APPLE VALLEY, Minn. — Uponor has introduced a radiant expansion joint kit that the company says offers commercial building professionals a quick, cost-efficient solution for closed-loop, aboveground, radiant heating and cooling applications that require an expansion joint for every 50 feet of tubing. According to the company, the expansion joint saves 50 percent on installation time and costs.

The 2-inch Wirsbo hePEX™ Expansion Joint Kit includes one preformed loop of 2-inch Wirsbo hePEX tubing, two 2-inch ProPEX® brass elbows, and four 2-inch ProPEX rings. It is said to be 53 percent less expensive than purchasing the 13 individual components (four feet of tubing, four elbows, and eight rings) needed for onsite construction of an expansion joint.

“This new product is the ideal solution for commercial radiant applications,” said Dan Sullivan, senior product manager, commercial radiant heating and cooling, at Uponor. “By offering a tubing loop that is already preformed, contractors can quickly create an expansion joint that requires half the connections of an onsite construction joint and also have the reassurance of a product that provides more reliable performance.”

Uponor said the tubing in the kit provides all the benefits of Wirsbo hePEX — flexibility, durability, and corrosion-resistance — with an oxygen diffusion barrier layer, which is recommended for closed-loop radiant heating and cooling systems. The tubing is also tested in accordance with ASTM E119 and E84 standards, which meet or exceed code requirements for fire-resistive ratings. Also, the ProPEX fittings require one simple tool without the need for torches, glues, solvents or gauges, and provide durable connections that can withstand up to 1,000 pounds of pull force.

For more information, visit www.uponor-usa.com.

Publication date: 06/29/2009