Uponor, long known for PEX pipe, now has another plastic pipe in its lineup. During a virtual event on Feb. 3, the company launched its new PP-RCT mechanical piping system for commercial HVAC projects as well as its Construction Services, offering enhanced, professional estimation, design, and BIM services to support the design and installation of plumbing and mechanical piping systems.

“Our new PP-RCT and Construction Services offerings, combined with our traditional PEX piping solutions, deliver a complete polymer solution for a wide range of commercial plumbing and mechanical projects,” said Bill Gray, president of Uponor North America.

With the product addition, Uponor’s piping lineup ranges from ½-inch to 12-inch PP-RCT. 

“In addition to these industry-leading piping products,” Gray added, “Uponor Construction Services can provide the systems design and engineering expertise to ensure a project is fully supported from kickoff to post-construction.”

PP-RCT

PP-RCT stands for “PolyPropylene, Random copolymer with modified Crystallinity and Temperature resistance,” all of which means the pipe has higher temperature and pressure ratings than PP-R pipe, as well as lower levels of expansion and contraction.

Proven reliable for commercial hydronic heating, chilled-water cooling  and distribution piping for radiant heating and cooling applications — including snow melt, turf conditioning, and permafrost prevention — PP-RCT is 80 percent lighter than steel pipe. That makes it not only easier, but also safer, to install than metallic pipe systems. It also offers higher resistance to corrosion, rust, and scale buildup and quieter operation than metallic piping materials.

“The corrosion resistance and lighter weight are two major benefits,” Matt Denny, business development manager, PP-RCT, added. “The flow rate will be the same on Day One as it will on Day 5,000.”

Denny added that the lighter weight will contribute to less occurrence of back injuries, but also cut down on eye injuries that can occur when working with metal.

“The material is not a commodity so it wont fluctuate in price like other piping materials,” he explained, adding that contractors will be able to bid projects with more certainty and confidence thanks to the more stable pricing.

Uponor initially announced its entry into the North American PP-RCT market in September 2019 through a partnership agreement with Pestan North America. As a result, Uponor is now marketing approximately 270 pipe and fitting products in the U.S. in sizes up to 12 inches in diameter and with plans to expand up to 24 inches. All Uponor PP-RCT pipe and fittings come protected by a 10-year warranty.

“With this new piping system, we are also offering comprehensive training and expert technical support — both online and through our nationwide network of in-person sales professionals — to help contractors learn our PP-RCT system,” says Gray. “This includes making pipe connections with special heat-fusion equipment, via our partnership with McElroy Manufacturing, the leading manufacturer of fusion equipment.” 

Gray went on to say that whether their customers select virtual or hands-on training, Uponor’s professional guidance helps installers master best practices for both PP-RCT and PEX, helping to keep their projects on schedule and within budget.

Construction Services

Continuing its 27-year history of offering PEX piping system design for both residential and commercial radiant heating, cooling, and plumbing, residential fire safety, and commercial hydronic piping, Uponor has expanded this offering to become Uponor Construction Services, featuring regionally based designers, as well as a team of BIM experts. 

“Our goal is to solve our customers problems,” said Stephanie Radel, manager of Construction Services. We have the ability to do that and we want make our customers’ processes as efficient as possible.”

Using the latest design and estimating tools, the Uponor team of skilled and experienced designers and project managers offers a deep menu of design and construction services at no charge, including:

• Square-foot budget estimations
• Material takeoffs
• Piping material cost comparisons
• Design development
• Radiant heating and cooling loop layouts
• Pipe sizing and load recommendations

In addition, Uponor Construction Services provides fee-based, system design services (plan sets in PDF, Revit, and fabrication models), quoted to meet the particular needs of individual projects, at prices below standard industry system-design rates.

Other fee-based services from the BIM Services team include:

• Record modeling
• Estimating
• As-built modeling
• On-site support
• Project controls
• Modular construction
• Kitting and prefabrication
• BIM content

All of these services integrate directly into the user’s software platform and workflows, providing an integrated partnership with an end goal to deliver a well-designed project that is properly coordinated and fully supported.   

Expanding these services was in response to customer feedback and their growing expectations related to project efficiency, accuracy, quality and consistency to better meet schedules and budgets, according to Gray.

“We saw an opportunity to become a more involved partner from the very start of a project through construction onto completion and beyond,” he added. “With this project-spanning partnership, we are confident we can help improve customers’ productivity and profitability.”