Abstract
The pipes used in buildings are generally categorized into metallic or plastic materials. Metal pipes, such as copper and stainless steel pipes, are mainly used for water and hot water supply, and for the heating system. However, plastic pipes made of polyethylene and cross-linked polyethylene are used for floor heating, water drainage, and air vent systems. Usually, plastic pipes have thermal demerits, such as high linear expansion coefficients and bending phenomenon by hot water, although the pipes have several merits of light weight, low price, low thermal conductivity, and the comparatively high workability of metal pipes. Therefore, if those kind of demerits are overcome, plastic pipes can be easily accepted for hot water systems. This research is aimed to evaluate the applicability for vertical heating pipes of a plastic pipe system consisting of electric fusion fitting of a conductive carbon compound and propylene random glass fiber pipe, through measurement of the expansion rate and leakage in summer and winter seasons, in the apartment construction field.
