Pex A fitting flow reduction

[Btyrer]

I have the 2021 IPC book, and I'm trying to find where it talks about how much each pex a and copper fitting reduces flow, and after how many fittings you have to upsize your line. I've been looking through "water supply and distribution", but I can't seem to find it. It's probably right in front of me, but I'm just not seeing it. Help?

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

Not too familiar with IPC... but I couldn't find any reference to any chart like that in the IPC when searching online. Appendix E for water pipe sizing using friction loss etc was the closest I could find but only had the word PEX on that page 1 time.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[GReynolds929]

That would most likely be info from the manufacturer. Code doesn't go that in depth.

 

[Breplum]

Uponor did have a Plumbing Design Assistance Manual (have one).

 

[mikasd223]

I have the 2021 IPC book, and I'm trying to find where it talks about how much each pex a and copper fitting reduces flow, and after how many fittings you have to upsize your line. I've been looking through "water supply and distribution", but I can't seem to find it. It's probably right in front of me, but I'm just not seeing it. Help?

In the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC), information about pipe flow reduction due to fittings (like PEX and copper fittings) and guidance on when to upsize your line can typically be found under sections related to hydraulic calculations and sizing of water distribution systems. While the specific language may vary

 

[MarkedForDIY]

Btyrer, perhaps you mean PEX B? PEX A/ProPex has no flow reduction through the fittings, because the tubing is expanded over the fitting, which has the same internal dimension as the tube.

 

[GReynolds929]

Btyrer, perhaps you mean PEX B? PEX A/ProPex has no flow reduction through the fittings, because the tubing is expanded over the fitting, which has the same internal dimension as the tube.

This is wrong information. Pex A has less reduction than Pex B, but the fitting id is still smaller than the ID of the pipe, and Pex id is smaller than copper.

 

[MarkedForDIY]

Well, I should have said "near-enough as makes no difference in the real world". I just measured some 3/4 tubing and a fitting with a simple caliper. The tubing ID is 38/64 and the fitting ID is 35/64. So, that's 92% of the ID of the tubing, which isn't enough to make a drop's worth of difference in the non-laboratory setting of a domestic water supply (1/2 should be the same/similar ratio). In the piping system link below, Uponor says, "by this type of connection, the reduction of inner diameter is much less than on ordinary fittings. It is almost the same as the inner diameter of the pipe." You can't say that about PEX B, as the fittings are much smaller. Also a lot fewer PEX A fittings are even needed in the first place, because the tubing is flexible and can turn curves if there's enough space for it. That wipes out any possible flow advantage copper might have, though minimal, because the elimination of even one 90-degree bend frees up a lot more flow reduction than what we're talking about, even with a bunch of Uponor's fitting IDs inline. Anyway, there's no evidence I can find that proves any observable reduction in flow using Uponor's PEX-A/ProPex/AquaPEX - certainly not for a shower or kitchen sink, LOL.

Installation Guide:

https://www.uponor.com/getmedia/b88822e9-e713-432b-a495-d54bab71a37c/uponor-piping-installation-guide.pdf?sitename=USA#:~:text=Square%20cut%20the%20piping%202,to%20making%20the%20new%20connection.&text=Brass%20ProPEX%20fittings%20can%20be%20disconnected%20and%20reused.

Piping System Technical Info:

https://brandportal.uponor.com/m/7f2a7ca3918eecd5/original/TI-Aqua-PEX-piping-system-EN-1135536-v3.pdf

 

[Reach4]

3/4 pex is 43.585/64 id, but who measures pex id in 64ths?
You should re-do your measurements.

Not sure what your point is-- that expansion connections have bigger ID that the other kinds?