The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS), which is affiliated with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Energy (MOCIE), announced on Sept. 30, 2004 that the heating pipe made of new plastic materials developed by SK Corporation was adopted as a global standard (preliminary) by the International Standards Organization (ISO).

PE-RT is the polyethylene material whose durability and resistance against heat and pressure is dramatically improved to be used as heating pipes. With at least 50 years of durability equivalent to the building’s life span, it is regarded as the next generation heating pipe material.

The MOCIE says that the global heating pipe material market amounts to 0.5 billion dollars a year, and because of excellent properties, PE-RT is expected to replace the existing metal and common-purpose plastic materials, stimulating demand.

The MOCIE predicts that once adopted as an international standard, it is possible to dominate the Chinese and Japanese market ahead of competitors where the demand is soaring. It also forecasts that the material is expected to be exported to the European and American markets as well, and could generate the export worth 50 million dollars per year after being designated as an international standard.

In the days to come, the KATS will actively work with SK Corp. to conclude the material’s international standardization as soon as possible.