Highlights

• The Coastal Living Magazine Idea Cottage in Scarborough, Maine, opened in July 2008, showcasing the latest in innovative building materials and technologies.
• Homebuilder John Wiggin installed Uponor’s PEX-based radiant floor heating, plumbing and fire safety systems throughout the 3,550-square-foot concept house.
• The multipurpose plumbing and fire safety systems feature Uponor’s durable AQUAPEX tubing, while the radiant system features Uponor’s Quik Trak®, Joist Trak™, Climate Cŏntrol™ Multifunction and proPANEL® products.

Background

For homebuilder John Wiggin, one of the attractions of building a concept house is the opportunity to use innovative materials, products and systems that can add substantial value to the homes he builds.

“This home was designed and constructed to present the latest and greatest in materials and technologies,” says Wiggin. “We also emphasized products that are highly durable and maintenance-free.”

Echoing these values in the home’s interior are Uponor’s radiant floor heating, plumbing and fire safety systems. “Copper supply piping is seldom used in this area anymore,” explains Wiggin. “PEX is a lot easier to handle on the jobsite and quicker to install.”

Wiggin noted that the fire safety system, featuring 40 concealed sprinkler heads, proved an excellent fit for the three-story home as well.

“The sprinkler system gives residents more time to exit the home in the event of a fire,” he says.

Dave Holdorf, Uponor regional field technician, designed the radiant floor heating system which is segmented into 11 different comfort zones, almost one per room, minimizing energy waste — and fuel costs — in unoccupied spaces.

“A traditional heating system in a home of this size would need to be 30% larger,” says Holdorf. “That fact along with the zoning capability will save the homeowner a significant amount of energy over time.”

As for the multipurpose plumbing and fire sprinkler system, Wiggin sees a number of opportunities locally, where the need is increasing.

“We just started a condominium development that requires sprinklers,” he says. “The Maine Idea Cottage was an excellent opportunity to better familiarize my firm with this technology. I will definitely use it on the new condo building — that’s automatic.”

 Related Documents

• Climate Cŏntrol™ Multifunction Controller FAQ
• proPANEL® Series FAQs
• Quik Trak® Cut Sheet
• Three Decades of PEX