We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

logo
  • Engineers & Specifiers
  • Contractors & Installers
  • Wholesalers & Distributors
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Subscription
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • PRODUCTS
    • Bath & Kitchen
    • Fire Protection
    • HVAC
    • Hydronics/Radiant
    • Plumbing
    • PVF
    • Tools
  • PROJECTS
    • Commercial
    • Green Building
    • MRO/Retrofit
    • Remodeling
    • Residential
  • HOW TO
    • Design
    • Fire Protection
    • Legal Matters
    • Management
  • BUSINESS
    • Buying Groups
    • Technology
    • Associations
  • CODES & STANDARDS
    • ANSI
    • ASHRAE
    • ASSE
    • Regulations
    • Green Building
    • IAPMO
    • ICC
    • NFPA
  • RESOURCES
    • Media Kit
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Classifieds
    • Digital Editions
    • Behind the Wall
    • Webinars
    • ASPE Live 2022
  • PODCASTS
  • DIGITAL EDITIONS
Home » PPI Announces Major Updates to Design Calculator

PPI Announces Major Updates to Design Calculator

April 19, 2021
No Comments
PPI Announces Major Updates to Design Calculator

The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI) has announced a major update to its Building & Construction Division’s Plastic Pipe Design Calculator. 

The “BCD Calculator” is a free software tool that simplifies and makes it faster to design plastic pressure pipe and tubing systems using  CPVC, HDPE, PEX, PE-RT, PP-R and PP-RCT. Applications integrated in the program include plumbing, water service, fire protection, hydronic piping (liquids), radiant heating & cooling, snow and ice melting, geothermal ground loops, district heating, and turf conditioning.

The changes include an updated appearance, the Pipe/Tubing Selection Menu has been revised to prevent confusion between pipe types, hundreds of new sizes of PEX pipe have been added along with HDPE pipe and tubing plus PP-R and PP-RCT pipes, and also links to BCD material webpages.

The Calculator allows the user to select either IP/US or Metric/SI working units, as well as multiple fluids (e.g., water, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol). Fluid temperatures and mix ratios are chosen by the user. Results can be viewed, printed, or emailed.

According to Lance MacNevin, P. Eng., director of engineering for PPI's Building & Construction Division, “This online tool includes five main functions which can be used to select and size the right type of pipe for various applications. These are pressure/head loss; pipe weight/volume; thermal expansion and contraction; hydraulic shock; and expansion arm/loop design.”

The modifications to the original PPI/BCD Design Calculator were part of a BCD Task Group initiative led by MacNevin.

“Once again, our members stepped up and volunteered their time to support the industry with updates and refinement to an important support tool. Their years of collective expertise were critical to the performance of Version 2.0," he said. "This update contains hundreds of new pipe materials and sizes. During the past several years, we listened to input from users of the original version of the Calculator, and made improvements plus added new features that make it easier to use.

According to PPI President David Fink, “The BCD Calculator is part of a series of online tools that PPI has published as a service to the pipe industry. Other PPI calculators include the HDPEApp, the Conduit Design Calculator, and PACE, and are intended to assist designers with sizing their piping products easily and accurately.”

The BCD Calculator can be found on PPI’s website at https://plasticpipe.org/building-construction/bcd-calculator.html or http://www.plasticpipecalculator.com. Additional information about Building & Construction Division materials and tools can be found online at https://plasticpipe.org/building-construction/index.html.

Associations Contractors & Installers Design Engineers & Specifiers HVAC Industry Community News Plumbing PVF
  • Related Articles

    PPI Announces Major Update to Design Calculator

    PPI Announces New Stormwater Drainage Handbook

    USGBC Announces Updates to LEED v4 to Better Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular

  • Stories From the Mechanical Room Podcast: The Math Never Lies ft. Taco Comfort Solutions' John Barba

  • Newly Released Scorecard Ranks States for Water Efficiency and Sustainability Policies

  • What Recent Storms Show About the State of California’s Plumbing

  • Winsupply President John McKenzie Retiring

Featured Video

Flow aide

JC Whitlam Flow Aide Biodegradable System Descaler Kit

Industry Events

  • 31Jan

    KBIS 2023

    Las Vegas, NV
  • 31Jan

    IBS 2023

    Las Vegas, NV
  • 02Feb

    LPG Expo 2023

    Orlando, FL
More Events

Subscribe to our newsletters & stay updated

Subscribe & Learn More

  • Tw01 2023 cover
    Learn More
  • Pe01 2023 cover
    Learn More
  • Phc01 2023 cover
    Learn More
  • Es 2022
    Learn More
Subscribe

More from PHCP Pros

  • Editorial Team
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise

Follow Us

© 2023 All Rights Reserved

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development | ePublishing