Faster installation with fewer joints

Flexible pipe in long coils with a small bending radius is the fastest to lay for underfloor heating, because loops run without joints and tight bends need no fittings. PB-1 meets both conditions. On a large residential project, minutes saved per room add up to weeks across the programme.

PB-1 stays flexible at low temperatures, so it can be handled and laid in cold conditions where stiffer pipes become hard to work with. Its glass transition temperature is around -18°C. Each member manufacturer sets a minimum installation temperature for its system, so check that limit before winter work starts.

Most PB-1 systems need few tools. Push-fit fittings join without tools, glue or heat; mechanical compression fittings need no special tools; electrofusion needs a small fusion unit and a power supply. Socket fusion is mainly used for off-site prefabrication. Jointing differs per member system, so follow the manufacturer's instructions.

PE-RT is a reasonable choice for many low-temperature underfloor heating systems and is usually cheaper per metre. It is not a like-for-like equivalent: PB-1 has a higher long-term hydrostatic strength per ISO 9080, which gives a larger safety margin, especially at higher temperatures. Agree any substitution with the specifier and check it against the design conditions.

Push-fit fittings installed to the manufacturer's instructions are designed to perform for the life of the system. Every PB-1 push-fit fitting has four basic elements: a body, a seal, a grip and a support sleeve. In testing, one PB-1 push-fit system withstood more than 1 million pressure cycles from 0.5 to 20 bar.

PB-1 pipe and fittings are made by PBPSA member manufacturers and sold through their distribution networks. The PBPSA members matrix (pbpsa.com/members-matrix) lists every member and the systems they make, so installers can find a supplier for bulk orders.