15mm Soft Copper Pipe for above ground mains

[Deleted member 96286]

Hi,
Are there any current regs prohibiting the use of 15mm and 22mm soft copper coils for an above ground domestic water supply? I've been given half a coil of 15mm soft copper which is coated in blue plastic and it would be perfect for outdoor tap installs as it's flexible and would require few fittings apart from the double check valve and iso valve. As it's plastic coated, it wouldn't require a separate sleeve going through the hole in the wall either. However it would still require a connection to the mains water supply and don't have a clue if this pipe is allowed. Years ago, I used similar pipe for underground mains.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yes it's fine

 

[Ric2013]

Not sure it wouldn't require a sleeve though. As my understanding is the sleeve is there to protect the wall from leakage/make a leak more obvious in the unlikely event of a pipe leaking where it passes through the wall as well as for protection and allowing movement. I'm not convinced a plastic coating does all the above, though no doubt others will have an opinion.

 

[chris watkins]

Soldered (lead free) joints if possible as it is easy to over tighten compression on R220 tube.

 

[Deleted member 96286]

Not sure it wouldn't require a sleeve though. As my understanding is the sleeve is there to protect the wall from leakage/make a leak more obvious in the unlikely event of a pipe leaking where it passes through the wall as well as for protection and allowing movement. I'm not convinced a plastic coating does all the above, though no doubt others will have an opinion.

The sleeve over the pipe is protection against thermal movement from the fabric of the building and to offer a degree of frost protection.

 

[Deleted member 96286]

Soldered (lead free) joints if possible as it is easy to over tighten compression on R220 tube.

I mainly use endfeed so the pipe will be soldered.

 

[DAVE01]

Yes back in 70s us plumbers in Ireland used to use soft copper like you have on water mains its the same type of fittings that is supposed to be used on oil nine times out of ten if you use standard compression fittings the ring does not bite into the copper because it is soft you would use a flared fitting were buy you put nut on first then taper pipe this fits up to taper on fitting ie stopcock job done

 

[chris watkins]

They are still available DAVE -

TYPE B COMPRESSION FITTINGS
Type B, or manipulative fittings are used with soft (R220) copper tube and require the installer to flare the tube end before the joint is assembled.

TYPE B ADAPTORS
If soft copper is found in existing installations, the use of an 1870 Kufit adaptor allows conversion of the standard Kuterlite 900 Type A fitting (used on R250 half hard) to a Type B connection (used on R220 soft) The adaptor consists of an adaptor body, compensating ring and a DZR compression nut.

 

[Ric2013]

They are still available DAVE -

TYPE B COMPRESSION FITTINGS
Type B, or manipulative fittings are used with soft (R220) copper tube and require the installer to flare the tube end before the joint is assembled.

TYPE B ADAPTORS
If soft copper is found in existing installations, the use of an 1870 Kufit adaptor allows conversion of the standard Kuterlite 900 Type A fitting (used on R250 half hard) to a Type B connection (used on R220 soft) The adaptor consists of an adaptor body, compensating ring and a DZR compression nut.

I just solder on a short piece of half-hard and put compression onto that 🙂

 

[Deleted member 96286]

I'll be using end feed on it and if I need to join it to a compression fitting, e.g an iso valve, I'll solder hard copper on the other end of the fitting.
Only ever used this for underground mains, but a perfect solution for things like outside taps as it's easy to bend and fewer fittings. Bloody expensive to buy though, glad this is a freebie.