Supporting pipes under floorboards + insulation

[kasser]

Hi,
How do I support with clips pipes run under a floating timber ground floor? The joists are too small to notch or drill into and in any case, there's plenty of space underneath. Where do you place the pipe clips if running perpendicular to the joists?
And if plastic pipes, this means lots of clips, every 300 mm for Speedfit! Lots of floorboards going up?
I've never had to do this yet.
Now I've got a job fitting central heating in a bungalow. Pipes could go under the wooden ground floor or over in the loft. Which route would you take? What insulation would you use? Finally, how do you fit the insulation snugly around with plastic pipe clips in the way?

 

[Brambles]

Attic and down for me, but I can see the benefits of going under the floor too. Being old, if I was going under the floor, I would pipe in copper - safer from a leaking perspective, longer lasting, less clipping and fewer floorboards to lift.

For the attic route, pipe in plastic, possibly with copper droppers

 

[Best]

Copper also for me. It will require very little support.
You could still use push fit fittings to the copper pipes if you wished so to avoid difficult soldering and fire risk.

 

[Burger]

You can get spacers for talon clips, that would give space to allow for insulation. Insulation doesn’t stop freezing, just which type depends on how long before it could freeze. Also I’d say up and over, if they ever fit a difficult floor (glued laminate) then if there’s an issue it’s harder to repair.

 

[kasser]

Do you fit the pipe clips on the bottom face of the joist facing the ground, when running pipes perpendicular? I've done it before for a gas pipe, not easy and it was just a couple of clips. I can't imagine having to do that every 300mm.
I would prefer to run it up and over but it does mean using more copper where the pipes are exposed, and more pipes generally.

 

[Burger]

Do you fit the pipe clips on the bottom face of the joist facing the ground, when running pipes perpendicular? I've done it before for a gas pipe, not easy and it was just a couple of clips. I can't imagine having to do that every 300mm.
I would prefer to run it up and over but it does mean using more copper where the pipes are exposed, and more pipes generally.

I can’t visualise what you mean, however you could use insulation around the pipe and use nail in clips, a bit harder to do, but achievable.

 

[kasser]

I can’t visualise what you mean, however you could use insulation around the pipe and use nail in clips, a bit harder to do, but achievable.

If the pipe runs across the joists, so underneath them, where do you fit the pipe clip? It'll have to be under the joists? So hanging off them in a way...

 

[Burger]

Ah I see what you mean now, I did try and envisage that, but was struggling. Depends on how much hammer room you have, use nail in ones, but I’d go with using copper so less spacing as opposed to every 300mm.

 

[kasser]

You can't wrap insulation around if you use the nail clips?
Copper more expensive 🙁
As the pipe won't be seen, plastic would have been ideal.

 

[Burger]

You can't wrap insulation around if you use the nail clips?
Copper more expensive 🙁
As the pipe won't be seen, plastic would have been ideal.

Do it before nailing and nail afterwards if possible?

 

[kasser]

I doubt the nail clip with fit over and around the insulation that's over the pipe.

 

[Burger]

I doubt the nail clip with fit over and around the insulation that's over the pipe.

It depends, I have managed to insulate plastic in a loft and carefully clip 15mm nail in clip. Just push hard until the clip sinks into insulation, then hammer home. 🙂

 

[Millsy 82]

Lag the pipe with thick climaflex then strap band to the joists.

 

[kasser]

Sounds good. Something like this:
Galvanised Perforated Banding

What minimum thickness do you recommend for climaflex?

 

[Millsy 82]

Sounds good. Something like this:
Galvanised Perforated Banding

What minimum thickness do you recommend for climaflex?

That's the stuff and I use 19mm wall under the floors. It's a pain to work with but it is quite firm so will protect the pipe from the banding.

 

[Jerry]

Is there a crawl space under the floor?

 

[kasser]

Yes, but I don't fancy crawling there!

 

[Jerry]

Yes, but I don't fancy crawling there!

Its character building

 

[Millsy 82]

Is there a crawl space under the floor?

I hate doing that.

 

[kasser]

I hate doing that.

Do you have to?