A high-performance pipe designed to make heating systems more sustainable than ever before has been launched by Uponor, total solutions provider of systems for the safe transportation of water around a building.
Ecoflex VIP Thermo represents the next generation of pre-insulated pipes thanks to its ability to significantly minimise heat and energy losses. The product’s efficiency stems from its unique hybrid design which combines technology from bonded and unbonded insulated pipes to create a solution that delivers up to 48% lower heat loss compared to unbonded pipes, and 34% compared to bonded pipes.
In addition, Ecoflex VIP Thermo is also highly flexible and durable, making it ideal for complex projects where space is limited. With up to 60% less bending force compared to alternative solutions on the market, Ecoflex VIP Thermo can be navigated around obstacles or laid across bumpy ground without requiring additional connections. This minimises potential weak points that could lead to leaks after the pipes have been laid.
Uponor’s new pipes are particularly suitable for use in district heating networks, which are going to play an increasingly important role in reducing the UK’s carbon emissions, as highlighted by the Committee on Climate Change. As the pipes which connect heating systems to the buildings we live and work in can account for up to 50% of a system’s heat loss, it’s imperative that solutions are used which reduces this wastage as much as possible.
To encourage the use of such pipes, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers’ (CIBSE) set a challenging new benchmark for heating networks, which states that a system’s calculated total annual heat loss should be less than 20%. Uponor has designed Ecoflex VIP Thermo to provide specifiers with a solution that will comply with this benchmark and provide the lowest possible rates of heat loss.
A further benefit of utilising Ecoflex VIP Thermo within heat distribution networks is that the outer diameter of the pipe is up to 30% smaller than other alternatives available on the market. This means that the trenches running from a heating network to a building can be smaller, saving on time and labour while also making it easier to find suitable pathways for the pipes to run.
Mark Dowdeswell, Senior Category Manager at Uponor, said: “At Uponor we have over 35 years of experience in the research and development of heat distribution networks and have built up a wealth of knowledge, which has supported us in the creation of Ecoflex VIP Thermo. The result is a pipe that will really help to support the UK in delivering energy efficient, low carbon heating by significantly reducing the heat losses that typically occur when water travels from a heating network to a building.
“What’s more, we’ve not sacrified functionality in place of sustainability, as thanks to its flexible, compact design Ecoflex VIP Thermo is easier to install and highly reliable, so specifiers can rest assured that the pipes feeding the heating in their next project will keep on working without leaks or issues for an extended period of time.”
For more information on Ecoflex VIP Thermo visit uponor.co.uk/ecoflex-vip
