Rehau district-heating pipework brings installation time back under control
The task of installing underground heating mains for a new prison and young-offender institution in Scotland has been simplified using Rehau’s Rauthermex pipework instead of the originally specified steel. The solution helped contractor Skanska achieve the installation dates without compromising the specification of the pipework.
The original specification for the project in Peterhead using steel would have required stress analysis and the insertion of loops to allow for linear expansion. This would have required large quantities of trench being left open at any one time waiting for non-destructive testing of joints.
The Rauthermex pre-insulation PE-Xa polymer pipework has longitudinal stability, so it does not expand or contract due to temperature fluctuations in operation. Its water-tight polyurethane insulation achieves lambda values of 0.0216 W/mK. The corrugated LLD-PE outer jacket improves flexibility.
The pipework was supplied to site in coils cut to the exact lengths required to minimise jointing. In contrast, steel pipework is supplied in 12 m lengths for jointing on site.
The Everloc compression sleeve jointing system achieves a warrantied leak-free joint in much less time than a welded joint in steel. A special 10-year comprehensive warranty was supplied by Rehau.
Rehau worked with consultant WSP to optimise pipework sizes throughout the project.
The installation was completed by Rehau’s authorised partner Woodford Plastics and involved over 2200 m of pipework from a central plantroom with a biomass boiler to six separate blocks.
