Blue Pipe Addition Meets Polypropylene Pressure Piping Standards

Aquatherm Blue Pipe SDR 9 MF RP utilizes advances in polypropylene-random (PP-R) resin technology.

Aquatherm North America (NA) has announced the addition of a SDR 9 product line to the family of Aquatherm Blue Pipe options used in mechanical and industrial applications, Aquatherm Blue Pipe SDR 9 MF RP.

SDR stands for standard dimension ratio
9 is the pipe thickness (or SDR)
MF is multi-layer faser (Aquatherm’s proprietary thermal expansion-reducing fiberglass extruded layer)
RP stands for raised pressure

The piping utilizes advances in polypropylene-random (PP-R) resin technology for performance and capabilities in applications such as high-pressure risers, high-temperature heating and district heating, and industrial process systems where a high safety margin is required.

The Aquatherm Blue Pipe MF RP is classified as a polypropylene raised crystallinity temperature (PP-RCT) material in accordance with ASTM F2389 and ISO 15874, as well as a PP-R 125 in accordance with ISO 12162. This ensures that the Blue Pipe SDR 9 MF RP meets international and national standards for polypropylene pressure piping.

PP-RCT had been a proprietary material under ASTM F2389, but a change made it an industry standard that refers to any newer generation polypropylene material meeting the pressure/temperature requirements of ISO 15874. With SDR 9, Aquatherm is introducing a PP-RCT product to meet market demands and will consider special orders of other SDRs on a case-by-case basis.

Historically, when an application demanded performance over the Blue Pipe SDR 11 or SDR 17.6, Aquatherm Green Pipe SDR 7.4 MF would be used. This offering provides advantages over those SDRs, including:

lower wall thickness and lower weight per foot
15 percent more flow capacity
20-100 percent more pressure capability depending on the operational temperature

The SDR 9 utilizes the same multi-layer faser wall structure to reduce thermal expansion and contraction and is installed with fusion-welding joining methods.

Aquatherm’s PP-RP resin is included under the company’s Environmental Product Declaration, which documents that all Aquatherm NA product lines can contribute directly to LEED v4 points. In addition to potential LEED points, this product provides engineers, owners, and specifiers with an alternative to copper and steel piping options.

The new SDR is nominally 15-20 percent more than the existing Aquatherm Blue Pipe SDR 11 and costs less than Aquatherm Green Pipe SDR 7.4. The Blue Pipe SDR 9 MF RP product line is available in the U.S. and Canada with nominal diameters ranging from 1 through 14 inches. The piping system includes SDR 9 fittings, which provide the same ratings as the pipe and improved flow capacity.