Crimped/Pressed fittings

[ziggy1979]

Dear All

I was watching TV recently and saw a US program - This Old House where they were using plastic pipes for all plumbinging installations (heating and domestic hot/cold water).

However, rather than solder/compression, etc. as you get over here in the UK they were using crimping tools to join pipes, T's, elbows, etc. They even had prejoined plastic to chrome-plated copper connections so that you could have a short chrome-copper pipe coming out of the wall and into a radiator - purely for aesthetics.

Does anyone know whether:

1. These products are any good/reliable - especially in the long-term.

2. Can be used for gas installations.

3. Are allowed by building regs etc for use in the UK (for either/or gas, water and central heating).

4. Anynoe who sells these products in the UK.

5. Brands which offer these products and whether any brands are better than others.

Thanks a lot for all your help.

Kind regards

Ziggy

 

[gigz]

Used these a lot on industrial work. If prepared properly (no burrs) and greased they're no bother. Main problem i found was if one joint leaks you have to cut it out (nightmare on 4" tees ). You cant use it on gas. Yorkshire do a domestic version but the outlay for the crimper plus the price of fittings make it expensive.

 

[petetheleak]

Using them at the moment on the new Birmingham city hospital.

there is an o ring inside and you do need a special tool to crimp em. Never had many leaks, Only drawback is once on they dont move 1 mistake and you got to cut back.

Get em in copper and plated steel more for industrial or commercial applications.

 

[Paul Barker]

at least one of the firms doing them into uk market will give you the crimper £600 ish if you comit to using their stuff.

The pipe is a lot better than the plastic you and I are used to. It has a very slippery inner layer and an aluminium layer then white plastic. Every joint is guranteed 12 years if you have done everything to MI's backed by £2 million.

But sizes are Eutropean so you have to use converters for joining our pipe.

Price is more than plastic less than copper.

 

[numpty1]

try here http://www.yorkshirefittings.co.uk/the xpress range can be used on gas up to 54mm not a bad job but ferkin xpensive for one offs

 

[ziggy1979]

Guys thanks for that.

Paul, what companies supply these products in the UK?

Also given what you say about European sizes, do these companies supply the conversion fittings?

The crimpers seem cheaper in the USA - Starting at about $150USD. WOuld they do the job with the pipes and fittings sold here in the UK or do certain crimpers on ly work with certain brands?

Thanks for your help. I was just amazed by how quickly the guy on the tv was usning them - he mentioned a 20 yr guarantee in the US (again only if done properly an so forth - but still)!!!

Overall, does using this system over copper (pipes and fittings) work out much more expensive (without considering the potential time saving)?

 

[doitall]

Uponor Unipipe is the bees knees.

A plastic pipe with an aluminium barrier, in fact exactly what you describe