All about press fittings for metal pipes: technical nuances + installation rules

Metal pipes are gradually becoming a thing of the past. They are being replaced by various materials, one of the most popular is considered to be plastic. Thanks to the successful combination of many advantages, such details can be used to equip a wide variety of communication systems. They are successfully used in production systems as highways designed for transportation of various chemical products. And also in domestic, where they are used as piping for heating systems and for supplying hot water. For installation, special press fittings for metal-plastic pipes are most often used, providing a strong and reliable connection.

What is this part - press fitting?

There are several types of press fittings, however, regardless of this, they all have almost the same device and consist of the same elements. The composition of any part includes:

• Body. This is a formative element. The type of device depends on it. It can be made in the form of an angle, tee or coupling. Cases are made of brass or copper.
• Sleeve. The basis of the fitting. It is usually made of stainless steel. Pads of a special crimping tool are installed on the surface of the sleeve when installing the element. Properly compressed sleeve does not lose its acquired shape even after years of operation.
• Clip. It is a ring of elastic material. It connects the sleeve and the housing, in addition, it acts as a gasket that protects the connection from the possible spread of galvanic currents.

Press fittings are installed on the pipe using a special tool. It is called crimping press and can be manual or hydraulic.

All models of press fittings are arranged approximately the same. Schematically, their device is shown in the figure.

The range of these parts is very wide, which allows you to create wiring of any configuration. For the installation of a linear pipeline, adapters and couplings are used. For branches and turns, various bends, corners, tees and crosses are used. Also, the use of combined press fittings makes it possible to connect not only to metal-plastic, but also to steel pipes of ordinary metal and stop valves.

Couplings are used to connect parts of the same diameter. For elements of different materials or different sizes adapters are used. They can be of various types. At the same time, a thread is cut into the nozzle of the press fitting on which the metal pipe will be installed.It can be external or internal. In addition, the unification of fittings allows you to connect plastic pipes to copper pipelines.

Due to their high performance characteristics, press fittings for plastic pipes form reliable connections that are used for the installation of heating systems

When installing various systems with piping, special tools are needed. In work with metal-plastic pipes, special press tongs become practically indispensable. You will learn how to choose them correctly in our article:https://aquatech.tomathouse.com/en/uchebnik/oborudovanie/press-kleshhi-dlya-metalloplastikovyx-trub.html.

Benefits of one-piece connection

Proper installation of press fittings provides high-quality one-piece connections. Their main advantages can be considered:

• High strength. In the docking areas, the permissible operating pressure can reach 10 atmospheres.
• Long service lifeduring which the characteristics of the node do not change. The manufacturer promises a 50-year service life of the part, provided that it is installed correctly.
• Connections do not need monitoring and maintenance. Thanks to this, they can be successfully used for laying hidden pipelines. Well established when pouring concrete.
• Parts do not respond to linear expansion of pipes arising from changes in fluid temperature. This makes it possible to install them in heating systems and hot water.
• Installation of press fittings is very quick and easy. For its implementation, specific skills and knowledge will not be needed, which makes it accessible even for a beginner. Of the special tools, only crimping press pliers will be needed.
• Use of parts reduces pipe consumption and the amount of necessary fittings, which ultimately significantly reduces the cost of laying the pipeline.

The long service life of press fittings is comparable to the life of pipelines. This is due to the high corrosion resistance and excellent performance of parts. The scope of the elements is wide enough. They are used: in hot water supply systems; in pipelines that conduct cold water; in heating systems where hot coolant circulates under high pressure.

A wide range of press fittings allows you to carry out pipelines of various configurations and reliably connect pipes from various materials

Engineering systems use not only metal-plastic, but also steel pipes. What fittings to choose for them, read in our article:https://aquatech.tomathouse.com/en/uchebnik/truby/stalnye-truby-i-fitingi.html.

Secrets of competent installation of such details

Installation of parts is very quick and simple enough. For its implementation, you will need a special tool, without which the compression fitting is impossible.

How to choose a press pliers?

Press pliers for fittings - a device designed to install parts on a pipe. Manual models and more complex hydraulic ones are available. For independent work, the first option is quite suitable, since it is the easiest to use and cheap. And in quality, the connections made with its help are not inferior to those in the process of which a professional hydraulic tool was used.

When purchasing equipment, you need to consider that it is designed to work with a certain pipe diameter. There are models equipped with special inserts that make it possible to work alternately with pipes of several diameters. In addition, on sale you can find advanced variations of the tool. They are specially marked:

• • OPS - the device increases the effort applied to it by the use of step clamps.
  • APC - during the process, automatic quality control is carried out.The press will not open until crimping is completed successfully.

APS - the device independently distributes the force that is applied to it, depending on the size of the fitting.

Crimping press pliers - a tool necessary for installing fittings. Manual and hydraulic models of special equipment are available

What to look for when buying connectors

Reliability of the connection largely depends on the quality of the parts. When buying press fittings, experts advise you to pay attention to the following points:

• Marking quality on the case. Companies that produce quality parts do not use cheap molds. All characters on the fitting body are printed very clearly.
• Part Weight. For the production of quality products, brass is used, which has a fairly large weight. Too light fitting is better to refuse.
• Element appearance. Low-quality parts are made of thin metal that looks like aluminum. He is not able to provide a quality connection.

Do not save on fittings and try to buy them “cheaply” in a dubious outlet. In this case, there is a high probability of subsequent alteration of the entire pipeline.

Assembly secrets from experts

We start by cutting pipes. We measure the required length and cut off the element strictly perpendicularly. It is best to use a special tool for this purpose - a pipe cutter. The next stage is the processing of the pipe end. We insert a gauge inside the part that corrects a small ovality, which inevitably arises when cutting. We remove the inner chamfer using a chamfer for this. In its absence, you can do this operation with an ordinary sharp knife, and then clean the surface with an emery cloth.

At the end of the work, we put the press fitting on the pipe, controlling the density of its fit through a special hole. There are models in which the crimp sleeve is not attached to the fitting. For their installation, such operations are performed. Put the crimp sleeve on the pipe. Inside the element we insert a fitting on which the sealing rings are fixed. To protect the structure from electrocorrosion, we install a dielectric gasket in the contact area of ​​the metal connecting part and the metal-plastic pipe.

For crimping any model of press fittings, we use a tool that is suitable in diameter. We grab the sleeve with the clamp press of the ticks and bring their handles all the way. After removing the tool, two ring uniform stripes should remain on the fitting, and the metal should be bent in an arc. Crimping can be done only once, no repeated operations should be. This leads to damage to the connection.

Installation of press fittings for metal pipes takes place in four main stages, which are presented in the figure

You may also find the material about choosing fittings for copper pipes:https://aquatech.tomathouse.com/en/uchebnik/truby/mednye-truby-i-fitingi.html.

Press fittings for metal-plastic provide a very strong, durable connection. Their wide assortment allows pipelines of various configurations. In addition, they are very easy to install. Even a novice will be able to install press fittings. This requires patience, accuracy and, of course, a careful study of the instructions. The result of efforts will surely please you with a reliable, self-made pipeline.