How should shelf style shower valve be supported?

mrs_frostee · Friday at 11:40 PM

We have recently purchased a Vitra Charm 360 shower valve to install on a new stud wall in a bathroom. This is a deep exposed valve with a glass shelf on top of the valve for shampoo bottles etc. However, it does not have a separate mounting plate/bracket or any screw holes or brackets on the back of the valve. Without any of these, there is no way to attach the valve to the wall, so the only thing keeping it on the wall will be the copper pipes and all the weight of the valve (and any shampoo bottles etc that are stood on it) is on the copper pipes. We have seen fast-fix plates for bar-style valves, but these do not appear to be substantial enough for this type valve. The instructions just show the offset connectors embedded in the wall. Does anyone know how we can install it safely and securely?

JohnD · 2026-03-07T00:30:34+0000

Some photos would help.

denso13 · 2026-03-07T07:41:57+0000

https://www.screwfix.com/p/highlife-bathrooms-in-wall-shower-fixing-plate-chrome/546TJ

dilalio · 2026-03-07T07:46:25+0000

If you're not re-tiling and just replacing a bar shower with this, then you have to rely on the copper pipes... Are they in a solid wall or a stud wall?

If using the shower pl8 then you'll need to remove tiles fix the plate and tile back over the top.

mrs_frostee · 2026-03-07T14:20:04+0000

Thanks for the responses. It’s a new stud wall that we are currently constructing. We have looked at the plates like the ones sold in Screwfix, but they just don’t appear to be substantial enough - it’s very heavy and deep. The plate would also have to be positioned within the wall at exactly the right depth (to the mm), otherwise the valve won’t fit or it will sag and put further strain on the pipes. Photos of the instructions, the valve without the glass top on and one of the offset connectors.

denso13 · 2026-03-07T14:28:22+0000

mrs_frostee said:
We have looked at the plates like the ones sold in Screwfix, but they just don’t appear to be substantial enough - it’s very heavy and deep.

Decent screws into a solid piece of stud and it'll never move. Much better than those dogleg things.

mrs_frostee · 2026-03-07T14:56:46+0000

We’ve looked at the instructions for that plate and, whilst the plate itself can be secured firmly within the wall with some decent screws, the weight of the valve is still on the copper pipes. When you assemble that plate, there are two nuts that have smooth sides back-to-back, so there is nothing joining them to each other than the copper pipe going through them. I haven’t weighed the valve, but my dad (a retired plumber) said it feels about 4 - 5 times heavier than a standard bar valve!

denso13 · 2026-03-07T15:39:54+0000

mrs_frostee said:
We’ve looked at the instructions for that plate and, whilst the plate itself can be secured firmly within the wall with some decent screws, the weight of the valve is still on the copper pipes. When you assemble that plate, there are two nuts that have smooth sides back-to-back, so there is nothing joining them to each other than the copper pipe going through them.

I know I've fitted loads and that is what they designed to do. It isn't an issue.

The pipes are actually fixed withing fittings which are fixed to the plate. They aren't taking the weight at all.

dilalio · 2026-03-07T20:16:38+0000

denso13 said:
I know I've fitted loads and that is what they designed to do. It isn't an issue.

The pipes are actually fixed withing fittings which are fixed to the plate. They aren't taking the weight at all.

+1

Have fitted hundreds and this situation is exactly why the shower PL8 was invented...

Or you could always re-invent the wheel if you so wish!

If you have a plumbing conundrum and are fortunate enough to have the ear of several plumbers, who have been there, done that... Then you either listen or you don't x

dilalio · 2026-03-07T20:17:54+0000

mrs_frostee said:
We’ve looked at the instructions for that plate and, whilst the plate itself can be secured firmly within the wall with some decent screws, the weight of the valve is still on the copper pipes. When you assemble that plate, there are two nuts that have smooth sides back-to-back, so there is nothing joining them to each other than the copper pipe going through them. I haven’t weighed the valve, but my dad (a retired plumber) said it feels about 4 - 5 times heavier than a standard bar valve!

Try bending 30mm of 15mm copper pipe.

dilalio · 2026-03-07T20:28:01+0000

denso13 said:
Much better than those dogleg things.

Get rid of them poxy zig-zags they aren't worth the machining that made them!

mrs_frostee · 2026-03-07T21:16:48+0000

Thanks for all the advice everyone. We’ll go with the plate.

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How should shelf style shower valve be supported?

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