The use of fittings in plumbing, heating and hot water systems is essential to create the complex and intricate systems that have evolved. The fittings allow for the use of filters, valves, control units and shut-off valves, for instance lever ball valves. They also are key to allow the pipework to travel around a building and supply all the areas that heating and
hot water may be required. In the commercial world of mechanical engineering, HVAC and contracting, a safe and reliable system of pipe and fittings is essential to limit call-backs, installation delays and fire prevention. The fire prevention is with regard to the installation of the system and with the introduction of no hot-works within some buildings it is ideal to use a press-fitting system.
Types of pipe and fittings systems
There are many different types and manufacturers of press-fit pipe and fittings. The pipe can be plastic or copper and the fittings can also be multiple mediums. With copper tube, which is a preferred medium as it has much favourable characteristics over plastic for instance durability, and more fire retardant, the fittings are generally metal. Such manufacturers include Pegler XPress, Viega ProPress, Nibco Press, Cupro-fit and Geberit Mapress.
These manufacturers produce ranges of fittings suitable for water, heating and gas. There is often a difference between water and gas fittings and it is imperative to use the correct one and follow the manufacturers guidelines on use and application. The press mechanism applied to a fitting causes the internal o-ring to make a seal onto the pipework. These fittings also have a profile that or shape that signifies what type of jaw to use on a press-fit tool. The Zupper Z-Press battery operated press tool uses M-Profile jaws to press fittings. This widely used profile allows the Zupper Z-Press tool to be used with a huge range of manufacturers fittings, plus different pipe materials like copper, plastic and stainless steel. This would include carbon galvanised tube, the VSH SudoXPress by Aalberts (Pegler) and multi-layer pipe.
Types of profile
The types of profile relates to internal structure of the fitting and this can be V or M profile. These two types of profiles comply by the same regulations but as the market grows the preferred profile is becoming M. This is why Z-Press supports M-profile jaws from 15 mm up to 54 mm in diameter. This consistency of profile allows installers, mechanical engineers and fitters to utilise multiple manufacturers of pipe and fittings. The choice is being driven by the availability of the fitting type and the M-Profile is far more available through plumbing and heating merchants and stockists that offer the Z-Press tools. With both types if fittings there is no welding, brazing or soldering when connecting pipework with fittings. There is also a reduced risk of leaks with such a mechanical tool pressing until it is finished. With the increased habit of using M-Profile fittings, installers are determining the type preferred and this allows for standardisation and more sales and installations of press systems. This also means that it is not a requirement to purchase a specific manufacturers tool, for instance Rothenberger, Alpha, Ryobi or Novopress as the Z-Press tool from Zupper can complete all of the tasks, with a more competitive option.