16mm pipe

[Heretic]

Hi experts

Plumbers have installed underfloor heating and left plastic tails for connecting up shower, basin, toilet etc. This all seems to be 16mm so does this mean adapters to fit all the 15mm appliances?

Many thanks

 

[John D v2.0]

Doubt it's 16, are you sure? Check the outside diameter, should be 15mm. Not sure where you'd even get 16mm from. Presumably it's plastic pipe, speedfit or similar?

 

[Doggit]

Slip a copper olive over it to check it's width, but what make is the pipe, as it may well have it's own fittings to connect to things. But why have you mentioned the UFH, as this would connect to the manifold. Did they do all of the plumbing, and are they coming back to finish it off.

 

[Heretic]

No it's definitely 16mm - it has a metal layer sandwiched between plastic. Cut a piece off and although it takes an insert it doesn't fit in Hep2o or flowplast pushfit. It also doesn't fit in 15mm inlets for shower and presumably any other 15mm compression fittings. Looks vey slightly bigger in diameter next to my other 15mm pipe.

 

[Heretic]

They did all of the plumbing and are fitting an air source heat pump. All of the pipes are under the screed including hot and cold supply. They are commissioning the heating system but have left us the tails to connect up to appliances at some future date as and when we can afford to fit out bathrooms etc - this is a renovation project.

 

[Doggit]

Then unless you can see a label on the pipe somewhere, you need to give them a call. They'll tell you what they used, and where to get the bits from.

 

[JimCrow]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brass-compression-fitting-15mm-x-16mm-reducer-coupler-/322450428855

 

[Heretic]

Thanks JC - seems weird to have to reduce everything. My big problem then is that I was relying on a pushfit elbow to bring pipes from behind my tiled wall in the shower as I don't fancy compression where I can never get to it. Really need a reducing pushfit elbow.

Have an offcut of this 16mm pipe and it seems a lot more pliable than normal barrier pipe and stays where you bend it - so I probably could bend it 90 degrees without using a joint but of course it doesn't fit in the shower inlets!

It is marked Teknglogian Institut 16mm x 2mm 70 degrees C / 10 bar plus lots of other German spec. As you say will have to quiz the plumbers on this.

 

[SandyLyon]

16mm pipe is fairly common on UFH installs but causes the problems that you are experiencing now and further down the line if you need to make additions to the system.
A lot of MLP systems are designed to be used with “crimp” / “press fit” fittings, your plumber may be able to get the correct adapters for you.
At a guess I would say that he had a load of 16mm left over and thought he’d offload it on you along with the problems. Everything in the house will have 15mm / 22mm (1/2’ / 3/4” BSP) connections.

 

[muggles]

You need some of these, and one of these to prepare the pipe

 

[Heretic]

Thanks for all the info Muggles and SL - this plumbing firm are specialist ufh installers and have said they will come and attach the required elbow reducers for us. They only ever work in 16mm pipe. They will also make sure all the tails are crimped to 15mm, thank goodness. As you rightly point out they are crimped and you need a crimp gun apparently. Vorsprung durch technick .....

 

[SandyLyon]

All of the pipes are under the screed including hot and cold supply.

If they are UFH specialists hopefully they should have isolated / insulated the Mains Cold Water as the screed is designed to heat up like a large storage heater, I know quite a few people who have “warm” cold water.
Not only unpleasant to drink but can pose health issues.