OT Pushfit Taptails

[alang]

Indeed. Bosswhite has been used for years on plumbing joints.

[alang]

Must be something brought in recently then. All the ones I fitted had copper mating surfaces and needed a sealing compound.

[alang]

I've used it for over 30 years. It doesn't need approval

[A.Lee]

Yes, has as lead solder, but both are now banned for drinking water.

There are lots of 'boss white' potable equivalents. Generally not used by the trade for normal joints, but can be helpful if you are not sure what you are doing, and either tighten too much, or not enough.

Alan.

[Ret.]

When I recently stripped out my old bathroom, removed the airing-cupboard and installed a walk-in shower as part of the complete 'make-over' I used plastic piping and push-fit fittings exclusively. Made the job far far easier than past jobs involving cutting and shaping copper piping and soldering. Brilliant innovation.

[alang]

Where does it say that they are banned for DIY use?

[The Medway Handyman]

I've fitted a lot in the past 6 years & they all had O rings.

[alang]

I haven't fitted any since 1990. Last time I installed a new kitchen in our house.

This sort of thing

[nimbusjunk]

Not least the large shed who sold both speedfit fittings and pipe but did not actually sell the inserts. Stupid or what ! I winged loudly and to their credit they did introduce them soon after Lesson always read the manufacturers instructions I am sure many installs are done without inserts and people then dismiss it as crap because they leak/blow off

HTH Phil

[PeterC]

The equivalents for potable supplies have been around for many years but one thing has always puzzled me: when I first saw the 2 versions (at work, so >21 years ago), the 'descriptions' ('ain't it wonderful' blurb) were identical, so why bother with 2 types when the 'potable' version should do both?

Earlier this year I bought some 'potable' gunk, decided to read the instructions [shame] and found that it has a life of 12 months if unopened! Now there's useful. I've Boss/Hawk White that still works after a couple of decades.

[Roger Mills]

Pretty sure. There is a version which *is* suitable for potable water - and that usually says so explicitly. The stuff cited didn't.

[Andy Burns]

[Roger Mills]

I fear that you are not capable of determining which advice *is* sensible.

Boss White has indeed been used for many years - just as asbestos has been used in building applications. Jointing compounds used on potable water supplies these days need to be WRAS approved for the purpose.

[Maria]

I've gone and swapped them for compression type now - the pipes are so close together there is no way I can get a clean cut and I can't get a pipe-cutter round them. Should I use PTFE do you think? I've read forums and some seem to think it prevents the olive from seating properly, while others swear by it. I'm having to take off the entire worktop to do it now (as the screw slips holding the steel sink down are behind part of the sink unit, so I'm getting a bit short of time and don't want to have to do it again! Life is so much easier with a bit of solder isn't it? I'm going on a DIY plumbing course in Jan - no more faffing about!

[joe]

They are not designed to work with ptfe. In fact, the tape will make any leakage worse. Clean the pipe with scourer, it is the most important part.

[joe]

You're not supposed to use non potable gear, on drinking water joints. As for industrial processes, we have been using lead free solder for years.

[joe]

In many cases, the ingredients are exactly the same. The ones for potable (WRAS approved) are more expensive because the certification has been awarded for it. A very expensive investigation and technical file. A really good money maker.(for the certification board)

[joe]

[joe]

It is advisory, but not illegal. You could also use lead solder as well, I will not, but hey, it is up to you how deep you go. At work, we have an obligation to use wras approved bits and pieces, to allow us to call the full assembly "wras approved".

[Maria]

Ok thanks.