Uponor Introduces ½" Pre-sleeved Wirsbo AQUAPEX Tubing

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For Immediate Release

July 26, 2007

Contact: Jon Orton

e-Commerce/Public Relations Manager

(800) 321-4739, ext. 5329

Uponor Pre-sleeved Wirsbo AQUAPEX® Tubing

Ideal for Installations in Concrete Slabs or Soil

Uponor has added high-density polyethylene (HDPE) corrugated sleeves to its ½" Wirsbo AQUAPEX® tubing for use in hot and cold water distribution systems. The corrugated sleeve provides protection for installations in concrete slabs or soil, and allows for easy removal and replacement of the tubing if required. In addition, the red and blue color-coded sleeves easily identify hot and cold water lines.

Uponor’s pre-sleeved tubing is cost-effective, easy to install and an ideal tubing solution for commercial high-rise and residential slab rollout applications. To replace tubing, installers simply disconnect the line at both ends, pull it through the corrugated sleeve, and thread new tubing into the same sleeve. “Installation time and hassle are sharply reduced, because there’s no need to disturb the slab or the soil,” says Steve Lockridge, Uponor senior product manager, Plumbing.

Shipped in 400-foot coils, Pre-Sleeved Wirsbo AQUAPEX tubing carries the same hydrostatic temperature and pressure ratings as ½" Wirsbo AQUAPEX tubing: 200°F at 80 pounds per square inch (psi), 180°F at 100 psi, and 73.4°F at 160 psi. The HDPE sleeves also offer excellent protection against termiticides and pesticides, while helping to limit ultraviolet (UV) exposure on the jobsite. The sleeves themselves carry a one-year warranty, while the Wirsbo AQUAPEX tubing inside has a 25-year warranty when installed by an Uponor-trained installer.

As with all its Wirsbo AQUAPEX products, Uponor has also obtained UL fire-resistance rated assemblies and Warnock Hersey listings, which allow for installation in fire-rated walls, floors, ceilings, through penetrations and plenum applications. “These listings support Uponor’s commitment to commercial applications and market advancement,” Lockridge says.

Uponor’s½" Pre-sleeved Wirsbo AQUAPEX tubing is manufactured to the following standards: ASTM F876, ASTM F877, and ASTM F2023, as well as ANSI/NSF Standards 14 and 61. Listed by IAPMO, HUD, NSF, UL, CSA, and ITS, the product is approved by the following codes: IPC, UPC and NSPC. Its fire ratings include:

K913 — One- to two-hour concrete floor/ceiling assembly

L557 — One-hour wood frame floor/ceiling assembly

U372 — One-hour wood frame wall assembly

V444 — One-hour steel stud wall assembly

Uponor is a leading supplier of PEX-based plumbing and heating systems for the residential and commercial building markets across North America and Europe. Uponor employs 4,100 people globally. In 2006, Uponor's net sales were 1.157 billion euros, returning an operating profit of 12.4%. Uponor OYJ is listed on the Nordic Exchange in Helsinki, Finland. Uponor Inc. is headquartered in Apple Valley, Minn. For more information, visit call Uponor toll-free at (800) 321-4739.

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