Plumbers Handbook
(6/11/2008)

Ever wished you knew all the answers to questions that arise on the job?

With the Plumbers Handbook in your pocket, you can have answers at your fingertips.

The Plumbers Handbook is a pocket-sized free resource that contains information on industry regulations, material requirements and installation practices.  Re-printed earlier this year, the handbook is an up-to-date reference guide for all things plumbing.

Produced by the Copper Development Centre Australia in conjunction with its tube manufacturing members MM Kembla and Crane Copper Tube, the Plumbers Handbook now celebrates its eighth edition.

Topics covered in the handbook include Australian Standards, fitting guidelines, safety precautions, pressure loss and flow data, corrosion protection and water hammer.

To maximise business opportunities, it is essential for any plumbing industry professional to have an accurate understanding of applicable regulations, product properties and installation practices.

Here are examples of common mistakes that could be avoided simply by keeping your knowledge current in today's ever changing work environment.

1. Incorrect lagging for pipes connected to split system solar heaters.

The relevant clauses in Australian Standard 3500.5 indicate which pipes are to be insulated and what type of insulation is appropriate to weather conditions. Importantly, the manufacturers' instructions provide essential details for the installation and successful performance of the product, as well as mandatory compliance requirements for warranty.

2. Unsuitable protection material for copper pipes buried in corrosive soil.

There have been corrosive failures where copper pipes have been wrapped with thin green plastic usually used for steel pipes. Under ideal conditions, if properly installed and water tight, the plastic would not cause a problem, but the plastic can sometimes be damaged during the process of backfill or by someone working on other services in the same trench. In corrosive conditions, it only needs a small pinhole to expose the pipe to aggressive conditions and ultimately result in failure due to corrosion. For this reason, before undertaking work in corrosive environments, it is important to check with corrosion protection material suppliers as to what product is suitable for the application. You might find their recommendation to be more expensive or labour intensive, but it will offer superior protection.

3. Badly installed refrigeration piping

The increased use of high-pressure refrigerants makes it all the more important to be familiar with the applicable design and installation Australian Standards AS 4041 -pressure piping - and AS/NZS 1677 Part 2-Refrigeration systems safety requirements for fixed applications. Clause

3.12.3 in AS 4041 states specific brazing requirements for copper tube and outlines pre-qualification details.

You can obtain a copy of the Plumbers Handbook at your nearest Tradelink or Reece outlet. Alternatively view a soft copy at www.copper.com.au or request a hard copy sent toyou by emailing cdc@copperdev.com.