Let’s be specific… MLCP Q+A with James Griffiths, Uponor

What is MLCP and how is it made?

Multilayer composite pipe (MLCP) is constructed from five layers made up of an aluminium core with internal and external layers of polyethylene which give the pipework strength and durability as well as flexibility.

Its multi layers unite the advantages of metal and plastic while eliminating both materials’ disadvantages. For example, the aluminium core prevents oxygen ingress, reduces heat expansion and gives form stability for an easy and safe install.

What can the material be used for?

MLCP is an ideal solution for a wide range of both domestic and commercial plumbing and heating applications. The maximum operating pressure for MLCP is 10 bar for hot water and 16 for boosted cold water.

It is an option for any piping application where copper or plastic push-fit systems are also being considered, but it is particularly suitable for large-scale projects. This is because, depending on the manufacturer chosen, it is available in a range of coil lengths and can be delivered to site in coils up to 500 metres. Crucially, the value of MLCP for larger projects lies in its ability to provide speed of installation and secure, high-quality connections that ultimately de-risk high-value, time-critical contracts.

Furthermore, MLCP is capped at the point of manufacture, so it is hygienically clean when it arrives to be installed. The inner polyethylene layers resist limescale formation and corrosion, making it an ideal option for carrying drinking water. This also helps to ensure hygiene when the building is in operation as it minimises the areas in the system where bacteria can grow.

What are the advantages of MLCP over alternatives?

Specifying MLCP can offer a wide range of benefits as it combines all the performance benefits of metal and plastic piping systems — yet with none of their disadvantages.

Like traditional metal pipe systems, MLCP is available in a wide range of sizes including the 110 mm diameters required for corridor and riser sections. Furthermore, MLCP can be supplied in 3 m or 5 m straight lengths and in various coil lengths, so a typical installation will require fewer connections to be made.

When they are required, MLCP is so inherently flexible that they can be shaped either by hand or using handheld tools to create a bend, rather than two sections being connected using an elbow joint. Fewer joint connections also help to maintain system pressure and reduce the potential opportunities for leaks to occur.

When compared to MLCP, copper is a rigid material available in shorter lengths. This means more labour and time on site to achieve the necessary bends and the creation of more connections are required to navigate any obstacles. More connections equal a greater chance of potential leaks.

With MLCP, the contractor team can select between several different connection methods when a joint is required - including press connection. From a health and safety perspective, when there is a MLCP joint connection to be made, this can be achieved without having to undertake any soldering — removing the hot works on site.

MLCP is simply quicker, easier and safer to install than a copper equivalent. This ultimately translates into cost savings as well as helping to protect profit margins for the project delivery team that would have to deal with the ever-present issue of the fluctuating cost of copper.

Finally, any mistakes in the installation and commissioning process, particularly for large scale projects, can mean costly delays in terms of the labour to correct the issue, having a negative impact on the build schedule. Here, MLCP offers real value – as the system is always watertight first time and joint security can be easily checked if you select systems that offer inspection windows. For an architect, ensuring and protecting quality from the outset via a system that benefits all parties in the supply chain is worthwhile considering.

What are the potential challenges when specifying the material? And how can these be overcome?

Fundamentally, the only real challenge for MLCP is the age-old issue: that adapting to new materials and methods has never been quick or easy for the construction sector. We are all aware of the responsibilities that come with making specifications and of course, this means we are fundamentally a risk-adverse industry. But this is changing, and solutions like MLCP are now being considered as a potential option from the outset. As manufacturers, we should be supporting this process and the transition to new materials and solutions in a number of practical ways.

We should be able to demonstrate what multilayer composite pipe has achieved on other similar projects and how it can be applied to the next; as well as reassure those wanting to make informed and robust decisions that MLCP solutions do in fact meet all the necessary standards and regulations.

Of course, longevity and environmental impact are also key challenges that every project needs to tackle. Transparency about the products for these elements is key. Manufacturers of MLCP should provide you with lifecycle analyses for their products to allow comparisons of different options. For this, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) enable planners the ability to calculate the impacts of construction products.

Finally, manufacturers should be able to provide whatever scale of technical and design support is needed and no matter how simple the installation process might be, on-site training is always advisable, as well as the final quality assurance on site.

What MLCP solutions are available to specifiers and designers?

There are a wide range of high-quality solutions available on the market so try to shortlist those that offer a long lifespan. For example, MLCP solutions manufactured using PEX-a and aluminium can offer a service life of 50 years and a lifespan as much as, and up to, 100 years.

Finally, off site construction will undoubtedly play a fundamental role in the successful delivery of many larger projects and again, MLCP can easily be incorporated into factory processes and modular constructs. Therefore, it’s important to try and engage early with your potential project partners including those manufacturing the solutions for the vital building services as then you can ensure the system specified can deliver, for the longterm, on all the requirements.