Lightweight fittings, heavyweight consequences

Lightweight fittings, heavyweight consequences

Water-related claims are increasingly viewed by insurers as one of the most expensive and disruptive risks affecting UK buildings. In 2021, escape of water claims were costing UK insurers around £2.5 million a day - or close of £1 billion annually

So how can engineers ensure their customers don’t become part of this statistic?

Not just “same again”

Out of sight, out of mind. It's a dangerous mindset when specifying pipework hidden behind walls, above ceilings, under floors, or in risers because when pipework or pipe fittings fail the consequences are rarely minor.

To a specifier, the detailed design of a pipework system may not be top of mind, and there is always the temptation to fall back on familiar technology. Worse, value engineering at the start of the project to prioritise short-term savings can prove to be a costly false economy.

Faced with increasing cost pressures, both specifiers and contractors need to be investigating new ways of working, without introducing risk. This is always going to involve a bit of a leap of faith. Press fittings are one of these new(er) technologies in this market mitigating risk is about finding a supplier who has earned the trust of the industry.

Quality from the start

At Viega, quality begins at source. All pipework and fittings are manufactured in fully controlled production environments, ensuring complete oversight of materials and processes. Our in-house foundry - one of the most advanced in Europe - allows us to maintain consistently high standards across every component.

This commitment extends throughout the production process. Every single connector is subject to stringent quality control before it leaves the factory, combining expert visual inspection with advanced laser and camera-based scanning. The result is complete confidence in the integrity of every fitting.

Testing and approvals are equally critical. Viega products are rigorously designed and tested to withstand the demands of continuous operation, ensuring compliance with both industry standards and our own exacting performance criteria.

A system focus

However, long-term reliability depends on more than individual components alone. True system performance is achieved when pipe, fittings, tooling and installation work seamlessly together.

Viega press systems are engineered with this in mind. Featuring a double press design, with two press points formed in a single action with the Viega Pressgun, connections deliver both mechanical strength and reliable sealing performance.

Features such as SC-Contur ensure unpressed connections are immediately identifiable during installation, preventing hidden defects from entering the system. The result is a robust, secure and leak-resistant joint that performs over the long term.

Can you afford not to?

Pipework may be hidden from view, but its performance underpins every aspect of a building’s operation. In an environment defined by rising repair costs, increasing insurance scrutiny and greater expectations around resilience, quality is no longer a premium consideration.

The question is not whether you can afford to specify quality pipework, but whether you can afford not to.

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