A user-friendly plastic pipe fitting system that can be installed in three simple steps has been supplied to the CSIR by DPI Plastics - a leading manufacturer of water reticulation, drainage and pipe-fitting systems.

11 April , 2011: DPI Plastics’ innovative range of Plomyclick pipe fittings has proven to be a suitable solution capable of providing a hot and cold water supply system to the new state-of-the-art Biosciences Laboratory at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria.

The revolutionary Plomyclick polyphenylsufone (PPSU) Push-Fit Connection System for peroxide cross-linked polyethylene (PE-X) pipes was selected by AGE Consultant Plumbers as the product-of-choice to be installed in the newly-built laboratory, which is used for research in the area of structural elucidation of small organic and other biological molecules.

AGE Consultant Plumbers has been in business since 2003 and specialises in corrosive drainage. Sole owner Graham Elsey points out that the Plomyclick system, along with the Coprax system, were chosen due to the fact that the laboratory contains a powerful 600 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrument, which could have resulted in Electrolytic Action or electron displacement, had a metal system been installed.

“After being commissioned by the CSIR to source a product that could effectively provide a reliable water and drainage system in the laboratory, AGE Consultant Plumbers did not hesitate in selecting Plomyclick, which has fittings made from 100% PPSU – a material that is not affected by the powerful magnetic frequencies in any way,” he explains. “The corrosive drainage system is also a polymer system, Vulcathene. As the designer of the plumbing system, I have to take responsibility for the possibility of material failure, which is why I selected the risk-free choices of the Coprax, Plomyclick and Vulcathene systems.”

Elsey notes that Plomyclick is more cost-effective for the selected contractor, the end user and the laboratory technicians. “Plomyclick is also easier to install as it requires no mechanical tools, just a manual click into place. What’s more, a metal system can result in Bioscience experiments being tainted by the leaching of some metals into the water used for experiments and testing, which can ultimately nullify costly and time-consuming research.” he explains. 

Elsey notes that the project, which started in September 2010 and is expected to be completed in October 2011, requires a total of 400 m of water supply piping - in sizes ranging from 16 mm, 20 mm and 25 mm. “DPI Plastics has been a reliable supplier of high-quality products for a number of years, and it is a reliable company that is able to deliver a flexible, all-in-one solutions package to meet customer requirements.”

DPI Plastics product manager Leonardo Steffano notes that each Plomyclick fitting consists of only four elements; namely: body, grip ring, sleeve and a specially-designed ethylene propylene diene Monomer (EDPM) sealing element. What’s more, he points out that Plomyclick meets SANS ISO 15875 for PE-X standards and has a 10 year product guarantee, as well as a service guarantee of 50 years.

“PPSU is a high-performance plastic that provides high corrosion-resistance, and can withstand temperatures of up to 180^oC. In addition to being completely copper-free, the corrosion resistance of Plomyclick fittings are also ideally-suited to conditions in a laboratory environment,” he explains.

Due to the fact that it only requires cutting and bevelling to the pipe before it is pushed into the fitting, the Plomyclick system can be installed faster than conventional piping systems, and Elsey points out that he has experienced this benefit first-hand during the installation phase of the project at the CSIR. 

“This is the first time that Plomyclick has been used by AGE Consultant Plumbers, and the product has met all expectations, as installation from top-to-bottom was done within a matter of days – as opposed to weeks. This, combined with DPI Plastics’ unrivalled after-sales and technical support, has ensured that the plumbing aspect of the project has been a major success to date,” he continues.

Elsey does; however, note that confined space was a major challenge during the installation of the pipes. “The biggest challenge was to find space to bring the piping down to the benches located in the middle of the 2 000 m² laboratory. As a result, the pipes were transported down in specially-made ducts to the benches,” he explains. “Working with the architects, we decided to bring the piping in under the soffit, and transport it to the benches through a column specifically-designed for the hot and cold water system.”

Looking to the future, Elsey believes that the market is showing strong signs of recovery. “After a long and challenging recession, the construction industry is finally beginning to regain strength, and I am confident that the second half of 2011 will be a period of significant growth for the industry,” he concludes.