Copper pipe in screed?

[Plumbsy]

Hello

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated. I have being doing odd plumbing jobs here and there after getting my qualfications trying to build up a bit of experience. I have landed myself a nice little job for a mate running out a hot and cold feed to a front extension for a downstairs toilet. Soil pipe already in when the ground work was done. Happy days! Also needs a flow and return for a radiator. None of which is a problem. The extension currently has a concrete base waiting for a good 80-100mm of screed. He asked if the pipes can be buried in the screed to obviously make it more pleasing to the eye! I am a bit unsure on the best and right way to do it.

1. In channels preformed or made with a access lid such as ply? Can you buy these?
2. Plastic sheathed copper and taped joints?
3. Dermo tape then bury? Pressumably clipped to the concrete base. This sounds like a bodge but gets suggested and slated a lot!
4. Avoid all together and surface run then box in?

I just want to suggest the best option that wil keep him happy, and last, as I do not want to bodge it and get a bad reputation before I start. There seems to be hardly any clear information on the best way to do this, so anyone who has done this plenty of times who does not mind sharing their advice please help?


Thanks

 

[SimonJohns]

Does it have to be copper

 

[Guest123]

Wrap the pipe in Denso tape and/or enlose it in plastic conduit pipe. Lime in cement and concrete causes corrosion. Minimise the amount of fittings/joints and if you need access, make a wooden channel box with a removable lid sunk into the screed and finished flush with the floor. Use good quality marine or exterior ply and insulate the pipes.

 

[Mike Jackson]

Under the water regs you need to be able to replace the pipes in case of problems. You can either duct them or use a plastic pipe in pipe system. You can buy purpose made ducting but to be honest a bit of tanalised batten with a plywood capping does the trick for me.

 

[John Blade]

You can put abit of 32mm waste pipe down and run plastic (HEP) through it with no joints you can try to keep your joints above the floor at either end, but if it leaks because you have put a joint in the middle of the floor, you can easily isolate the pipe, cut and pull the pipe out even when the screed is already down, and if you got to put bends in the waste use 45 degree bends.
If you are pulling old pipe out because of leaks, tie the new pipe onto the old so as you pull the old out the new one is taking its place hassle free. you could even increase the size of the pipe at a later date if needed.

 

[Plumbsy]

Thanks for the quick replies!

I have not suggested plastic. Yet..... I did look into it though. I am sure he would still want copper up from the floor though. which would mean having an access box for the concealed fittings from plastic to copper. if you have to go to that trouble you may aswell go copper all the way I suppose? I think I will go down the making a channel route and keep the screed of the pipes all together. The only bit I should need to denso tape is the elbows and the drop down the wall which will be plasterboarded over. I am sure he is plasterboarding the whole lot eventually..... Got me thinking....would it be better to clip it to the wall and plasterboard over it instead ( I am sure the same rules apply though with regards to protection from possible damage etc)

 

[Guest123]

Always clip where possible to prevent water hammer.

 

[Best]

The sand & cement screed will not do any harm to copper pipes if they are insulated with Armaflex or similar. Light, cheap polythene sheet put over pipes with armaflex will protect further. Cement at pipes doesn't do much harm I have noticed, - provided it stays dry later, but not advisable to not protect pipes obviously, & I always would.