Kingspan Varisol, Installation Manual

Varisol Installation Manual

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Connection Information

In any solar panel system, the ‘return’ refers to the intake in the collector where liquid 
is returning to be reheated. The ‘flow’ refers to the collector side where the liquid is 
flowing to the heat exchanger.

Note: It is essential that the collector temperature sensor is located in the flow
of the collector.

The following illustrations shows the connections to the manifold.

Types of Connections

The only pipes which should be used with a solar installation are copper pipe, continuous 
flexible stainless steel or mild steel.

When using copper pipe, only compression or brazed joints can be used. Solder and 
galvanised fittings will not withstand high temperature or expansion and are therefore not 
suitable for solar pipe work.

PEX / PLASTIC / PEX-ALU-PEX or GALVANISED TUBING OR FITTINGS

SHOULD 

NOT BE USED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES 

Flexible Pipe Connections

Flexible pipe connections are recommended to connect the manifold through the building 
fabric and allow flexibility in connecting to the internal pipe work.

Flexible stainless steel pipes are available in both a 15mm and 22mm diameter. If 
connecting one diameter pipe to another, a suitable reducer compression fitting is 
recommended to make the connection.  

Insulation

All pipe work on the solar loop should be insulated with high temperature insulation (such 
as HT/Armaflex from Armacell GmbH). High temperature insulation is essential as standard 
pipe insulation will melt at temperatures experienced by solar pipes.

The wall thickness of the insulation should be equal to the diameter of the pipe. The only 
pipes which should not be insulated are the pipes to the safety vessels as they should 
allow heat to dissipate when the system is experiencing excessive heat and pressure.