Types of PEX tubing A, B, C
Types of PEX tubing (A, B, C).
Choosing the right type and brand for your project.
- What are the differences between common PEX brands?
- Is one brand better than the other?
- Which type of PEX should I use for my project?
To answer these questions and help installers and homeowners to make an informed decision, we’ve decided to create a guide which is simple and yet offers details for further independent research.
We think it would be fare to disclose to the reader from the start that we sell both PEX-B and PEX-A pipe, but for the purposes of this article, would try to refrain from promoting or discrediting any type of tubing unless it’s backed by independent research data.
Classification of PEX by manufacturing process
Regardless of brand, there are only (3) main manufacturing processes used to produce PEX tubing:
Contrary to the popular belief, A, B and C are not grades of PEX. These letters are used merely to identify the manufacturing process and have nothing to do with quality or performance ratings of the end product except as explained further in text.
In fact, all of the above have to adhere to the same standard:
- Pressure and temperature ratings
- Minimum bending radius
- Pipe wall thickness and ID/OD dimensions (subject to manufacturing tolerances)
* Note that these only apply to brands sold in the US and mentioned below. There are many little-known or no-brand products out there which may or may not meet these criteria.
More on the dimensions, rating and other technical specifications of PEX tubing can be found here.
All types of PEX (A, B, C) have to comply with the same ASTM F876 and ASTM F877 standards and SDR9 dimensional standard before they can be used anywhere in the US. Pipe which conforms to these standards carries a proper readable imprint.
A brief description of each manufacturing process and some of the leading brands is outlined below:
Comparing the end product
For comparison of PEX Fittings and Connection Methods (Crimp, Expansion, Compression),
Which PEX tubing to choose?
PEX-A is the most flexible of all PEX tubing types, has little or no coil memory and gives installer an ability to repair kinks with a heat gun. It has been in use for over 50 years (which is longer than other types) with few publicly known issues (3), which is a good indicator of reliability.
There are two important downsides to this type. First and foremost is a high rate of chemical leaching – from 50% to over 200% higher than PEX-B (2), which is a major concern for plumbing applications. Second is the price, which coupled with fittings and tools may become as much as 2-3 times higher than PEX-B or PEX-C options.
While a leading PEX-A manufacturer claims that their tubing has highest resistance to crack propagation, independent testing(2) shows that PEX-B is actually shows the same or higher resistance to long-term oxidation which appears to be the primary reason for crack formation in the pipes and their subsequent failure.
A lower bending radius in PEX-A (6 times the OD vs. 8 times the OD for PEX-B & C) is helpful, but offers little practical advantage in most cases.
PEX-B is a clear winner in terms of price vs. both other types. It has been in use for over 40 years with no known issues, given that a typical warranty for any type of PEX is only 20-25 years. It also has a higher bursting pressure than PEX-A and a similar or better resistance to oxidation - a very important factor for plumbing installations.
The major downside of PEX-B is its’ stiffness and coil memory (tendency to return to the original shape of coil). While there’s little difference in smaller sizes such as 1/2", larger pipe diameters, especially 1", can be noticeably harder to bend. Any kinks (which are very rare in our experience, but still occur) made during the installation can only be repaired by installing a coupling and cannot be repaired with a heat gun like PEX-A.
PEX-C was the hardest to evaluate, given the lack of testing data and publicly available information. In late 2013, a leading US manufacturer of PEX-C pipe became a subject of a class-action settlement which indicated that its’ PEX tubing is prone to development of cracks in the pipe as a result of early oxidation. For this reason therefore, we think that this type of PEX should be avoided altogether in plumbing applications. While PEX-C may be suitable for hydronic and radiant heating use, it offers little practical advantage over the other (2) types.
For hot and cold water plumbing as well as for open-loop heating systems, both PEX-A and PEX-B are evident choices, yet the latter offers a more attractive combination of better health safety, higher durability and lower price.
For baseboards, radiators, radiant floor heating, snow melting and other types of closed-loop heating systems, any type can be selected according to personal preferences or various comparison factors we mentioned above.
When purchasing PEX tubing, make sure it is third-party certified for end use application:
For plumbing, the pipe must meet the ANSI/NSF61 and ANSI/NSF372 standards for potable water safety and lead-free standards and must be marked with "pw-G", "NSF-61-G" or other NSF-approved marking. When used with chlorinated water, ASTM F2023 compliance is required and must also be imprinted on the pipe.
For radiant floor heating, the pipe should meet the ANSI/NSF 14 standards and marked with "nsf-rfh" or the actual standard.
References:
(1) Based on competitive research conducted for online and walk-in retail stores.
(2) "Contaminant Diffusion, Solubility, and Material Property Differences between HDPE and PEX Potable Water Pipes" from Journal of Environmental Engineering.
(3) i.e. "Defren v. Trimark Homes"
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