Diameters range from 6mm copper pipes for small domestic installations to 219mm for large commercial projects, all available for immediate despatch.
As an alternative to the traditional 1.2mm thick EN1057 and providing you with considerable cost savings without compromising operating performance, we can supply Lawton LiteX, a hard drawn, lightweight, kitemarked tube, available in 35mm, 42mm and 54mm.*
BS EN 1057
Material Analysis
Material Grade Phosphorus de-oxidised copper; Cu-DHP or CW024A as defined in BS EN 1976. Minimum Copper Content 99.90 % (including silver)
Phosphorus 0.015-0.040 %
Total Impurity Maxima 0.060 % (excluding phosphorus and silver)
The melting point of copper is 1083ÂşC and it has a density of 8.9 gm/cc
Packaging
All our pipes and tubes are bundle tied. 15-28mm (TX) are Yellow end capped in groups of 10 (UK market only).
Marking
Sizes 15mm-108mm copper pipes and tubes are stamped with:
Pipe/tube size
Kitemark
EN 1057
Temper
Manufacturer
Date (quarter)
Sizes 133mm and above are stamped at either end of the pipe/tube.
All tubes 108mm and below are inkjet marked with similar data.
Instructions for Use
Instructions for use: Pipes 54mm and below, use tin solder.
With our extensive international reach, Lawton Tubes has been privileged to collaborate on numerous large-scale construction projects, specifically in the plumbing sector. Our portfolio encompasses prestigious ventures such as the London 2012 Olympic Stadium and Village, the USA Air Force base, Camp Eggers in Afghanistan, and Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, among others.
Dimensions and Tolerances (includes chrome plated and PVC covered)
O.D. (mm)
Wall (mm)
Temper
Max Working Pressure bar up
Thickness Tolerance
Diameter Tolerance Mean
Diameter Tolerance Including Ovality
6
0.6 (TX)
Half Hard
133
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.04mm
Âħ0.09mm
6
0.6
Soft
90
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.04mm
Not applicable
6
0.8 (TY)
Half Hard
188
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.04mm
Âħ0.09mm
8
0.6 (TX)
Half Hard
97
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.04mm
Âħ0.09mm
8
0.6
Soft
66
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.04mm
Not applicable
8
0.8 (TY)
Half Hard
136
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.04mm
Âħ0.09mm
10
0.6 (TX)
Half Hard
77
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.04mm
Âħ0.09mm
10
0.7 (TY)
Soft
62
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.04mm
Not applicable
10
0.8 (TY)
Half Hard
106
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.04mm
Âħ0.09mm
12
0.6 (TX)
Half Hard
63
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.04mm
Âħ0.09mm
12
0.8 (TY)
Half Hard
87
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.04mm
Âħ0.09mm
15
0.7 (TX)
Half Hard
58
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.04mm
Âħ0.09mm
15
1.0 (TY)
Half Hard
87
Âħ13%
Âħ 0.04mm
Âħ0.09mm
15
1.0 (TY)
Soft
67
Âħ13%
Âħ 0.04mm
Not applicable
22
0.9 (TX)
Half Hard
51
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.05mm
Âħ0.10mm
22
1.2 (TY)
Half Hard
69
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.05mm
Âħ0.10mm
22
1.2 (TY)
Soft
57
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.05mm
Not applicable
28
0.9 (TX)
Half Hard
40
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.05mm
Âħ0.10mm
28
1.2 (TY)
Half Hard
55
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.05mm
Âħ0.10mm
35
1.0 (LiteX)
Hard
42
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.06mm
Âħ0.07mm
35
1.2 (TX)
Half Hard
42
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.06mm
Âħ0.11mm
35
1.5 (TY)
Hard
64
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.06mm
Âħ0.07mm
42
1.0 (LiteX)
Hard
35
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.06mm
Âħ0.07mm
42
1.2 (TX)
Half Hard
35
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.06mm
Âħ0.11mm
42
1.5 (TY)
Hard
53
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.06mm
Âħ0.07mm
54
1.2 (TX)
Hard
33
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.06mm
Âħ0.07mm
54
2.0 (TY)
Hard
55
Âħ10%
Âħ 0.06mm
Âħ0.07mm
66.7
1.2 (TX)
Hard
26
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.07mm
Âħ0.10mm
66.7
2.0 (TY)
Hard
45
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.07mm
Âħ0.10mm
76.1
1.5 (TX)
Hard
29
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.07mm
Âħ0.10mm
76.1
2.0 (TY)
Hard
39
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.07mm
Âħ0.10mm
108
1.5 (TX)
Hard
20
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.07mm
Âħ0.20mm
108
2.5 (TY)
Hard
34
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.07mm
Âħ0.20mm
133
1.5 (TX)
Hard
16
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.20mm
Âħ0.70mm
159
2.0 (TX)
Hard
18
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.20mm
Âħ0.70mm
219
3.0 (TX)
Hard
20
Âħ15%
Âħ 0.60mm
Âħ1.50mm
Water Capacity
Table W Microbore
O/D mm
Capacity kg/m
6
0.0169
8
0.0347
10
0.0558
Table X 6mm – 159mm Copper Pipe capacity
O/D mm
Capacity kg/m
6
0.0169
8
0.0347
10
0.0615
12
0.0890
15
0.1416
18
0.2063
22
0.3140
28
0.5308
35
0.8220
42
1.2163
54
2.0712
67
3.2134
76
4.1699
108
8.6107
133
13.2647
159
18.8351
Table Y 6mm – 108mm
O/D mm
Capacity kg/m
6
0.0139
8
0.0302
10
0.0529
12
0.0818
15
0.1280
18
0.1952
22
0.2943
28
0.5050
35
0.7888
42
1.1758
54
1.9317
67
3.2375
76
4.0438
108
8.2527
Expansion of copper pipe
Copper has a coefficient of linear expansion of 17 x 10-6oC. for example, a 10-metre length of copper pipe carrying hot water at 600C will increase in length by almost 7mm when heated from 200C. Assuming that the temperature cycling of the system is 200C, there will be a continuous cycle of expansion and contraction of 3.4mm. Refer to table below.
Temperature change
3m
4m
5m
6m
7m
8m
9m
10m
12m
25m
10°
0.5mm
0.7mm
0.9mm
1.0mm
1.2mm
1.4mm
1.5mm
1.7mm
2.0mm
4.3mm
20°
1.0mm
1.4mm
1.7mm
2.0mm
2.4mm
2.7mm
3.0mm
3.4mm
4.0mm
8.5mm
30°
1.5mm
2.0mm
2.6mm
3.1mm
3.6mm
4.1mm
4.6mm
5.1mm
6.1mm
13.0mm
40°
2.0mm
2.7mm
3.4mm
4.1mm
4.8mm
5.4mm
6.1mm
6.8mm
8.2mm
17.0mm
50°
2.6mm
3.4mm
4.3mm
5.1mm
6.0mm
6.8mm
7.7mm
8.5mm
10.2mm
21.0mm
60°
3.1mm
4.1mm
5.1mm
6.1mm
7.1mm
8.2mm
9.2mm
10.2mm
12.2mm
26.0mm
70°
3.6mm
4.8mm
6.0mm
7.1mm
8.3mm
9.5mm
10.7mm
11.9mm
14.3mm
30.0mm
80°
4.1mm
5.4mm
6.8mm
8.2mm
9.5mm
10.9mm
12.2mm
13.6mm
16.3mm
34.0mm
90°
4.6mm
6.1mm
7.7mm
9.2mm
10.7mm
12.2mm
13.8mm
15.3mm
18.4mm
38.0mm
100°
5.1mm
6.8mm
8.5mm
10.2mm
11.9mm
13.6mm
15.3mm
17.0mm
20.4mm
43.0mm
150°
7.65mm
10.2mm
12.75mm
15.3mm
17.85mm
20.4mm
22.95mm
25.5mm
30.6mm
63.75mm
200°
10.2mm
13.6mm
17.0mm
20.4mm
23.8mm
27.2mm
30.6mm
34.0mm
40.8mm
85.0mm
Fixing Copper Pipes
Copper pipe installations have been tried and tested over many years of use in all parts of plumbing and heating systems. Copper’s versatility in such a wide variety of situations has resulted in the design and development of many different types of fixing clips and bracketing systems.
All pipework systems must be adequately supported if they are to give trouble-free service, especially over the long life of a copper system. Manufacturers’ catalogue illustrate a vast range of clips and brackets to meet specific requirements, a few of which are illustrated in Figure 1.
Selection of the most appropriate pattern of clip or bracket depends on a number of factors which will vary with the type of job and position or situation in which the tube is installed. For example, a pipe has to be insulated against heat or frost in accordance with Water regulations. In this situation, a simple plastic stand-off clip will not give sufficient clearance for the thickness of insulation required between the tube and the fixing surface. Therefore, an alternative type of support must be chosen, such as a ring bracket with a threaded rod and backplate.
Another factor which can have a very significant effect on the overall cost of an installation is the actual number of tube supports required. Because copper tube is a relatively rigid and self-supporting material, it requires comparatively few supports when compared to non-metallic tube.
How far apart should the supports for copper pipes and tubes be placed?
The recommended intervals are set out in Table 1. Studying the table will show that fewer supports are required on vertical runs. This is because the vertical tube will not be subjected to possible sagging between supports. Excessive sagging will occur on horizontal runs of pipes made from any material if the supports are too far apart.
Diameter of Copper Pipe (mm)
Intervals for Vertical Runs (m)
Intervals for Horizontal Runs (m)
6
0.6
0.4
8
0.9
0.6
10
1.2
0.8
12
1.5
1
15
1.8
1.2
22
2.4
1.8
2.4
2.4
28
3
2.4
35
3
2.7
42
3
3
54
3
3
67
3.6
3
76
3.6
3
108
3.6
3
133
3.6
3
159
4.2
3.6
Table 1: Recommended Maximum Fixing Intervals for Copper Tube Supports.
Another factor which must be borne in mind, especially when considering supports for larger diameter tube and/or lightweight building structures, is the method to be used to fix the tube support to the building fabric. The fixing method used must be able to transmit the weight of the tube and its contents as well as any other forces acting on the tube to the building fabric without damage.
Bracing long runs of tube
On long runs of tube with fixing supports such as hanging brackets anchor bracing should be used at 12m centers to avoid swaying. The distance between anchor fixings used for bracing and expansion joints in hot water lines is determined by the type of expansion joint used and the amount of movement which the joint can accommodate. Figure 2 shows how a long run of tube can be anchored by means of supports at each change of direction. The expansion can then be accommodated by an expansion joint or by fabricating an expansion loop, either from fittings or by bending the tube. If an expansion loop is used it should be installed and supported in the horizontal plane to prevent air locks.
Where a gland type expansion joint is used and the tube is subjected to a temperature difference of 60°C, then if the expansion joint can accommodate 25mm of expansion the length of straight tube each side of the joint to an anchor fixing can be up to 12.5m.
This is because each 1 metre length of copper tube will change in length by approximately 1mm when its temperature is changed by 60°C. So, 1mm of movement within the expansion joint permits 1m of pipe length between expansion joint and anchor points.
Similarly, if a bellows type expansion joint is used, the tube should be installed so that it stretches the bellows. By applying “cold draw” in this way the bellows will be able to accommodate the expansion. n order to avoid possible breakdown of branch joints connected to a heating or hot water main, it may be advisable to use the branch joints as anchor fixings. Where, however, the branch is connected to a tube which will itself be moving due to thermal expansion, then the leg of the branch should also be able to move. In this situation “cross-over tees” should be used to permit the movement as in Figure 3.
All tube runs should be aligned correctly to prevent undue strain. This is particularly important when connecting tube to a plastic cistern. Suitable backing plates or washers without sharp edges should be fitted between the tube connection and the cistern to spread any load.
Notching and drilling floor and roof joists
Notches and holes in simply supported floor and roof joists should be within the following limits:
Notches should be cut no deeper than 1/8 of the depth of the joist.
They should not be cut closer to the support than 0.07 times the span, nor further away than 1/4 of the span.
Drilled holes should be no greater in diameter than 1/4 of the depth of the joist. They should be drilled on the neutral axis and should be not less than 3 diameters apart, measured from center to center. Holes should be located in the area between 0.25 and 0.4 times the span of the joist from the support.
Note: Notches or holes for pipes must NOT be cut in roof rafters. Figure 4 shows the permitted limits of notches and holes in floor and roof joists.
Cabling soft copper tube through joists
The ability to drill holes through joists means that where soft coiled copper tube (up to 10mm O.D. Table W or up to 12mm O.D. Table Y) is to be installed it is quite easy to drill and cable the tube through the joists. This means that in new build work the tube can sometimes, if desired, be installed from below after the floorboards have been laid but before ceilings are boarded.
Use of Joist Clips
Where straight lengths of half – hard copper tube are required to be run in floors they can be laid in notches. By using pipe joist clips with integral protective metal plates, the risk of damage due to punctures from nailing accidents should be eliminated. Furthermore, the rectangular shape of the joist clip can be used as a template when notching joists. This should avoid the joists being weakened accidentally by excessively deep notches.
Although unseen when the installation is complete, joist clips improve the overall quality of the installation. They do this by helping to align the tube and permit expansion movement due to temperature changes in hot water lines. This will help to prevent clicking noises and the water hammer which can arise due to badly-aligned pipework.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
What test certificates do you offer for your copper pipes and tubes?
All our copper pipes are manufactured to BS EN1057, ISO 9001, and kitemarked
Whatâs your minimum order for copper pipes?
1,000kgs of copper tube for FOC (approx. £6,000 ex VAT in value)
Where do your copper products originate from?
A large proportion of copper for our products, including our 15mm pipe, is mined in Chile. There are around 30 processing plants and factories around the world with a variety of capabilities; we have two drawing plants based in the UK.
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