Builder - January 2009 - (Page 48) HOUSECALL FASTT RACK: Viega manifold with dedicated hot and cold water supply lines allows for balanced pressures and faster hot water. DUALA CTION: PEX tubing is flexible and easy to install—it can be used for both water supply and residential sprinkler systems. PEX plumbing can be installed similarly to a traditional copper trunk and branch layout. When used as a straight substitution in a trunk and branch layout, savings are realized in both material costs and labor costs. Belmont Builders in Saratoga, N.Y., recently installed PEX instead of copper in a 2,220-square-foot home, resulting in an estimated savings of $650 in labor and material compared to a similar application with copper. PEX is available with increased UV protection for jobs where the piping will be exposed to the elements for over six months; it also comes with an aluminum coating that allows it to be form stable, keeping its shape after it is bent. And a new twist for PEX involves residential sprinkler systems—which will become mandatory under the 2009 IRC for townhouses and single-family houses (effective 2011). PEX systems can be used for sprinkler systems, including multipurpose systems where the tubing serves double duty as both the domestic water supply and the supply lines to the sprinkler heads. WATER DISTRIBUTION consumption. The dedicated lines from the manifold to the fi xture—particularly the hot water supply lines—are smaller in diameter for a home-run system, so less water goes down the drain while you wait for hot water at the fi xture. Further, these direct lines can be sized appropriately for different fi xture types, which results in line diameters as small as 3/8 inch for many fi xtures. Not only does right-sizing supply lines save water, but it also reduces materials and costs. Manifold systems operate much like an electrical system breaker box, with a common location from which all fi xtures are supplied. This concept allows the homeowner to easily turn off their water for repairs or maintenance. With a home-run system, the material costs will sometimes be greater than with a copper plumbing system (due primarily to the cost of the manifold). However, the overall system cost is less than a copper plumbing system due to the significant labor savings. HUD sponsored four field evaluations from 1999 to 2006 that compared the costs and benefits of plumbing products. In all cases, the cost of plumbing with PEX was less than copper plumbing, with labor savings of roughly 50 percent. (see page 50) Additionally, the more photos: Courtesy Viega; rendering: Courtesy Chief Architect Flexible piping also lends itself to homerun or parallel pipe configurations in which hot and cold pipes originate at a manifold and service individual fi xtures with dedicated supply lines. When used in conjunction with PEX tubing, manifold systems can significantly reduce water WHAT A CONCEPT: The Concept Home demonstration house features a centralized plumbing core with all wet areas adjacent to it, along with a PEX home-run system and greywater system in the basement. 48 ■ B U I LD E R ja n ua ry 2 0 0 9 W W W.BUILDERONLINE.COM http://WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM
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