Sheathing plastic pipe ?

[RenovatorAlison]

I am renovating an old cemetery keeper's lodge which has not been lived in for many years. I have had installed plastic water pipe with Hep20 fittings. I have just had a heating engineer in to estimate for an LPG combi heating system, and he has told me that the plastic pipe needs to come out as it needs to be sheathed as it goes through the walls. I thought this only applied to copper because of corrosion etc, he also didn't appear to know the regs concerning proximity of open drains etc to LPG bottles. Am I having the wool pulled over my eyes, or is he correct on the sheathing ? It's just that warning bells are ringing, appreciate any advice, thanks !

 

[Terrywookfit]

So you have a RGI qualified to work on LPG, who does not know a simple clearance measurement ??

 

[RenovatorAlison]

He told me that the LPG gas bottle suppliers would advise on storage - however this could potentially cause problems, as the siting of the boiler / flue would then have to be changed if there isn't enough clearance. I was just surprised to be told about sheathing of plastic pipe needing done, "in case something falls on it" which is going through a solid stone wall, which would not be plastered ( ie no expansion worry ) when this work has already been done.

 

[muggles]

It's not up to the suppliers at all, it's a regulation which your installer is responsible for adhering to, as he'll be the one installing the regulator and connecting up the bottles. Was he definitely registered to work on LPG? If he doesn't know something this basic I'd be seriously questioning his competence, and finding someone else to do the work.

As for sleeving pipes, all pipes should be sleeved where they pass through walls no matter what they're made of. Plastic expands and contracts rather a lot as it heats and cools, which means it will be subject to significant abrasion against the rough internal sides of an unsleeved hole, especially if the stone inside the wall moves a bit and starts rubbing the pipes. It could pierce or wear through a plastic pipe over the years, causing a significant leak