Provides Guidance on Selecting and Installing The Plastics Pipe Institute’s Building & Construction Division has published a major revision of PPI TN-55 “Plastic Piping Materials for Ground Source Geothermal Heating and Cooling Applications”. Originally issued in 2018, the latest edition of TN-55 was published in August 2024 with the input of industry experts including PPI Read more
PE-RT
Provides Guidance on Selecting and Installing
The Plastics Pipe Institute’s Building & Construction Division has published a major revision of PPI TN-55 “Plastic Piping Materials for Ground Source Geothermal Heating and Cooling Applications”. Originally issued in 2018, the latest edition of TN-55 was published in August 2024 with the input of industry experts including PPI members and the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA).
According to Lance MacNevin, P. Eng., director of engineering for PPI’s Building & Construction Division, “Because the piping material is critical to the overall success of the ground heat exchanger (GHX) in a geoexchange system, PPI TN-55 focuses on piping, fittings, and manifold materials. TN-55 lists the technical requirements for systems using HDPE, PEX, and PE-RT piping, plus requirements for PP pipes used as indoor piping, headers, and manifolds.”
A coil of PE4710 HDPE ground loop piping configured as a premanufactured U-bend assembly. Photo courtesy of Centennial Plastics.
The new technical note describes eight types of installation techniques, such as vertical boreholes, inclined or angled configurations, horizontal directional drilling (HDD), and energy piles, and discusses design topics, such as the effects of borehole depth on static water column pressure. It also addresses why oxygen diffusion barrier layers are typically not required for ground heat exchanger piping.
MacNevin continued, “The new TN-55 is intended to be a valuable resource on piping information, but this is just one of the latest tools available to specifiers and designers of geothermal heating and cooling systems. Details about pipe installation and pressure testing are found in PPI Model Specification MS-7, which published in 2023, and industry codes such as CSA/ANSI/IGSHPA C448 and the Uniform Mechanical Code.”
PPI is the non-profit North American trade association representing the plastic pipe industry, including several manufacturers of geothermal pipes, fittings, manifolds, and vaults. PPI formed its Geothermal Steering Committee in 2018 to develop industry publications, collaborate on codes, and create educational information about these systems.
A HDPE vault for connections of ground loop piping. Photo courtesy of PPI.
The revised PPI TN-55 is available directly from PPI at: www.plasticpipe.org/common/Uploaded files/Technical/TN-55.pdf
Additional information and data about ground source geothermal systems are available from the PPI Building & Construction Division at www.plasticpipe.org/buildingconstruction
TotalFit™ is the professional-grade, engineered polymer (EP), push-to-connect fitting solution that provides greater value for residential projects with the same versatility and speed as brass push-to-connect fittings. Ideal for residential repair, maintenance, or remodels for potable hot-water and cold-water distribution piping systems in single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, and condominiums, TotalFit is designed for use with Read more
TotalFit™ is the professional-grade, engineered polymer (EP), push-to-connect fitting solution that provides greater value for residential projects with the same versatility and speed as brass push-to-connect fittings.
Ideal for residential repair, maintenance, or remodels for potable hot-water and cold-water distribution piping systems in single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, and condominiums, TotalFit is designed for use with PEX, PE-RT, CPVC, and copper piping systems.
The innovation features patent-pending technology to provide a strong, lasting connection professionals can depend on, and TotalFit is one of the only full-featured, EP, push-to-connect fittings on the market.
Available in sizes from ½” to 1″, the TotalFit solution offers about a 30% savings over brass push-to-connect fittings, and it meets or exceeds all performance requirements of the PEX system performance standard, ASTM F877, as well as the push-fitting performance standard, ASSE 1061.
The complete offering is approved by the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and International Plumbing Code (IPC) for direct burial in soil or concrete (with 4 to 6 mil poly wrap) as well as behind walls without access panels. Additionally, the offering is solidly backed by a 25-year product warranty for added peace of mind.
Get more with Uponor TotalFit for residential plumbing repairs, maintenance, and remodels.
Uponor TotalFit™ is the professional-grade, engineered polymer (EP), push-to-connect fitting system that provides greater value for residential projects with the same versatility and speed as brass push-to-connect fittings. Designed for use with copper, CPVC, PE-RT, and PEX piping systems, TotalFit is ideal for service repair, maintenance, remodels, and retrofits for hot and cold potable-water piping Read more
Uponor TotalFit™ is the professional-grade, engineered polymer (EP), push-to-connect fitting system that provides greater value for residential projects with the same versatility and speed as brass push-to-connect fittings.
Designed for use with copper, CPVC, PE-RT, and PEX piping systems, TotalFit is ideal for service repair, maintenance, remodels, and retrofits for hot and cold potable-water piping systems in single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, condominiums, dormitories, and more.
With an innovative design for a strong, long-lasting, trusted connection, a 25-year product warranty, and durable EP materials that offer an average of 30% savings over brass push-to-connect fittings, TotalFit is fit for a pro.
The complete offering includes 33 of the highest-volume push-to-connect fittings in sizes from ½” to 1″ to meet the greatest market need. TotalFit also meets or exceeds all performance requirements for ASTM F877 and ASSE 1061 and is approved by the IPC and UPC for direct burial in soil or concrete (with 4 to 6 mil poly wrap) as well as behind walls without access panels.
For more information about these revolutionary push-to-connect fittings, visit
NIBCO’s Wrot Racer® C8 Corvette kicks off its tour at AHR Expo 2022 before visiting qualified distributors throughout the United States to celebrate the introduction of Wrot Racer push fittings. NIBCO INC. announces its Wrot Racer® “Start Me Up” promotion to celebrate its next generation of push fittings that it recently launched. The multi-faceted promotion centers on Read more
NIBCO’s Wrot Racer® C8 Corvette kicks off its tour at AHR Expo 2022 before visiting qualified distributors throughout the United States to celebrate the introduction of Wrot Racer push fittings.
NIBCO INC. announces its Wrot Racer® “Start Me Up” promotion to celebrate its next generation of push fittings that it recently launched. The multi-faceted promotion centers on the Wrot Racer C8 Corvette that will tour the U.S., making stops at distributor locations that have qualified.
The “Start Me Up” promotion provides a quick and easy way for distributors to take on immediate inventory of the new Wrot Racer copper push fittings. Distributors who meet the minimum stocking order requirement will receive a free marketing kit that includes POP merchandising.
NIBCO’s Wrot Racer Corvette began its tour at AHR Expo in Las Vegas on January 31, before moving to the West Coast, making various stops along the way, including Phoenix and Los Angeles. The “Start Me Up” promotion runs through 2022.
“We’re excited for our Wrot Racer Corvette to head out on the road to visit qualifying distributors across the U.S.,” said Ashley Martin, executive vice president, NIBCO INC. “This is a great opportunity for distributors to create additional coverage for their businesses and for everyone attending to have fun!”
Introduced in 2021, Wrot Racer push fittings are a line of premium copper push fittings that are engineered to join copper, CPVC-CTS, PEX and PE-RT (with stiffeners) for easy transition between piping systems. With a patented fitting design, installations are easily made within seconds.
Wrot Racer push fittings are made with 99.9 percent pure wrot copper. Naturally lead free, the fittings feature antimicrobial properties and are dezincification resistant, providing for safe, clean drinking water connections for both residential and commercial applications.
Available in 1/2″ to 1″ sizes, the lightweight and compact Wrot Racer fittings are able to be installed wet or dry and can handle applications up to 200 psi and 200 degrees. The new fittings feature stainless steel gripper rings to ensure a secure connection. Wrot Racer fittings are ideal for tight-space installations and can also be removed and reused, avoiding wasted materials.
To learn more about how NIBCO’s Wrot Racer Corvette can make an appearance, contact your local NIBCO sales representative, visit nibco.com/wrotracer/ or email Customerservice@nibco.com. Contractors should contact their local distributor to see if it is on the Wrot Racer tour list.