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ZURN PEX, INC.
HIGHWAY 11 EAST, COMMERCE, TEXAS, U.S.A. 75428 • PHONE: 855-ONE-ZURN (855-663-9876) • FAX: 903-886-2583 • www.zurn.com
Zurn PEX
®
Plumbing Installation Guide
Water Service Installation
, continued
Figure 3
Ground Level
Meter Box
Wrong
Right
Meter Box
Figure 4
Connecting to Curb Stop
A general rule to remember when installing Zurn PEX is: the less the
effect of surrounding soil movements on tubing, the better. Other
installations requiring double, or “S,” bends are not recom mended
as they are more prone to undesirable settlement which may subject
the pipe to excessive stress. Figure 3 shows the recommended
installation of a curb stop.
Below Grade Water Service Fittings
Zurn PEX XL brass and CR fittings should not be used as water
service fittings in below grade applications due to potential corrosion.
Water service fittings are commercially available for these applica-
tions, such as connecting to the corporation and curb stops. They
are typically molded from PVC and have a molded internal stiffener,
an O-ring seal, a steel gripper, and a nut to hold it all together.
They are available as coupling, male and female adapters,
and spigot adapters. See Figure 4.
Figure 5
PEX Tube
Ground
Level
Rigid
Protective
Sleeve
Foundation on
Basement
Wall
12” Min.
Prepared
Trench
Bottom
Important:
Petroleum based caulks or sealants should not come
into direct contact with Zurn PEX.
Plastic and bronze water service fittings and internal stiffeners that
are suitable for copper tube sized (CTS) SDR9 polyethylene tube
with a 160 psi pressure rating at 73°F will also work with Zurn
PEX tube.
Note -
Brass compression fittings that are normally used with
copper tubing can also be used to connect Zurn PEX tube to
corporation and curb stops. When compression fittings are used,
a fitting with a split clamp is recommended to ensure that the internal
stiffener will not move as a result of expansion and contraction of
the pipe. Follow the fitting manufacturer’s recom mendations for
proper installation and use of their fitting.
Note:
PTFE tape is the only recommended thread sealant for fittings
used with Zurn PEX.
Important:
Conventional pipe thread compounds, putty, mineral or
linseed oil-based products, and unknown mixtures should never be
used as these materials may cause damage to the pipe and fitting.
Penetration of Basement or Foundation Walls
When Zurn PEX is run through a basement or foundation wall, it
must be protected by a rigid sleeve that spans the distance from
within the wall out to the undisturbed soil in the pipe trench. The
purpose of this protective sleeve is to prevent shearing of the PEX
tubing at the wall in the event there is settlement in the backfill
around the wall. At the point where the sleeve terminates inside
the foundation or wall, the space between the Zurn PEX and the
sleeve should be sealed to prevent leakage into the building.
See Figure 5.
Pressure Testing
Water service lines should be pressure tested before the trench
is backfilled with soil. Before applying pressure to the pipe, make
sure that all air is bled from the system. A large pocket of air in
the pipe can cause a severe water hammer that could damage the
pipe. After a service line has been installed and filled with water,
it should be tested using a pressure approximately 50 percent
greater than the expected operating pressure. Run the test for at
least one hour.
Backfilling and Compaction
Before backfilling, be sure the trench is free of all foreign objects
such as scraps of wood, metal, or glass which might puncture the
pipe when buried in the trench. If the original soil removed from
the trench is rocky or otherwise unsuitable, the pipe should be
covered with a compacted 6” layer of coarse sand or peagravel
before continuing the backfill with the original soil. See Figure 2.
Important:
When the stone shooting technique is used to spread
gravel or stone that underlays a basement concrete floor, Zurn PEX
tubing should be protected from the direct impacts of the gravel
during this process. Protecting the tubing can be accomplished
by burying the tube in a trench and backfilling or by sleeving the
tubing with a thin wall tube such as polyethylene irrigation tube.
