FADO Fast Line - unconditional reliability and quality of connections

In 2021, the company FADO introduced a new series of crimp fittings to the Ukrainian market FADO Fast Line. These products quickly attracted the attention of consumers thanks to their sophisticated technical solution and numerous operational and installation advantages.

The FADO Fast Line system includes plastic and brass fittings, a modified polyethylene crimp ring, and cross-linked polyethylene Pex-A pipes, see Fig. 1.

Fig. 1. System FADO Fast Line

The main material of PPSU fittings is plastic, namely the innovative polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) material. This material is confidently taking over the plumbing fittings industry, although it has long been used in many industries: aviation, automotive, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, medicine, etc.

Innovative advantages

What is the difference between PPSU plastic and can you rely on it?

This plastic is used in many critical areas. This is due to many factors of endurance, namely: resistance to high temperatures and loads, aggressive environments, as well as UV rays. All of these are just general characteristics, so let's move on to the real numbers and facts in comparison with the usual materials used in the production of fittings.

Fig. 2. High mechanical properties of the material PPSU Solvay Radel R5100.

FADO uses PPSU fittings made from high-quality raw material Solvay Radel R5100. This material offers exceptional mechanical properties, see Fig. 2. For example, the modulus of elasticity of PPSU material is 2340 mPa, while for the usual PPR it is only 1000 mPa.

The Poisson's ratio (ν) for brass is 0.31, and PPSU is 0.42, which indicates a more optimal structure. Also, PPSU material can stretch 10% more than PPR before breaking, and despite being a plastic, it has the same tensile strength as brass. All of this indicates the high reliability of the material, and as a result, the system as a whole.

It is also necessary to take into account one of the most important properties of the PPSU material - the absence of any reactions in contact with water or other substances flowing in utility pipelines. One of the disadvantages of brass fittings is the leaching of zinc, which, combined with poor-quality water, can significantly reduce the life of non-ferrous metal fittings. That is why there is a growing trend in the world of pipe systems to switch from brass to plastic fittings. Therefore, FADO follows the global trends and implements the best solutions.

Fig. 3. Connection profile of the series fittings FADO Fast Line

Unconditional reliability

How does it work and what makes the connections to the PPSU airtight?

The finished connection consists of a fitting, a pipe and a ring. If we consider the mounted connection, see Fig. 3, firstly, the image shows that the pipe has taken the shape of a fitting lock, this factor increases the contact area of the pipe with the fitting, which in turn contributes to the resistance to fluid penetration between the gaps.

Secondly, it can be seen that the outer diameter of the pipe and ring as a whole has increased (by approximately 16%). Since the pipe and ring are made of polyethylene, which tends to return to its original state, this also helps to seal the pipe and compress the gaps between the pipe and fitting. All these factors work together to make this type of connection very strong and have all the prerequisites to ensure a reliable, leak-proof connection. On the FADO website, you can watch a video of the FADO Fast Line leakage test.

The most attentive may have noticed that the FADO Fast Line range also includes brass fittings. This is mainly due to the fact that we want to ensure that we have fittings with threaded connections in our product range in response to customer requests (which were the subject of a special survey). In the FADO Fast Line system, all threaded fittings are made of brass, see Fig. 1. This was the wish of our customers to reduce the risks of installing threaded connections, but in the future it is possible that the FADO range will also include threaded fittings made of PPSU.

Sealed connection in three steps

What are the features of installation and use of this system?

One of the most important factors when choosing fitting systems is the speed and ease of installation. With no sealing materials required and the use of only one tool, the FADO Fast Line system will always be ahead of the pack in terms of speed and ease of installation.

Only three steps separate the installer from the mounted connection, see Fig. 4:

1. Push the ring onto the pipe until it stops.
2. Use a special tool to expand the pipe.
3. Quickly install the stretched pipe with the ring on the fitting until it stops.

Fig. 4. The sequence of actions when connecting fittings of the series FADO Fast Line

It is important to understand that these connections work due to the physical properties of plastic, namely tensile elasticity. As you know from the school physics curriculum, as the temperature decreases, molecular bonds become weaker and lose their ability to stretch or otherwise deform. Therefore, installation at low temperatures must be carried out with preheating of fittings and pipes. It is also necessary to be careful and follow the general rules of installation, especially to avoid installing connections under tension or in places of installation that are prone to deformation.

The reliability of the FADO Fast Line system is evidenced by the fact that developers are already actively using it for the installation of water supply and heating systems. For example, the FADO Fast Line system was installed in the Berezhansky residential complex, Dniprovska Mriya residential complex (Kyiv, Galzhytlobud), Nova Evropa residential complex (Odesa, Planeta Development) and others.

FADO Fast Line is the best solution for water supply and heating systems in residential buildings and cottages. Fast, reliable, innovative, tested by professionals.