“Braze and solder right and an
installer will have a system that
works and can stand up to the
challenge of a heating system”
78 PRODUCTS
the very latest products
revealed
Conex Bänninger’s >B< Press range being
76 REHAU
argues that it’s time to make
some noise for acoustic drainage
deposits or fl ux that can be left behind
when soldering or brazing.
It is sometimes the case when soldering
or brazing that certain parts of a building
need to be vacated before work can begin
in order to comply with health and safety
legislation.
For many end-users, particularly if
it is offi ce space, this can be extremely
disruptive. With press-fi t, the building can
remain fully operational.
COSTS ARE QUICKLY RECOVERED
Alongside the argument that the pressfi
t method is unskilled and, therefore,
de-valuing the profession, there is also a
common argument against the direct cost
of a press-gun.
However, the upfront one-off cost
of the press tool is easily recovered in
the increased productivity awarded to
installed with a Rothenberger press tool
through its use. The speed and effi ciency
with which joints are secured with a press
tool means installers can work at a much
faster rate, an appealing prospect not only
for the installer themselves, but also for
potential clients.
For this reason, it is important for
installers to recognise the commercial
advantages of turning to press-fi t when it
comes to competing for jobs, particularly
the larger, more time-intensive ones.
For example, if one installer is
quoting for a project using blazing and
estimates that the work is likely to take
approximately a week to complete, will
this installer appear as productive as a
competing installer who quotes two days
for the work because they have adopted
press-fi t?
It’s a competitive commercial
environment and as
trial or simply a desire to reduce costs.
Traditional methods of pipework
jointing still have their place, for example
in medical gas installations where
soldering must be specifi ed.
However, as with any industry,
technology is developing to offer a
quicker, safer, more reliable and, perhaps
most importantly, more cost-effective
solution, and a refusal to get on board
might risk being left behind in the long
run.
ENQUIRY NUMBER 132
installers
I said earlier, if you
only stick to brazing,
there’s the potential
that you won’t be able
to compete on bigger
jobs and could get left
behind.
Ultimately, an
installers preference
for what jointing
technique they adopt,
whether it be solder/
braze, press or push
is down to them and
is usually attributed
to a number of
factors such as
training, education,
Conex Bänninger’s >B< Profi le threepoint
press design works by making
sure that the pipe is parallel to the
fi tting before contact is made with the
O-ring, greatly reducing the chance of
damaging the O-ring during assembly.
The EPDM seal features a reduced
section on two positions, which will
cause leaks even at low pressures when
it hasn’t been pressed correctly (from
0.1 to 0.5 bar). When pressed correctly,
the O-ring material compresses itself to
form a secure leak-free joint.
The >B< Press portfolio includes
>B< Press Inox, >B< Press Gas, >B<
Press Solar and >B< Press Carbon. This
means there’s a product range suitable
for a variety of applications such as
drinking water, cooling water, gas,
solar, heating systems, compressed air
(oil free), oil/fuel, rainwater and waste.
www.hpmmag.com | OCTOBER 2018 | Heating & Plumbing Monthly 69
/www.hpmmag.com
