(03/16/2017) Paranapanema, the largest Brazilian producer of copper, constantly investing to provide solutions in copper and its alloys for construction and industrial market. One of them, the Eluma seamless flexible copper tube, has the advantage of ensuring the interconnection of the installation spots (connections, valves, etc.) with a lower amount of welding spots and connections, which, in addition to being flexible, it is supplied in rolls or reels with length greater than of the rigid tubes with 5.0m or 2.5m as a supply standard. The product is easy to install, highly resistant to mechanical and chemical corrosion, slightly prone to fouling and highly durable.

Eluma flexible copper tubes can be used for conveying hot and cold water, combustible gases, refrigeration, medicinal and other fluids, in residential, commercial and industrial facilities. The tubes are sorted according to its dimensions and supported pressures service. Each class of tube has its identification specified by engraving in low relief and marking in black ink.

The production of flexible tubes is accomplished by the Cast&Roll Technology, considered the one with the best productivity in the world for seamless tubes. The methodology implemented by Paranapanema in Santo André (SP) in 2014, had investments of R$ 150 million.

In this continuous production technique, Paranapanema electrolytic copper, with 99.99% purity, is melted and added 0.015% to 0.040% phosphor to the composition of the alloy C12200, determined by the standard on manufacturing of tubes (ABNT NBR 14745), ensuring large diameter tubes in solid formats, which are lengthened by drawing until the desired diameters are achieved. To become malleable, these tubes undergo heat treatment.

Installation 

Several technical regulations by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) make reference to the use of flexible copper tubes, among them:

·         NBR 5626 – Building installation for cold water.

·         NBR 7198 – Design and building installations.

·         NBR 15569 – Solar water heating system in direct circuit – Design and installation.

·         NBR 15526 – Internal distribution networks for combustible gases in residential and commercial facilities – Design and execution.

·         NBR 13523 – Liquefied Petroleum Gas Plant (LPG).

·         NBR 15358 – Internal distribution network for combustible gas in non-residential installations of up to 400 kPa – Design and Execution.

·         NBR 12188 – Centralized systems for supply of medical gases, gases for medical devices and vacuum for use in health services.

·         NBR 16057 – Water Heating Gas Systems (SAAG) – Design and Installation.

In addition to the design and execution standards already mentioned, the application of the standard “ABNT NBR 15345 – Building Installation of tubes and copper and copper alloys fittings – Procedure”, it is indispensable for any professional to use copper in their designs and installations.

Installers have an important role in the success of the installation, as they are responsible for implementing correctly what has been specified and designed by the designer. Thus, his/her knowledge related to technical standards on design and implementation is fundamental for the quality of the installation.

Among the precautions needed to properly perform the designs, the ones that are susceptible to moves and thermal expansion must be correctly insulated with thermal insulation products. In addition, it is important to prevent mechanical shocks and overloads that may somehow damage the tubes. It is also important to ensure that the tubes and fittings do not stay in direct contact with the soil, metal alloys other than copper and chemicals, ensuring cleaning of all piping areas when assembly is completed, thus avoiding the presence of any impurities and excess materials from the works, such as remains of mortars, paste and solder.

Paranapanema has an area of development and technical support, formed by engineers and specialists, responsible for the creation of new products and applications, through the analysis of the market needs. If further promotes technical trainings on the application of the products, which is intended to provide builders, designers and installers with the necessary information for the correct use of Eluma products in their designs and constructions. Paranapanema also conducts specific trainings to teams of distributors and resellers, for copper fittings and tubes are properly installed and used.