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Using PEX pipe in NFPA 13D multipurpose systems: besides excellent flexibility, this material offers designers many other benefits such as no solvent-cemented connections or fittings, and excellent service in cold climates.

Publication: PM Engineer
Publication Date: 01-MAY-09 		Format: Online
Delivery: Immediate Online Access
Full Article Title: Using PEX pipe in NFPA 13D multipurpose systems: besides excellent flexibility, this material offers designers many other benefits such as no solvent-cemented connections or fittings, and excellent service in cold climates.(FIRE PROTECTION & DESIGN SECTION)

Article Excerpt
The NFPA 13D fire sprinkler code gives a designer a lot of options that NFPA 13 and NFPA 13R do not. Unlike the other two, NFPA 13D is meant to operate on normal household water pressure, without the assistance of a Fire Department Connection or high-pressure pumps. This is especially so with multipurpose systems, which are the ultimate in low maintenance, high-efficiency residential fire sprinkler designs.

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CPVC is the most common piping material in 13D systems today. CPVC is also a very popular piping material used in NFPA 13 and 13R systems. It is listed for these applications. PEX, cross-linked polyethylene, is listed with the UL for use in multipurpose NFPA 13D fire sprinkler systems.

Several Advantages

PEX is a remarkably different kind of piping material that has ever been used in automatic fire sprinklers before. As with any building material, it has positives and negatives. This material is very flexible and has no solvent-cemented connections or fittings.

PEX provides excellent service in cold climates. While water pipe should not be subject to freezing, when PEX freezes, it will swell and then return to its normal size when the water thaws. PEX pipe can freeze and break, but its inherent properties give it a very high survival rate. PEX also provides very good compatibility with other chemicals (like...

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