Secured heat distribution: The Alpine gentian is in full bloom – in Berlin
The earth is getting warmer. The effects of this are many and diverse. One is the extinction of plant species. Specifically the flora in the Alpine regions at an altitude of 2,000 to 3,000 metres is threatened. The botanical garden in Berlin, Germany, has dedicated two new greenhouses with a total floor space of 6,000 m² to preserving precisely this biodiversity. They don't provide visitors with an opportunity to marvel at the unique Alpine flora, but enable botanists to grow and preserve these rare species.
A prerequisite for this is uniform heat distribution in the enormous glass buildings – i.e. a "natural" greenhouse climate of at least 6°C in Berlin instead of the fluctuating hothouse climate of the mountains. The technology behind the heating network is safeguarded by the piping system Megapress. It connects thick-walled heating pipes as of 0.5" in size using press technology.
Short installation time, long lifetime
The estimated building costs of more than one million euros for "just two empty greenhouses" is evidence enough that this project comprises much more technology than can be seen through the windows. Moreover, these constructions have been designed to guarantee a particularly long operating life: The old greenhouses which had to make way for the new ones were built back in the 1960s. These new builds are to provide a home to flora for at least the same period of time.
The exposed heating pipes and connectors therefore have to be equally reliable and safe. For this reason, such pipes are typically welded from steel. But the piping system Megapress offers at least the same longevity. Its press technology connectors are made from the material 1.0308 (St 37) and have a zinc-nickel coating. They also come with a long-lasting profile sealing element made of EPDM.
The major economic advantage of press connectors compared to welded connectors is that pressing takes just seconds whilst welding requires several minutes. Given that there are around 300 pipe connections in the greenhouses, this equates to significant cost savings.
