Tools for Installing Plastic Plumbing Piping

The Problem: Manual Crimping

• Plastic pipe (PEX) tubing is being widely used in plumbing and radiant floor heating.
• To install the tubing, plumbers use metal rings to secure plastic pipes onto fittings. The rings are squeezed or crimped using a one- or two- hand manual crimping tool.
• Manual crimping tools require a high level of grip force which may expose workers to risk of injury.
• The crimping process may be repeated hundreds of times a day and with awkward postures.

Solution One: Powered Crimping Tools

• Plastic pipe (PEX) tubing is being widely used in plumbing and radiant floor heating.
• To install the tubing, plumbers use metal rings to secure plastic pipes onto fittings. The rings are squeezed or crimped using a one- or two- hand manual crimping tool.
• Manual crimping tools require a high level of grip force which may expose workers to risk of injury.
• The crimping process may be repeated hundreds of times a day and with awkward postures.

Benefits of the Powered Crimping Tools

• Powered crimpers eliminate the excessive grip force required when manually crimping and thus reduce the risk of injury associated with this task
  
  Potential Drawbacks of Powered Crimping Tools
• The use of the powered crimper in tight and awkward places, such as between 2x4’s in the frame of a home, is difficult due to their size.
• The physical weight of the tool is also a concern, especially when making connections in awkward locations with arms raised overhead.

Solution Two: Stretchable Pipe System

The use of the powered crimper in tight and awkward places, such as between 2x4’s in the frame of a home, is difficult due to their size.

The physical weight of the tool is also a concern, especially when making connections in awkward locations with arms raised overhead.

How It Works

The use of the powered crimper in tight and awkward places, such as between 2x4’s in the frame of a home, is difficult due to their size.

The physical weight of the tool is also a concern, especially when making connections in awkward locations with arms raised overhead.

Benefits of the Stretchable Pipe System

• Powered tools reduce the forceful exertions associated with the manual tools.
• Stretching of the ‘stretchable’ system can occur in more neutral postures (e.g. waist level) directly in front of the plumber.
  • This reduces awkward shoulder postures and overhead work.
  • The task is easier because the plumber does not have to reach around obstructions that are overhead.
• The stretchable pipe system decreases the number of failed joints.

Potential Drawbacks of Stretchable Pipe System

• The weight of the battery powered stretching tools is a concern.
  • The use of this tool at waist level can minimize the stress on the shoulder joint.
  • Because the stretchable tool can be used at waist level it is possible to have a balancer or cart available for the tool between uses.
• The stretchable tubes and rings are affected by the ambient temperature. As the ambient temperature decreases below 10, the plastic stretchable tubing and rings becomes ore rigid which requires workers to hold them in place longer on the fitting while they return to size to complete the connection.
  • As a result, during the connection, workers can potentially be exposed to long periods of awkward postures.
  •  Holding the tubes and fitting in place longer during cold weather may also result in less productivity.
  • The physical demand associated with this, however, is generally quite low as the pipes are simply held in place.

Solution Three: Alternative System to Crimping and Stretching: Push Fittings

 Push fittings, designed for both copper and PEX piping, eliminate the need for heavy tools and high physical demand.

The fittings of the system are designed to allow the insertion of any type of pipe to complete the connection.

 The plumber inserts the end of the pipe into the fitting which clicks to indicate that a connection has been made.

 The pipe can be released using a small plastic ring, and then the fittings reused.

This system eliminates the majority of the physical demands associated with manual crimping/stretching and the use of heavy powered tools.

Potential Drawbacks of the Alternative System

Awkward postures may still be necessary to complete connections in some areas. The time spent in these postures may be reduced because of the quick ‘biting’ action of the fittings when making a connection.

The cost of the fittings for this system is higher than that for both the stretching and crimping systems.