RAUGEO(TM) PEXa Pipe from REHAU is Certified by CSA for Geothermal Installations in Canada

REHAU's RAUGEO™ crosslinked polyethylene (PEXa) piping system has been certified for use in Canada following revisions to the CSA Group's new Standard C448/2013 Design and Installation of Earth Energy Systems.

LEESBURG, Va., October 9, 2013 – REHAU announced today that its RAUGEO™ crosslinked polyethylene (PEXa) piping system has been certified for use in Canada following revisions to the CSA Group's new Standard C448/2013 Design and Installation of Earth Energy Systems.


The previous 2002 series of CSA C448 dictated exclusive use of non-crosslinked polyethylene pipe for ground heat exchangers. With the implementation of the revised C448/2013 standard, PEXa pipes and F2080 cold-expansion compression-sleeve fittings may now be used in these applications throughout Canada.

The C448 standard was developed and approved by a technical committee and subcommittee representing multiple geothermal industry stakeholders including installers, drillers, designers, equipment manufacturers, regulators and utilities. CSA C448 applies to new and retrofit installations and includes requirements for piping, installation techniques, and ground-source heat pumps for residential and commercial buildings.

"While HDPE is a reliable, traditional piping material, specifiers and installers across Canada have been requesting the option to use crosslinked polyethylene PEXa systems, in some cases to take advantage of the unique fitting and manifold options available with PEXa," said André Carrier, ing., chairman of the CSA C448 technical subcommittee. "Crosslinked polyethylene (PEXa) pipe and cold-expansion compression-sleeve fittings have been used in Canada for several decades in applications such as radiant heating, snow and ice melting, and water service and distribution."

"With the secure combination of PEXa pipe and F2080 fittings, RAUGEO is the first PEX system available in Canada that complies with the newly revised CSA standard," said Lance MacNevin, senior codes and standards specialist for REHAU and a member of the C448 subcommittee. "We are pleased that CSA standards are keeping pace with the latest and most effective geothermal technologies.

"Incorporation of PEXa pipes into CSA's revised Design and Installation of Earth Energy Standards provides numerous advantages to both the installer and the system owner," said MacNevin. "PEXa pipes are produced using the high-pressure peroxide crosslinking method, resulting in special properties and capabilities such as higher flexibility, proven long-term hydrostatic strength at high temperatures and superior resistance to slow crack growth and abrasion. REHAU's PEXa piping and EVERLOC® F2080 fittings have been certified to CSA Standard B137.5 Crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing systems for pressure applications since 1994, and have been widely used across Canada for hydronic applications since then."

"This is a great step forward for the Canadian geothermal market, especially at a time when the cost and supply challenges of traditional energy sources are the catalyst for considering and employing earth energy systems," said Simon Koenig, business team manager for renewable energies at REHAU. "Since PEXa-based systems offer numerous advantages in both installation and long-term performance, we believe the market will be quick to embrace RAUGEO as part of an overall increase in geothermal projects across the country.

"RAUGEO PEXa is a reliable piping system engineered for tough ground conditions," explained Koenig. "PEXa pipes provide a notable advantage in vertical installations, as they are flexible enough to be formed into a compact U-bend for insertion into a standard 13 cm (5-inch) borehole without the use of joints or connections. And as the RAUGEO PEXa coils are extruded and fabricated in REHAU's North American production facility, the pipe is delivered to the jobsite with the U-bend already formed."

"Where connections are required, the unique properties of PEXa allow the use of ASTM F2080 EVERLOC cold-expansion compression-sleeve fittings that install quickly and without the use of heat or electricity, in any weather conditions," Koenig said. "Also contributing to streamlined installation as well as optimal performance, the system's balancing manifolds allow each ground loop to be individually controlled, if desired."

According to Koenig, RAUGEO PEXa pipes are also approved for use with HDPE electro-fusion fittings (as per ASTM Standard F1055), in installation temperatures as cold as -20C (-4F).

"These elements – PEXa pipes, compression-sleeve and electro-fusion fittings, and balancing manifolds – offer truly engineered solutions for geothermal ground loop field piping and earth energy boreholes," said MacNevin. "REHAU is excited to now bring this complete system to the Canadian market with the recognition of CSA C448. We are launching several new seminars in 2013 and 2014 that will help quickly bring designers, specifiers and contractors up to speed in their ability to design and install the RAUGEO system."

To secure a copy of the new CSA Standard C448/2013 Design and Installation of Earth Energy Systems, visit www.shop.csa.ca.

For more information on the RAUGEO PEXa piping system, contact: REHAU, 1501 Edwards Ferry Rd. NE, Leesburg, Va., 20176. Phone: 1.800.247.9445. Fax: 1.800.627.3428. E-mail: rehau.mailbox@rehau.com. Web site: na.rehau.com/raugeo.

REHAU delivers "Unlimited Polymer Solutions," and is the premium worldwide brand for polymer-based innovations and systems in construction, automotive and industry. The company generates continuous growth through its expertise and innovative capabilities in materials development, systems design and surface technology. More than 15,000 employees at more than 170 locations around the world ensure success of the independent, privately held company.
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