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Plastics pipe systems |
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| Recent years have seen rapid development in the
use of plastics pipe systems for above ground drainage (rainwater,
soil and waste systems) and for hot and cold water services
applications. Plastics pipes first came into common usage for
rainwater gutters and downpipes and for soil and waste water
systems, where they substantially replaced older cast iron alternatives.
Originally more or less mimicking traditional designs, plastics
technology today is used to create products which both ease
installation and enhance long term performance. Good examples
of such innovations are to be found in some of the more recent
systems.
Richard Eddy, marketing manager of Hepworth Plumbing Products,
looks at some of the new developments. |
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Hygienic self-sealing waste valve
Traditionally, a water seal trap or 'U' bend is used in waste
systems to prevent foul air from drains entering dwelling
spaces. However, these traps must be installed in line with
strict criteria if they are to function effectively. They
are also subject to various problems, such as syphonage and
evaporation which can deplete the water in the trap, rendering
it ineffective.
 Purchase
HepVO valve online at discount prices
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Hepworth's Hep vO hygienic self-sealing waste
valve effectively overcomes these problems. It takes the form
of a slim tube containing a purpose-designed membrane. The
valve can be fitted either directly to a plumbing appliance
such as a wash hand basin or shower or remote from it. It
can be fitted horizontally or vertically. This opens up new
installation opportunities, provides design versatility and
brings space savings.
The membrane within the valve opens to allow water to flow
through it but closes to create an air tight seal when the
flow ceases.
Follow
this link to view an installation case study |
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HepFlex™ Waste
One of the difficulties with rigid pipe systems is that they
can sometimes demand overly complex layouts and installation.
The HepFlex™ Waste system provides an efficient means
of connecting to appliances and existing waste pipes in such
situations.
It complements rigid systems by providing an alternative
method of connecting an appliance, valve or trap. The range
allows connection to push-fit or solvent-weld systems with
either factory assembled fixed lengths or made-to-measure
lengths cut from coils and assembled on site. |
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HepFlex® Soil
Connecting WC pans to waste outlets can often be complex
particularly where problems such as pipe offsets, 'question
mark' profiles, 90 degree bends and double 90 degree bends
are called for.
The HepFlex Soil flexible pan connector provides the perfect
solution. Where the length of the WC connection is non-standard
the HepFlexâ Soil pan connector can be extended to the
required length.
The socket, with its internal seal, produces a flexible self-sealing
system that allows for up to 14o deflection for direct connection
between new horizontal pans and existing 104o pipe work. |
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Hep2o® Flexible plumbing system
Whilst these developments in above ground drainage are significant
perhaps the greatest strides forward in the use of plastics
are to be found in hot and cold water services and central
heating applications.
Flexible plumbing systems, in the main utilising polybutylene
pipe, in conjunction with advanced fitting designs, are now
becoming commonplace in new homes and increasingly are being
adopted when refurbishing or extending existing properties/plumbing
systems. |
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| These products have their origins over 20 years
ago when the earliest professional flexible plastics plumbing
systems came to market. Hepworth Plumbing Products was the first
to offer a true polybutylene system in the UK and this initially
was adopted primarily for niche applications - for example,
where restricted access or the risk of fire made it inappropriate
to use rigid systems and blow torches to make joints. However,
such has been the success of these products that they are now
very widely used across the UK and elsewhere around the world. |
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The principal benefits include the supply of pipe on coils
up to 100m in length. This reduces the number of fittings
required in any given installation. Pipe flexibility makes
it simpler to route plumbing circuits through and around building
elements. This is a particular benefit also when modern silent
floor joists or 'I' beams are used. This is because such beams
cannot be notched to accommodate pipes and, instead, must
be drilled through their centre lines. Threading rigid pipe
through such drill holes is more difficult than is the case
with flexible alternatives. The same characteristics make
it easy to 'cable' plumbing pipe around a property in much
the same way as electrical wiring. |
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| Once installed, systems like Hepworth's Hep 2o®
offer a number of benefits. They run silently, absorbing and
suppressing sound, rather than transmitting it. These pipes
do not corrode in soft water areas or scale up in hard water
areas. They also have lower 'thermal diffusivity' than copper
pipes. This means that heat is transmitted through the pipe
walls less quickly and they remain cool to the touch. This can
be particularly helpful where young children or the elderly
and infirm are among a property's residents. The same characteristic
also means that water takes longer to freeze within a polybutylene
pipe. If it does freeze, the pipe simply expands to accommodate
the greater volume, returning to its original dimensions when
the thaw comes.
At a time when the UK new housing market is relatively static,
in terms of the number of properties being built, it is a
telling statistic that sales of plastics plumbing products
are growing at a rate of 15 per cent per annum. In the future,
it is expected that these products will take an ever larger
share of the plumbing pipe market. |
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| Hygienic
self-sealing waste valve - case study |
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| For
further detail on any of the issues discussed contact:
The Marketing Department
Hepworth Plumbing Products
Edlington Lane
Edlington
Doncaster
DN12 1BY
Tel: (01709) 856300
and quote reference: plumbingpages HBP/P/266 |
