Insulation; Utilities & Services


Wrap it or regret it – now! Don’t let the cold catch you out this winter


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urst pipes are the most common cause of home insurance claims in the UK and cost an average of £3,500 in damage to property


and contents. Te expense is not the worst of it; months of disruption follows as the property is dried out and repaired. Troughout the winter, frost is the greatest


threat to water services. UK Water Regulations require any fitting or apparatus to be correctly insulated to prevent frost, unless in a location that is heated for more than 12 hours a day. It seems obvious when you are scraping the ice from the car on a frosty morning. However, the insurance claims show that many homeowners, landlords and tennants seem to be unaware of this requirement. In the worst-case scenario, the replacement of


water supply pipes is required. Traditionally this has required major excavations outside a property and usually a great deal of disruption and trauma within, over several days and possibly weeks – inevitably at high cost. Water supply replacement – an easy alternative! Whether or not the cause is bad weather, the


replacement of a leaking, or an old and unreliable water supply can extend timelines and inflate costs, sometimes to the detriment of other aspects of a project. However, there is now a cost-effective solution to this previously expensive operation.


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Te use of Groundbreaker’s INSUduct allows the new water service to be routed up the external face of the building and connected to the internal plumbing above ground level. “We’ve been putting pipes in holes in the


ground to protect them from frost for decades,” explained Steve Leigh, developer of the range and managing director of Groundbreaker, “Although it works, today’s new materials allow for a much better solution. Keeping pipes on the surface reduces the risk of leaks developing and allows for easy repair and maintenance. It’s just a much better method of working.” INSUduct only requires one simple core drilled


hole through the wall, at an appropriate point to connect with the internal plumbing. Tis enables most water supply replacements to be completed within a couple of hours, without the traditional mess and disruption to the householders or occupiers. Te improvement in work efficiency and reduction on the impact to occupants is a win for both contractor and customer. Tere is also little impact to the exterior appearance of the property, as the INSUduct system provides a neat, clean finish to the job – perfect for planned replacements of old lead water supply pipes. INSUduct is also perfect for redevelopment


and refurbishment projects. It is the ideal product for the replacement of original lead water pipes,


turning a disruptive and intrusive job into a quick and easy task. INSUduct is also ideal for developments of multi-occupancy properties. Designed to optimise space within the insulating casing, up to three 32 mm OD water pipes can be installed to the exterior of the building, allowing supplies to be installed at multiple levels of a property with a single insulated duct running up the property exterior. Groundbreaker products are designed to


provide long lasting and effective thermal protection to water pipes and fittings outside the thermal envelope of a building. Tey offer frost protection for 3 days or more with temperatures as low as -15°C – temperatures we rarely reach in the UK, even with today’s erratic climate! Carefully fabricated to provide long lasting and


effective thermal protection to water pipes and fittings in external situations, the products exceed British Standard 5422 and all relevant Water Regulations for frost protection.


01379 741993 www.groundbreaker.co.uk 16/08/2023 10:49


www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMM August/September 2023 | 49


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