Plastic Pipes in central heating

[Zetor]

Hi, I just had a new combi boiler fitted by 2 extremley efficient gas fitters, they did a really good tidy job, on talking to them about the use of plastic pipes I ask why they still use copper, they said that they still use copper for the central heating pipes as it is far better then plastic as they didn't believe plastic was as air tight as a good soldered joint. They had even replaced boilers of only 2 years old which had corroded due to poor installtion and extensive use of plastic pipes. Does anyone know what conditions air could get into a sealed system like me combi? I have one radiator which is plumbed in plastic and now wonder if I should maybe get it piped in copper.

Zetor

[Mark]

I'd say they use copper because they can keep the costs down, your paying for their labour so they wouldn't want to use something that took half the time to fit would they? Or am I just being cynical... ;-)

And if it was as rubbish as some people seem to make out the manufacturers would have been sued out of business surely?

Mark S.

[IMM]

flow/return.

Marley Equator and Speedfit pipe is barrier pipe. The other makers have two types. Non-barrier and barrier. You need the barrier pipe for CH. the none barrier is fine for hot and cold water systems. It is all silly. All pipe should be barrier pipe then there will be no problems.

If you can fit copper then do so, and only fit plastic where it is required. If speed and ease of installtion is the point then use copper with brass push-fit fittings, which now are about the price of plastic fittings.

[John Stumbles]

Well those stetson-wearing folks at the Hepworth ranch say:

particular:

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" " If Hep2O Standard pipe has been installed in accordance with our instructions in a central heating system and one of the recommended inhibitors used there is no technical reason why it should not continue to give good service for many decades.

Some of the British Gas regions only accept Hep2O Barrier Pipe on their service contracts. This is their commercial decision. Of course British Gas no longer hold a monopoly on maintenance schemes for heating systems and there are other insurance backed schemes available from various organisations, which will accept both Standard and Barrier pipe.

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Having worked with both barrier and non-barrier pipe and compared the ease of getting it where I want it -- especially 22mm (or even 28mm) -- I now buy non-barrier pipe (even though it costs more).

They all use 'rubber' (EPDM or some such) 'O'-rings to make the seals, whether they're brass, copper, stainless-steel or plastic on the outside.

-- John Stumbles

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[IMM]

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It is when the inhibitor breaks down, then you get problems.

That is true. But!! Copper pipe does not sag when hot, neither does brass fittings. No barrier problem, no ferrous plastic pipe inserts and it looks better.

[Hepworth Plumbing Products Tea]

As an update to the information posted previously, British Gas have revised their internal policy and now accept Non-Barrier (Standard) pipe as well as Barrier pipe for their service contracts. This change took place earlier this year.

It is now considered by British Gas that central heating systems that include plastics pipe manufactured to the appropriate British Standard (such as Hep2O) do not represent a potential corrosion problem from oxygen ingress where the system water includes an adequate strength of inhibitor. This applies equally to Barrier and Non-Barrier pipes.

At the same time as this change took place, a test for inhibitor strength and a turbidity test to check for debris/corrosion deposits were introduced by British Gas for all systems, including those piped in copper.

Hepworth have always advised that all central heating systems should have inhibitors installed.

The Hepworth Plumbing Products Team

-- Tel: [phone] |Hepworth Plumbing Products Fax: [phone] |Edlington Lane, Edlington Email: [e-mail] |Doncaster, UK

|DN12 1BY

[IMM]

> erver.ntli.net

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If fitting UFH and use plastic pipes without a oxygen barrier use non-ferrous throughout the system, Such as:

- None-ferrous heat exchanger in the boiler

- Plastic pipe with ferrous pipe inserts.

- A brass or bronze pump