Polyethylene pipes

Polyethylene pipes shall be joined only by socket or butt heat fusion methods. Polybutylene pipe shall be joined only by the socket heat fusion method. Metal barbed fittings or clamps shall not be allowed below ground surface. ⇒ Only proper fusion equipment as specified by the heat pump and/or pipe manufacturer shall be used. Proper heater plate temperatures, heating times, and curing times for various grades, thickness, and sizes of pipe shall be maintained. ⇒ Equipment room piping may be plastic, copper, or other material as allowed by the heat pump manufacturer. − Heat Pump & Circulation System Equipment and Installation ⇒ Pressure/temperature (P/T) test ports, such as "Pete's Plugs" or equal, shall be installed at the "water-in" and "water-out" pipe connections on the heat pump. ⇒ All equipment room piping shall be insulated with 1/2-inch Armaflex (or equal) insulation to prevent condensation. ⇒ System components (such as circulating pumps) shall be installed as specified by the component and/or heat pump manufacturer. Only bronze or stainless steel pumps shall be allowed. ⇒ The system circulating pump(s) shall have sufficient capacity to provide the design gallon-per-minute flow rate of the fluid being used in the system. ⇒ The system circulating pump(s) shall provide sufficient fluid velocity in the earth coil to result in turbulent flow (Reynolds Number, R > 2500). The calculation shall be made with viscosity and density of the fluid taken at the system's designed lowest entering water temperature. ⇒ The QCN member shall determine if antifreeze is required for the earth coil design. Calcium chloride or potassium acetate (GS4) shall not be used as antifreeze because of their corrosive nature