Vertical wall drops and the risk of wall cracking.

[plb]

Due to solid concrete floors I am having to chase out a couple of 22mm flow return vertical drops. Is there any risk of the wall cracking after plastering due to pipes expanding/contracting and if so what is the best way to avoid this happening.

 

[GQuigley67]

put them in a sleeve of some sort so they can expand and contract

 

[plb]

Thanks for the prompt reply.
I was thinking on those lines and wondered if it was acceptable to create a sort of void behind the plaster surface to enable the pipes to move slightly. Basically, chase out the wall fit pipe work then cover over pipes with a layer of duct tape then plaster over.

 

[plb]

Also, expanding on the subject a little.
Has anyone experienced pipe damage by not providing any provision for expansion when say laying in a concrete floor or wall or is it only the wall/floor surface that will be effected.
How important is it to provide for pipe expansion.

 

[stevetheplumber]

pipe exspansion is dependent on the length of the pipe work but not normally a problem in domestic properties personally i prefer plasic pipe in conduit nowdays you can buy poly already in sleeving

 

[SimonG]

Walls or floors, if it's not sleeved make sure the pipe, if copper, is wrapped to prevent the concrete attacking it.