Copper water pipes in comcrete floors

[derekpara]

What are the current regulations for burying copper water pipes in in concrete floors ? Say, in a kitchen.

Cheers.

D

[B00]

sorry can't help, but just saw your name Derek and had to say hello.

So errr, hello stranger, long time no see, hope you're well, and where the bloody hell have you been?

xxxx

[NazNomad]

Honestly, I'd put them in a conduit, not encase them in the concrete floor.

Here's a document about installing copper pipes ... http://www.ukcopperbo...itioning-pipework.pdf

[AlBags]

There isn't .. much.
They should be encased in semi-slit insulation (whole unslit if poss) and taped up. More wall thickness the better for heating/hot pipes.

[AlBags]

PS.
Make sure solder flux is washed off thoroughly .. then cement in.

[derekpara]

Hello, lovely Boo.

I have been around but not had much to say !!

I did leave a friendly post to you somewhere a few weeks ago but you gave me the elbow !

I'm fine. Hope you are, too.

D xx

[NazNomad]

... glad we could help.

[derekpara]

Thanks, Naz and Albags.

The pipes have to cross a solid kitchen floor and cannot be routed around the walls, so the plumber said he will wrap the pipes in greased hessian end let them into a channel in the floor before sealing with concrete/cement.. Hope he's right.

D

[johnk]

That sounds OK. If there is direct contact the copper tends to corrode and leak.

[derekpara]

Thanks, John.

D

[Charlie911]

NEVER cover pipes with concrete. You have to remember that concrete moves. Contarcts in the cold and expands in the heat. Therefore if you cover it with concrete you are gonna have a major problem in time....

My builder was going to cover a hot water pipe with concrete when I had my bathroom done up. Good job I was at home...!

[agardner09]

Don't know if any regs have arrived in recent years but we had a problem with concreted copper pipe in our kitchen despite the pipe being wrapped in plastic sheeting. It obviously didn't work because the concrete did react with the copper and the pipe leaked. The whole pipe had to be removed and a new one laid in a conduit so don't accept the cheap option as NazNomad says do it right first time.

[AlBags]

If you do not do it correctly .. and there is no expansion space and direct contact between the mortar and copper .. there will be problems in years ahead. If they are encased and sealed in thermal insulation, or greased hessian (the old way) properly, they will give no problems. I did some hot/colds in someones kitchen extension in 1986 and they have never given a problem.
Charlie .. Your builder is not a good one if he just wacks stuff over like that.