New build micro bore

[natwill]

Hi,

Got the contract for the heating systems in 2 new builds. The builder wants to install the plastic micro bore system where the pipes come out from behind the rad.
Having never really worked with this system, I was wondering if there was any design guide or help with installing it.
The problem i'm having is knowing where to run the pipes, i.e down the middle of the wall/rad position? What about rads under windows? Can't find anything on building regs. Also, how do you bring the pipes up and out on the first floor without the risk of kinking them when you bend them back down to the rad valves.

Cheers

 

[ecowarm]

New built spec;...................................................................................................................................................... THROW IT IN AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE

 

[plumber0808]

The last one I done I fitted 2 gang boxes, fed hep into the boxes, elbows inside the boxes. Bit of pipe sticking out, cap and test. After its been plastered pull the capped pipes out fit new f&R from elbows behind rads in copper.
also used the chrome 15-10mm elbows out of the trvs for a neat finish

 

[plumber0808]

Also fitted 2 gang blanking plates with the holes cut out to seal off the boxes.
its a bit of a palava but looked neat

 

[AWheating]

what you need to do is get silver foil tape, stick it to wall down the center of the rad, nail clip the 10mm pipes ontop of the silver foil tape to a electrical 1 gang box or a radiator face plate. like below. if the rad is under the window then drop down either one or both sides and run under sil and then down to center of rad to box.

the silver foil is for detection.

if you checkout polypipes website you can download an installation guide for there plastic pipework systems (POLYPLUMB,POLYFIT)

as a start :

pay careful attention to clipping distances (normally every 300-400mm),
correct sizing of pipework especially the max heat outputs of the 10mm plastic,
only run 10mm a max length of 10m (5m flow + 5 m return),
pressure test the pipework using a test pump to the manufacturers guidlines (normally from 10 to 18 bar),
only drill joists in the correct drill zones if standard joists, engineer joists must be drilled to the joist manufacturers instructions,
lagg all hot and cold pipework,
any platic pipework in stud walls will need lagging and silver tape over the top,
use 600mm of copper for tails to fixtures,
keep plastic 2-3m away from boiler and cylinder

etc.....

 

[Ryan Jones]

All the above are amteurish. I'm glad I dont do site work as I'd be ashamed of piping up radiators this way. See it in so many houses and it looks awful!

 

[AWheating]

All the above are amteurish. I'm glad I dont do site work as I'd be ashamed of piping up radiators this way. See it in so many houses and it looks awful!

may be so but its the standard way of doing it on new builds,you may not do it this way in your own house but thats what the builders want to pay for.

its pointless being ashamed and homeless.

 

[plumber0808]

Sign of the times. There not built like they used to be. Minimal everything on show.
no floors are disturbed leaving you little choice with what and how you run pipes.
if you started sawing and lifting boards up on a new build the builder will waste no time in kicking you off

 

[lame plumber]

yuk yuk yuk, soooo glad I dont have to do site work, just wish they would open some more sites up to get all those who fell off the sites back into work, so I can stop having to follow behind some of their attempted boiler repairs, not their fault but each to their own.

 

[Crinkmeister]

Do all new builds use plastic now? I suppose it's a lot cheaper and less likely to get half-inched, but as I'm of the age where I still remember 405 line black and white telly, I prefer good old copper.

 

[AWheating]

the price difference is not alot really, the bigest cost saving is on the installation time. Labour is the biggest place to save money normally.

 

[Howsie]

I think it looks tidy when done right. Generally can't see any pipes to the rad.

 

[erj]

do a lot like this no problem see very littel pipe work, when the pipe come out the wall up over just make a big loop back down to the valve, then the customer can lift the rad off to decacrate.

 

[Crinkmeister]

You can lift off without disconnecting?

 

[kirkgas]

Ryan get your head out your erse, these days guys have to do what the customer wants and will pay for, and its no reflection on the guys doing the work, as someone else says, who wants NO work, it's just a way to do it, I'm glad to hear that at least you are doing everything perfectly and are the saviour of plumbing while e rest of them are not worthy of your vast ( do tell how long you have been a master plumber) experience