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Identifying type of pipe - incoming main to stopcock

View the thread, titled "Identifying type of pipe - incoming main to stopcock" which is posted in UK Plumbers Forums on UK Plumbers Forums.

RBG

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Gas Engineer
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Hello all,

I have attached a picture of a a pipe that I need some help identifying in terms of make / material etc.

It is the incoming main to the house to the internal stopcock, appearing out of the floor in the cloakroom. It is plastic of some type and I believe to be 15mm. The pipe is heavily creased and risks splitting and also the customer wants the pipe moving slightly. I may well have to do some digging to expose a suitable place to connect on to it. Green plastic 15mm is not something I have come across before....lead yes, steel yes, blue mdpe yes, but not this. Before I break into it I want to identify it and a suitable fitting. It may well be 15mm barrier type pipe. Many thanks
 

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It may be Poly-york or similar, if it's 17mm O.D then this may do to convert to copper,,

 
It may be Poly-york or similar, if it's 17mm O.D then this may do to convert to copper,,

Thank you for that link. Can I just check.....the information about the product talks about "black PVC pipe.." the pipe I have is green. I'm thinking that there is no difference it is just the colour that is different. But wanted to check that the colour is significant for anything. Further up the pipe where the stopcock is, the 15mm copper to the green pipe has been inserted into the green pipe so that would make sense. Thank you for that.


Thanks again. really appreciate it
 

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Last edited:
You sure it’s not just coated copper eg 15mm plastic coated etc ?

As they wouldn’t of inserted copper into plastic pipe and made a joint
 
You sure it’s not just coated copper eg 15mm plastic coated etc ?

As they wouldn’t of inserted copper into plastic pipe and made a joint
That great shout Shaun. I have some across that sort of pipe in screed for central heating. They have then shaved back cut off the plastic sheath to attach to stopcock? Question is how do tell without damaging pipe / causing leak? Stud finder to see if metallic maybe.
 
That great shout Shaun. I have some across that sort of pipe in screed for central heating. They have then shaved back cut off the plastic sheath to attach to stopcock? Question is how do tell without damaging pipe / causing leak? Stud finder to see if metallic maybe.
That great shout Shaun. I have some across that sort of pipe in screed for central heating. They have then shaved back cut off the plastic sheath to attach to stopcock? Question is how do tell without damaging pipe / causing leak? Stud finder to see if metallic maybe.

Would say 90% it’s copper as if plastic had that kink on it would of split by now / bubble

Pair of grips to see if it’s got any play eg if plastic should squeeze a bit if copper won’t etc without denying etc
 
Yes or unless the stop tap has been changed you might find an adapter a foot away etc
They want the pipe moving a bit and also that kink getting rid of. Which, having looked at again defo really looks like a copper kink? My plan is to chip / dig away some of the floor to get access to a good bit of pipe below that kink, remove enough sleaving and solder a coupler on and fit new 15mm pipe where it needs to go / new stopcock. Protect pipe etc.
 
Thank you for that link. Can I just check.....the information about the product talks about "black PVC pipe.." the pipe I have is green. I'm thinking that there is no difference it is just the colour that is different. But wanted to check that the colour is significant for anything. Further up the pipe where the stopcock is, the 15mm copper to the green pipe has been inserted into the green pipe so that would make sense. Thank you for that.


Thanks again. really appreciate it
Looks like a half inch lead main to me.
 
Looking at the second new photo and a close up of the pipe in the first photo, I'd now agree with Rtplumb, it's most likely lead, painted green.
 

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