Orange mystery water pipes

I volunteer for a non-profit in Fort Worth, TX. We have been without water in the warehouse for over a year because the water pipes froze last winter and now they leak. I have decided to try to repair this line, but it is not copper. It is an orange colored, sort of plastic water line. Pex perhaps? But it looks thicker than the usual Pex I have seen in new construction. We have about 65 linear feet of this type of pipe all exposed so it will be easy to access. Is patching Okay or should I replace the entire length? I have been told I can get by with a fitting called "Shark Bite". This would not require tools. I find that difficult to believe. But I would prefer not to purchase Pex tools for only one repair job.

Is Pex really the best for a non-heated building? Is there something better suited freezing temps?

Also, I have been advised to use heat tape to protect future water lines from freeze damage. But before I spring for all of this I would like some advice on this subject.

Is it CPVC meant for use in sprinkler systems, it will say what it is on the side of the pipe...?

Obviously, I am no plumber just a volunteer trying to help out the Red Cross.
No, it is does not appear to be CPVC. This material can coil up like Pex but in very large loops. It appears different than the Pex I have seen in that it has thicker walls. I will unwrap more of the insulation to see if I can find any writing on the pipe. Thanks.

It should be CPVC, because that is the only "orange" plastic pipe I have seen.

Could it be this HDPE pipe? I've used the stuff for natural gas......

http://www.alibaba.com/product-tp/113703762/Orange_PLB_HDPE_Pipe.html

I will unwrap the insulation to try to gain better information. Thanks.

While pex is likely to be able to stand the expanding pressure from freezing, neither the fittings to it nor any fixtures that might have water in them likely won't.

jadnashua said:

While pex is likely to be able to stand the expanding pressure from freezing, neither the fittings to it nor any fixtures that might have water in them likely won't.

Click to expand...

Pex is freeze burst resistant but its not good for the pipe. The thing with pex and the fittings with freezing is you must have enough pipe between the fittings to allow for expansion of the tube. If the fittings are too close together the fitting or the pipe or both will be damaged.

If the O.P. has Cpvc and it has freeze damage its likely all of it will need to be replaced. The times I have found pvc or cpvc that had freeze damage it was extensive.