flexible Coper Pipe In Gas insatallation

[Mo Thanku]

Hi All,

In B&Q I noticed they do, these short flexible Coper pipe sticks, which can bend very easily.

Can they be used for gas pipe run too?

Best regards Mo

[IMM]

If they are the corrugated solid copper ones, yes.

[Jonathan Pearson]

IMM, I think you answered a similar question the other day, but could these be used in the connection of a fixed gas hob?

Jon

[IMM]

Yes. They are not 100% soft flexible as neoprene covered cooker hose is. They are flexible on installation and then left alone and remain rigid. In fact they are semi rigid rather than flexible.

[tarquinlinbin]

Indeed this stuff is available now in larger sizes on drums and is sometimes used for running house carcassing in new installations. Not widespread but gaining in popularity,obviously becuase it takes less time to install.

joe

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Wonder how this sits with IMM's assertion that plastic is used on new builds to avoid the pikeys nicking the copper?

[Lee]

Doesn't this stuff mess up the flow calculations though, or doesn't it make much difference in practice?

Lee

[Mo Thanku]

Many Thanks for all the feedback. Will they also be ok for soldering? I think in notes of the fitting it mention compresion fitting but nothing about soldering. Thanks once again

[Ian Stirling]

It does a bit. Call the diameter 10% under the minimum inside diameter, and it'll be quite close.

[Ed Sirett]

I'm not sure whether they are permitted or not. If they conform to BS 864 then they probably are. Note that a 10% under in diameter will make at least a +50% increase in the equivalent normal straight length of proper pipe.

[Ian Stirling]

My only concern with them would be if they were fixed in such a manner that made it possible to flex them repeatedly. As of course, they will fail eventually (soon) if used like that.

[IMM]

I have used them in the past. They are bendable, as is soft copper, not flexible.

[IMM]

In what situation?

[Ian Stirling]

I dunno. I was just confirming that corrugated copper pipe, though flexible enough for easy installation, and perfectly gas-tight, is not designed for repeated flexing, as it will fail.

[IMM]

It is not flexible, only bendable. Once bent it is meant to stay there.

[IMM]

I have soldered them up in the past. They tend to be brazed, if so then solder. If soldered, then use compression.