Leaking stop valve

[sharedarchitect]

I've replaced the lead mains water supply pipe to my property with in preparation for a new 32mm supply from Thames Water

The 32mm HDPE supply with brass stopcock within the curtilage of the house was supplied and fitted by my builder and has been inspected and approved by Thames Water

However, there is a leak which my builder says he cannot fix as this is caused by Thames Water insistence on a brass stopcock rather than a thermoplastic

Thames Water did indeed insits on brass - stating a British Standard BS1010 or European EN1213

Surely Brass to HDPE must be possible or Thames water wouldn't insist. Is it possible my builder is not using the right valve connections, appropriate washers or some such thing?

Alternatively are plastic stop cocks available to the above standards?

Would appreciate any advice

 

[glenno1]

Cant see no reason why brass cant be used.It may just need nipping up with a spanner

 

[sharedarchitect]

Cant see no reason why brass cant be used.It may just need nipping up with a spanner

Thanks, they seem to have tried that but still leaking - do you think they need to take it off and re-fit with PTFE

 

[JCplumb]

The olives should easily cut into the plastic and quickly create a watertight seal, some ptfe may help but isn't needed on compression fittings. I'd undo the compressions and inspect them to see why it's passing. If it has brass olives I'd switch them for copper ones.

 

[Whn1]

Is there an insert in the poly?


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[sharedarchitect]

Ok thanks guys. I really appreciate your comments this gives me something to go back with and at least ask a few 'intelligent' questions.

 

[aqualogic7]

wras approved UGSTV in line stop valve from john guest ltd

 

[PlumbBobBob]

Is there an insert in the poly?

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that's what i was wondering.

 

[glenno1]

Shouldnt need ptfe,is the pipe cut squarely

 

[sharedarchitect]

John Guest thermoplastic valve is WRAS approved but not certified to BS2010 or EN1213 - so on that basis in theory Thames Water wont accept it. Which seems harsh / daft. I've dropped an e-mail to clarify them but it takes an age to get any thing back from these people

In themeantime I'll see if we can't get the existing brass fitting to work based on your comments

Cheers All

 

[tamz]

A plumber would be a better person to fix it and fit the correct fittings than a builder imo

 

[ADM360]

Is it normal to use HDPE up there!! it all MDPE round here, has the builder used the right stopcock!! don't know if there is much differance between HDPE and MDPE but it might!! needs an insert!

 

[Whn1]

Whos betting on the builder using no insert and squeezing the guts outta the olive?

 

[ADM360]

Whos betting on the builder using no insert and squeezing the guts outta the olive?

"Gorilla'd it" as we used to say, as you needed to be a Silverback to get it undone!!!

 

[Whn1]

And when you finally do the olives squeezed a 22mm pipe down to 15.

 

[Joncpi]

It definately does need an insert. Also when you take it off check the seat inside where the olive sits/seals against. As these stopcocks are mass-produced I have occasionally had some with badly machined seats, i.e slag inclusions or whatever in the metal and so there is a mark across where the olive is supposed to seal. Obviously it will not, you have to replace the whole stopcock. If there is no insert in the poly pipe, you will need to cut off the olive and put the insert in first then use a new olive. You may have a problem in getting a new olive. I think BES does them 32mm, but 32mm is not that common 25mm is more normal size.

 

[Whn1]

Also has the poly been cut square? I don't think the pipe inserts very far into these stopcocks.


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