1.0) |
1
(32) |
1.26
(32) |
1.032
(26.2) |
0.114
(2.9) |
3.0
(77) |
164/984
(50/300) |
2.6
(0.8) |
.67
(1.0) |
1¼
(40) |
1.57
(40) |
1.28
(32.6) |
0.145
(3.7) |
3.5
(90) |
164/984
(50/300) |
3.0
(0.9) |
.40
(1.3) |
1½
(50) |
1.97
(50) |
1.608
(40.8) |
0.181
(4.6) |
4.3
(110) |
164/984
(50/300) |
3.5
(1.1) |
.58
(1.9) |
2
(63) |
2.48
(63) |
2.024
(51.4) |
0.228
(5.8) |
4.9
(125) |
164/656
(50/200) |
4.0
(1.2) |
.73
(2.4) |
2½
(75) |
2.95
(75) |
2.406
(61.2) |
0.272
(6.9) |
5.5
(140) |
164/328
(50/100) |
4.5
(1.4) |
1.01
(3.3) |
3
(90) |
3.54
(90) |
2.894
(73.6) |
0.323
(8.2) |
6.3
(160) |
164/328
(50/100) |
5.2
(1.6) |
1.28
(4.2) |
4
(110) |
4.33
(110) |
3.544
(90) |
0.393
(10.0) |
6.3
(160) |
164/328
(50/100) |
5.2
(1.6) |
1.68
(5.5) |
Dual PEX-Flex Dimensions
Nominal
pipe size |
Carrier
pipe OD |
Carrier
pipe ID |
Carrier
pipe wall
thickness |
Jacket
pipe OD |
Minimum/
Maximum
coil lengths* |
Minimum
bending
radius |
Weight |
mm
(in) |
mm
(in) |
mm
(in) |
mm
(in) |
mm
(in) |
m
(ft) |
m
(ft) |
kg/m
(lb/ft) |
2 x 20
(2 x ½) |
2 x 20
(2 x 0.79)
|
16
(0.632) |
2
(0.079) |
90
(3.5) |
50 / 300
(164 / 984) |
0.9
(3.0 ) |
1.7
(.52) |
2 x 25
(2 x ¾) |
2 x 25
(2 x 0.98) |
20
(0.784) |
2.5
(0.098) |
110
(4.3) |
50 / 200
(164 / 656) |
1.1
( 3.5) |
2.1
(.64) |
2 x 32
(2 x 1) |
2 x 32
(2 x 1.26) |
26.2
(1.032) |
2.9
(0.114) |
110
(4.3) |
50 / 173
(164 / 656) |
1.1
(3.5) |
2.2
(.67) |
2 x 40
(2 x 1¼) |
2 x 40
(2 x 1.57) |
32.6
(1.280) |
3.7
(0.145) |
125
(4.9) |
50 / 200
(164 / 656) |
1.2
(4.0) |
.87
(.82) |
2 x 50
(2 x 1 ½) |
2 x 50
(2 x 1.97) |
40.8
(1.608) |
4.6
(0.181) |
160
(6.3) |
50 / 100
(164 / 328) |
1.6
(5.2) |
4.1
(1.25) |
In bold is dual 1” PEX-Flex … most commonly used size for OWF applications (note the ID of the carrier pipe is 1.03” which is considerable larger than other ASTM pipes).
PEX-Flex Temperature and Pressure
| Pipe size |
Max. temperature |
Max. pressure |
| mm (in) |
°C (°F) |
bar (psi) |
| 20 - 50 (½- 1½) |
95 (203) |
6 (87) |
Other Applications
Millions of
feet of PEX-Flex have been installed in industrial,
commercial and residential hydronic related pipe
systems around the world. The pipe is used wherever
energy savings are required by keeping overall
heat losses (or gains) to a minimum. Typical
applications include ice/snow melt systems; chilled
water distribution; hot water district energy
projects; chemical feed; industrial process piping
and even solar heating.
Flexible steel
pipe (STEEL-Flex) is also available in coils
for projects requiring higher temperature thresholds.
See our Flexible Systems
brochure for more information.
 Ice/Snow
Melt Systems
Use PEX-Flex to run warm water from the heat source
to the pad without losing heat.
Chilled Water Distribution
Use PEX-Flex to distribute centrally chilled water
for air conditioning … often without
joints or fittings. The highly efficient polyurethane
insulation reduces heat gain from the warm
soil
(or ambient air temperature) greatly increasing
system efficiency.
Hot Water District Energy
Use PEX-Flex to move around hot water in campus
style systems … often without joints
or fittings. Also ideally suited for steam
condensate
return.
Chemical Feed / Industrial Process
Piping
Use PEX-Flex for transfer of chemicals or
general process piping. Typically, joints
and fittings
are eliminated reducing worry of leakage … saving
money when compared to traditional containment
piping.
Ordering Information
PEX-Flex can by purchased from distributors throughout Canada and the US. Click here for more information.
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