PVC, CPVC e PEX: estudo comparativo orçamentário entre sistemas hidráulicos prediais

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the total implementation cost of plumbing systems in a residential building, using the traditional combination of PVC (cold water) and CPVC (hot water) versus the Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) system. The methodology involved the sizing of the two plumbing designs, the quantity surveying via BIM software, and the elaboration of detailed budgets, considering materials and labor, based on the SINAPI tables. The results revealed that the PEX system was approximately 14% more economical than the PVC and CPVC system. This difference in total cost was driven primarily by the savings in labor, which was 40% lower for PEX. The greater productivity of PEX, which demands an installation time per meter of piping up to three times lower than PVC, and the 42% reduction in the number of connections due to its flexibility, were the decisive factors for the better cost-benefit ratio. The study concludes that, despite the initial cost of PEX material being slightly higher, the significant savings in time and labor make it a superior alternative in the market for building installations, offering a more favorable return on investment.