DIGBUILD European project results on modern, innovative and cost effective gas pipelines inside

buildings

Marc DURANDEAU Digbuild project Manager

EFG 2005 Warsaw, 2005-09-20 & 21

NEW SYSTEMS FOR GAS DISTRIBUTION INSIDE THE BUILDINGS

SUMMARY

1. OVERVIEW OF THE DIGBUILD PROJECT :

1.1 The 3 assessed techniques1.2 Main objectives1.3 Key figures 1.4 The 9 partners

2. PROJECT ORGANISATION3. MAIN RESULTS

3.1 technical results 3.2 economical results3.3 pilot installations

4. DIGBUILD PUBLIC DELIVERABLES5. EN / ISO STANDARDISATION PROCESS

1.1 Overview of the Digbuild project : the 3 assessed techniques

CSST

Multilayer piping

PEX

1.2 Overview of the Digbuild project : main objectives

to demonstrate the ability of innovative pipework systems for gas supply installations inside building to reduce the global cost of installation

to achieve a high level of safety, at least similar to that of traditional techniques

to allow the development of new user friendly applications

to set up the technical specifications for the different assessed systems

1. 3 Overview of the Digbuild project : key figures

GLOBAL BUDGET : 1 625 000 Euro

CONTRIBUTION FROM EC : 500 000 Euro

PROJECT DURATION : 40,5 MONTHS

(2001/05/16 - 2004/10/01)

1. 4 Overview of the Digbuild project : the 9 partners

1 GAZ DE FRANCE Direction de la Recherche St Denis F

2 GAS NATURAL SDG S.A Zaragoza SP

3 DVGW Bonn D

4 BELGIAN BUILDING RESEARCH INSTITUTEBruxelles B

5 ACOME PEX Mortain F

6 WIRSBO PEX Derbyshire UK

7 COMAP SA MULTILAYER Lyon F

8 HITACHI METALS EUROPE GmbH CSST Düsseldorf D

9 BOA Netherland BV CSST Tilburg NL

2. Project organisation

Splitting into work packages

PILOT OPERATIONS

TEST PROGRAM -2

SAFETY SYSTEM STUDY

PRESSURE LOSSES

TEST PROGRAM - 1

FUNCTIONAL & TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

DIGBUILD PROJECT

ECONOMICAL STUDY

SAFETY :

RISK ANALYSIS

3. Main results : 3.1 technical results – test programs1st test program

Tightness ; heat cycle resistance ; H.T. resistance ; bending ; tensile load resistance ; chemical resistance

Weak points can be fixed (preventive measures when installing ; safety devices)

2nd test program

Mechanical strength ; aggression resistance ; system specific characteristics

Good results

Conclusions : good results ; none technique shall have been excluded at this step ; if necessary, preventive measures and/or safety devices

3. Main results : 3.1 technical results –reliability assessment

1] Safety study :

Market review of available safety devices & other protective measures

Safety study for identifying the hazards & safety aspects of the pipework systems

2] Pressure loss study : pressure loss & representative configuration dimensioning study within several European pressure architectures

Conclusions : no motivation to reject any studied technique because appropriate safety measures (active or passive) can compensate any recorded safety weaknesselevated pressure gas supply systems recommended

installation functional analysis

possible incident scenarios

safety measures analysis

(preventing and protecting) (existing or to be set)

Systematic Risk Analysis

feedback from field experience

3. Main results : 3.1 technical results – safety study

3. Main results : 3.2 economical results

Aim of the study :

To determine whether the assessed techniques are competitive with the traditional ones (brazed copper)

labour costs : from to 30 % up to 50 % saving installation time material costs : use the smaller pipe diameter as possibleuse the lower number of fittings (e.g. PEX and ML bending up to 25 - 26 mm)environmental costs : better than with copper (energy consumption, gas releases, green house effect from raw material production to waste disposal)

Conclusions : all competitive versus copper

3. Main results : 3.3 pilot installationsAim of the study :

to get field implementation feedback ; to point out any difficulty (if any)

France (within Gaz de France workshop) : focus on system comparison & technical advantages ; measurement of installation time versus copper Spain (near Madrid) : only in CSST Norway (Lillehammer) : Uponor Wirsbo PEX versus copper

Conclusions : installation easiness, installation time savings, needed safety precautions, installer training on new techniques

Problems we faced :• administrative acceptance• flat owner acceptance

3. 3 Pilot installations

In France

CSST in Spain

PEX in Norway

4. DIGBUILD public deliverables

Specification drafts :

Digbuild work package results

one per technique

CEN standard layout

Final report

summary and main results of each confidential deliverable

Conclusions : the 3 assessed innovative piping techniques aresuitable for gas installations for gas supply inside building

with possibility for each manufacturer to improve the competitiveness of his system for the intended utilisations

5. Standardisation process

Functional standardisation :

revised prEN 1775 (CEN/TC 234) : gas supply inside buildings mention of the 3 techniques

(notably recommendations in informative annex for jointing with press fittings or CSST)

Product standards :

ISO/DIS 17484-1 : ML (Multi-layered pipe systems for indoor gas installations with a maximum operating pressure up to 5 bar ) ;

prEN 15266 : CSST (stainless steel pliable corrugated tubing systems in buildings for gas with an OP up to 0,5 bar)