Modern metallic plumbing systems show their mettle

Press-fit
Press-fit fittings and system tube from the XPress Carbon range of Yorkshire Fittings were installed as part of a refurbishment programme at Newcastle Civic Centre.
DAVID HEARNE discusses the benefits of modern metal plumbing systems.Metal plumbing systems have undergone huge developments over the last decade, and the market has adopted numerous new jointing methods to rival the traditional screwed steel or soldering. Many of these new methods extend across all aspects of the typical modern building-services system, including pipes, fittings and valves. Developments Two such developments in the metal pipe systems market are press-fit and push-fit technologies. Both are heat-free jointing methods, demonstrating an increasing popularity that has seen manufacturers expand their product ranges to meet increasing customer demand. Versatility has been the key to their development, with ranges from manufacturers such as Yorkshire Fittings offering selected cross-compatibility. Push-fit fittings have been around for 20 years. As easy to put together as their name suggests, joints are assembled in seconds by simply pushing the appropriate tube and fitting together. Push-fit is widely seen as having a number of advantages over other jointing techniques. No solvents, adhesives or tools are needed, fittings are clean to use, and the resultant joint provides a clean installation. Many push-fit fittings can also be taken apart and reused. Although often seen as being a ‘plastics’ product, push-fit fittings are also available in a range of metals. Yorkshire Fittings’ Tectite range will shortly be celebrating its tenth anniversary and offers copper, copper alloy and stainless steel fittings in sizes up to 54 mm. Fittings join either PEX or polybutylene pipe (in sizes up to 28 mm), copper tube and stainless-steel tube. With working pressures/temperature ratings of up to 10 bar at 114°C, these fittings have proved popular as first- and second-fix products on mechanical-services contracts. Newer technology Press-fit fittings are a newer technology to the UK, having previously had a presence in Europe. These fittings are compressed onto the appropriate tube using a press-fit tool for a clean completed joint, again without the need for solvents or adhesives. Their advantage over push-fit is the increased size range, typically up to 108 mm. They are often used as a first-fix choice, and mechanical services contractors who have invested in the 110 V or battery-operated press-fit tools have benefited from the significant savings in installed cost and simplicity of the jointing technique. The success of press-fittings in the UK has resulted in the availability of copper (for potable water and gas services), carbon steel (for heating and chilled water) and stainless steel (for potable water where hygiene is crucial). Yorkshire Fittings’ own XPress press-fit fittings and system tubes offer electrical continuity and working temperatures of up to 16 bar at 110°C. Both push-fit and press-fit plumbing systems can be found on mechanical services contracts throughout the country. Increasingly, specifiers are showing a preference for the sole-supplier approach, where tube, fittings and valves from a single manufacturer are specified as a package for a particular project. For example, a commercial heating and chilled-water system could include carbon-steel press-fit fittings and tube, commissioning valves, butterfly valves for isolating the system, and strainers. Alternatively, a commercial heat-free water-supply system could include press-fit copper tubes and copper or copper-alloy fittings for first fix and push-fit for second fix, coupled with quarter-turn ball valves and thermostatic mixing valves. A sole-supplier approach offers specifiers and installers one point of contact for their project, and can provide extended guarantee periods for selected compatible products. In the domestic sector, press-fit and push-fit technologies can both be used in applications such as unvented heating systems. This type of system is ideal for large domestic properties with two or more bathrooms and works by utilising mains cold-water pressure to the cylinder, resulting in an equal pressure at the hot outlet. Such systems can use push-fit fittings and quarter-turn ball valves for the main pipework system, press-fit fittings for gas services to connect to the boiler, and push-fit radiator valves to control room temperature levels. Talking about such a system, Alan Scoffield of Alan D. Scoffield Heating Engineers says, ‘The visual appearance of Tectite [push-fit fittings] is what sold it to me — it looks quality. Being heat-free, it’s a nice clean installation. We’d never use plastic where an installation is on show.’
Neat in appearance and quick to install using Tectite push-fit fittings is this working unvented heating system in the showroom of Alan. D Scoffield Heating Engineers.
Huge savings Both push-fit and press-fit systems offer huge savings in installed cost. Our own research indicates that both ends of a 22 mm metal push-fit fitting can be jointed in 36 s, with 76 s for press-fit. Although such fittings initially appear more expensive than their traditional counterparts, these jointing times clearly demonstrate the benefits of heat-free, particularly in sizes of 54 mm and above, and are backed up by independent BSRIA figures. These statistics are illustrated by the recent replacement of a heating and chilled-water system in a stately home in Cumbria by contractor ABT Mechanical Services. An original 4-week planned contract period — based on ABT’s experience of using screwed steel fittings and tube — was completed in 10 days using carbon-steel press-fit fittings and system tube, the majority being 89 mm diameter. Andy Beatty, owner of ABT, commented, ‘The saving on labour was amazing. It was extremely quick, and I was very impressed with the finish of the tube and fittings.’ Future We are confident in the future success of heat-free technologies and are continuing to invest in the development of products to increase choice and versatility. David Hearne is market sector manager with Yorkshire Fittings Ltd, PO Box 166, Leeds LS10 1NA.
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