Flame-free jointing for pipework is fast gaining in popularity because it is faster to install, more precise in terms of fitting and offers clear health and safety advantages, according to Simon Spridgeon, product manager for piping systems at Geberit.
The need for speedy yet accurate installation coupled with increased health and safety legislation has led to a clear shift towards specifying flame-free jointing for pipework, such as pressfitting.


This trend has arisen largely because of contractors increasingly coming up against problems in securing a licence to use hot works on site and the ever-rising commercial insurance costs associated with doing so.

Health and safety regulations can also lead contractors to encounter flame restrictions when working on refurbishment projects, particularly in commercial environments such as hospitals and schools.

The use of pressfitting eradicates this problem and can help to significantly cut down on overall installation time, while offering a flexible, durable and reliable piping system for all project types.

Pressfittings are compressed on to the tube by using a pressing tool without the need for solvents or adhesives. Pressfittings can be used on pipes up to a diameter of 108 mm and can cut installation time on larger building projects by up to half.

Variety of applications

Geberit's Mapress and Mepla pressfitting systems can be used in a wide variety of applications including heating, cooling, gas and industrial facilities. Mapress pipes and fittings are available in stainless steel, carbon steel, copper and CuNiFe and the Mepla pipe is made from a composite of metal and plastic.


The fittings are closed with protection plugs, which protect the seal ring and system pipe from dirt and dust before installation, making pressfitting technology a hygienic option for drinking water supply.

The connections are fire-and corrosion-resistant and can withstand high temperatures and pressure while retaining excellent standards of hygiene. With pressfittings such as these, the only tools needed to form a reliable, tight and durable connection are a cutter, deburrer and pressing tool so the joints can be easily made by any installer.

Pressfitting systems also offer a visually attractive connection, with no unsightly excess solder and only straight shapes on the outside, making them particularly suitable for use on pipes which are installed visibly on walls.

Pressfitting systems also put safety first, as any connections not pressed during installation are automatically detectable, providing the installer with a failsafe method of checking for unpressed joints.

The pressing indicator on all Mapress fittings consists of a thin plastic foil encasing the pressing shoulder which is removed during the pressing operation to reveal a visible indication of a pressed joint, offering a strong defence against installation errors. This complements Geberit's leak path seal, which allows a fitting to leak if not pressed, producing a visually safe system where unpressed fittings can be pressed without having to drain down the whole system.

Clearly marked with the fittings size, each indicator is colour coded according to material to aid installation, with blue representing stainless steel fittings, red for carbon steel, white for copper and black for CuNiFe.


The protection plugs are also colour coded for ease of installation, with white plugs for basic applications, yellow for gas and grey for special applications. Each protection plug is marked with the fitting size and can be reused to seal pipework during installation.

It is these safety benefits and the durability that pressfitting systems provide that has led them to be used increasingly on commercial developments, such as the
£32 million redevelopment of Whitmore High School in Harrow.

One of the key architectural features of the new school building is the curvature of the structure, which led to the Mepla system being specified for low temperature hot water and water services for the project.

Paul Williams, mechanical project manager for NG Bailey, the contractor responsible for the m&e services on the new school building, is impressed. He said: 'Our fitters were able to be trained on site on jointing the products with the simple pressfitting tools in just one hour.'

For more information on the pressfitting systems available from Geberit, contact 0800 077 8365 or visit www.geberit.co.uk