Uponor ProPEX User manual

Uponor ProPEX®
copper press adapters
installation guide

Uponor ProPEX
®
copper press adapters installation guide is published by
Uponor Inc.
5925 148th Street West
Apple Valley, MN 55124 USA
T 800.321.4739
F 952.891.2008
uponorpro.com
Uponor Ltd.
6510 Kennedy Road
Mississauga, ON L5T 2X4 CANADA
T 888.994.7726
F 800.638.9517
uponorpro.com
© 2018 Uponor North America
All rights reserved.
Second edition September 2018
Second printing September 2018
Printed in the United States of America
Uponor has used reasonable efforts in collecting, preparing and providing quality
information and material in this installation guide. However, system enhancements
may result in modication of features or specications without notice.
Uponor is not liable for installation practices that deviate from this installation guide
or are not acceptable practices within the mechanical trades.
2 | uponorpro.com

Uponor ProPEX®copper press adapters
installation guide
Overview
Uponor ProPEX®copper press adapters provide a fast, simple and reliable method
for joining copper pipe or copper ttings without the need for dangerous hot work.
ProPEX copper press adapters eliminate the purchase, preparation and use of
materials and equipment for soldering, thus lowering costs, reducing labor time and
providing a cleaner, more efcient installation process.
Installing the ProPEX copper press adapters is simple. All that is needed is
the expansion tool for the ProPEX side and the press tool for the press side of
the adapter. The adapters are available in lead-free (LF) brass in ½" to 3" sizes
and are ideal for use in hot and cold potable water and hydronic heating and
cooling applications.
Design features
ProPEX copper press adapters offer unique design features that benet the
installer in two ways. First, the O-ring placement within the adapter allows
easy verication the O-ring is in place prior to pressing the joint. Second, the
adapters are designed to leak when the connection is not pressed, ensuring easy
identication of un-pressed joints at pressure test.
Quality assurance
ProPEX copper press adapters are designed, manufactured and listed to meet
ASTM F1960 requirements for the ProPEX side and ASME B16.51 for the press
side as well as conform to current industry standards and regulations.
Material specication
All ProPEX copper press adapters are designed and manufactured to strict
specications for use with ASTM B88 Type K, L or M copper pipe and ASME
B16.51 copper press ttings. The adapters are manufactured from copper alloys
and feature EPDM O-ring seals. They are designed for an operating temperature
range of 0°F (-17.8°C) to 200°F (93.3°C) for use in hot and cold potable water and
hydronic heating and cooling applications.
Note: The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) issues the following operating temperature
and pressure ratings for PEX piping systems: 200°F (93.3°C) at 80psi, 180°F
(82.2°C) at 100psi and 73.4°F (23°C) at 160psi.
Uponor ProPEX copper press adapters installation guide l 3

Material compatibility
Ensure the Uponor ProPEX copper
press adapters never come into contact
with household cleaning products,
paints, greases, ux, mineral oils,
adhesives, ammonia, nitrates or other
solvent-based materials that may
be used during or after installation.
Additionally, never paint the exterior
surface of the adapters, and follow
AWWA C904 guidelines when ushing
pipes during plumbing system startup.
Installation
Use a press tool together with a set
of jaws or press rings to install the
adapters. Jaws and press rings
are available for each size adapter,
and using only the correct size
jaws and press rings will ensure
a proper connection.
Uponor ProPEX copper press adapters
are designed to work with either 110V
or cordless press tools to suit any
installation. Contact your local Uponor
representative for information about
suitable press tool manufacturers.
Keep Uponor ProPEX copper press
adapters in their original packaging
until ready to install. This ensures the
adapters remain clean, the O-rings
are protected from damage and
onsite debris, and the O-ring lubricant
does not dry out. Be sure to keep
unused adapters in their original
packaging with any openings sealed
to maintain cleanliness.
Minimum spacing requirements
Install Uponor ProPEX copper press
adapters with the following minimum
spacing between other press ttings
to prevent distortion of the pipe (see
Table 1). Failure to provide this
distance may result in an improper seal.
Fitting size Minimum spacing
½" 0"
¾" 0"
1" 0"
1¼" ½"
1½" ¾"
2" ¾"
2½" ¾"
3" ¾"
Table 1: Minimum spacing requirements
Equipment service
considerations
Like with any power tools, press tools,
jaws and press rings require regular
servicing. Failure to follow the press
tool manufacturer’s recommendations
may void warranty provisions and the
tool’s ability to produce press joints with
continued efciency.
Note: It is the tool user’s responsibility
to correctly maintain and calibrate
all tools per manufacturer’s
recommendations. For press tool use
and care information, refer to the press
tool manufacturer’s instructions.
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Prepress
Select the correct size pipe and Uponor
ProPEX copper press adapter. Ensure
both are clean, in good condition and
free from damage and imperfections.
Carefully remove tape, labels or foreign
matter. Ensure the pipe or tting is
round, clean and free of burrs and
surface imperfections.
Pipe preparation
1. Square cut the pipe. Use a rotary
pipe cutter whenever possible.
2. Deburr internal and external pipe
ends using a ne-tooth le.
Note: You may use commercially
available deburring tools to ensure
a smooth interior and exterior at
the pipe end.
3. Clean the pipe end of debris to
avoid damage to the O-ring upon
pipe insertion.
4. Inspect the Uponor ProPEX copper
press adapter to ensure the
O-ring is undamaged and seated
correctly within the O-ring groove.
The O-ring should be free of cuts,
gouges or missing material at the
surface. If the O-ring is damaged
or missing, do not use the adapter.
If the O-ring is undamaged but is
partially out of the groove, gently
move the O-ring back into the
groove. If the O-ring does not
seat in the groove, do not use
the adapter.
5. Insert the pipe fully into the adapter
until it meets the stop. With the
adapter in place, mark the pipe’s
outside diameter at the edge of
the adapter. You can also use a
tape measure. Ensure the insertion
depth is clearly marked to attain
the proper insertion depth. Refer
to Table 2 for required insertion
depth dimensions.
Pipe size Insertion depth
½" ¾"
¾" 15⁄16"
1" 15⁄16"
1¼" 11⁄16"
1½" 1½"
2" 1⅝"
2½" 111⁄16"
3" 1⅞"
Table 2: Insertion depth dimensions
Uponor ProPEX copper press adapters installation guide l 5

½" to 2" adapter installation
1. Assemble the joint by inserting the
pipe into the adapter until it meets
the pipe stop. Note that you can use
clean water to ease the assembly
process. Wetting the pipe and/or the
adapter will ease the pipe-insertion
process. Be sure to check the pipe
insertion depth using the reference
mark on the pipe’s outside diameter.
(See step 5 in the previous Prepress
section on page 5.)
Important! Only press the adapter
when the pipe is fully inserted into
the adapter.
2. Using the correct size press jaws
in the press tool, place the jaws
over the bead on the adapter.
Ensure the press tool and jaws
remain perpendicular to the pipe’s
centerline.
3. Press the tool’s trigger or actuation
button to begin the press cycle.
The cycle is complete when the
jaw fully encloses the mouth
of the adapter. Once the cycle
is complete, release the jaws
from around the adapter. Refer
to the press tool manufacturer’s
instructions for further details.
4. After the connection is complete,
inspect the pressed joint to ensure
the pipe has remained fully inserted
during the pressing process.
5. Pressure test the system to ensure
a proper connection. If a leak is
found, re-press the connection.
Note: Uponor ProPEX copper
press adapters are designed to
leak air or water when improperly
pressed to help installers identify
improperly pressed connections.
2½" and 3" adapter installation
1. Assemble the joint by inserting the
pipe into the adapter until it meets
the pipe stop. Note that you can use
clean water to ease the assembly
process. Wetting the pipe and/or the
adapter will ease the pipe-insertion
process. Be sure to check the pipe
insertion depth using the reference
mark on the pipe’s outside diameter.
(See step 5 in the previous Prepress
section on page 5.)
Important! Only press the adapter
when the pipe is fully inserted into
the adapter.
2. Select the appropriate size press
ring. Open the press jaws and
position them over the adapter.
Align the groove in the press ring.
Revolve the press ring around the
adapter to the desired position.
3. Attach the appropriate press
adapter to the press tool and close
the breach bolt. Attach the adapter
ring to the press ring by depressing
the jaw levers and inserting the
claws as far as possible into the
grooves of the press ring. Do
not press the joint until the press
adapter is correctly connected to
the press ring.
4. Press the tool’s trigger or actuation
button and complete the pressing
process. Refer to the press tool
manufacturer’s instructions for
further details.
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Jaw compatibility for ½"to 2"adapters
Milwaukee® M12™ compact jaws RIDGID®/Viega®compact jaws NIBCO®compact jaws
½" 49-16-2450 ½" 16958 Not available
¾" 49-16-2451 ¾" 16963 Not available
1" 49-16-2452 1" 16978 Not available
1¼" 49-16-2453 1¼" 31228 Not available
Milwaukee M18™ standard jaws RIDGID/Viega standard jaws NIBCO standard jaws1
½" 49-16-2650 ½" 76652 ½" PC-10S
¾" 49-16-2651 ¾" 76657 ¾" PC-11S
1" 49-16-2652 1" 76662 1" PC-12S
1¼" 49-16-2653 1¼" 76667 1¼" PC-13S
1½" 49-16-2654 1½" 76672 1½" PC-14S
2" 49-16-2655 2" 76677 2" PC-15S
1Testing proved only the 2" NIBCO fitting required two complete press cycles to complete the connection.
Jaw compatibility for 2½"to 3"adapters
Milwaukee M18 standard jaws RIDGID/Viega standard jaws
2½" 49-16-2656 2½" 20453
3" 49-16-2657 3" 20548
Ring jaw 49-16-2659 Actuator 21878
Note: The 2½" to 3" press adapter connections feature a tag that breaks to indicate a completed connection. This tag can be
removed after completing the connection.
5. After the connection is complete,
inspect the pressed joint to ensure
the pipe has remained fully inserted
during the pressing process.
6. Pressure test the system to ensure
a proper connection. If a leak is
found, re-press the connection.
Note: Uponor ProPEX copper
press adapters are designed to
leak air or water when improperly
pressed to help installers identify
improperly pressed connections.
Uponor ProPEX copper press adapters installation guide l 7

uponorpro.com
Uponor Ltd.
6510 Kennedy Road
Mississauga, ON L5T 2X4
CANADA
T 888.994.7726
F 800.638.9517
PrPXxCU_press_InsG_70158_0818.indd Copyright © 2018 Uponor. Printed in Canada.