18 Appointments & News
Perfect pipe boxing with Encasement
R
etrofi t upgrades to older housing stock, such as fuel effi cient low-carbon heating improvements or fi re sprinkler systems, can
present several challenges to social landlords, as the associated pipework needs to be concealed quickly and cost-eff ectively. Boiler upgrading to more fuel-effi cient models,
or the installation of low-carbon district heating systems and ground or air source heat pumps, typically utilise surface mounted pipework. In many cases, other utilities, such as electrical cabling, will also need to be concealed. It’s a similar issue for fi re sprinkler systems. In
new builds, pipework runs can be incorporated into at the design stage and can be hidden within risers and ceiling voids, but for retrofi tted installations, this is not an option as surface mounting is usually the only practical option. However, a key benefi t of surface mounted
pipework is the simplicity and comparative speed with which it can be installed by skilled contractors, helping to reduce the time on site and keep costs under control. Encasement’s pre-formed plywood boxing
solutions are designed for interior use, the company’s Riva and Versa pipe & fi re sprinkler boxing, alongside its boiler pipe casings, are already in widespread use across UK social housing projects.
Encasement’s range also includes metal boxing
to conceal exterior services. Arma metal casing provides a highly eff ective solution to cover and protect distributed heating and ground source system pipework, as well as electrical cabling and air source heat pump installations. Bespoke manufactured to individual
project specifi cations from 2 mm thick aluminium, as standard, they provide tough and durable protection. Encasement’s experience of working with
Riva pipe boxing Manufactured from pre-formed plywood and
pre-fi nished with a decorative resin impregnated paper, these inherent features remove the need to fabricate and paint pipe boxing on site, which helps save time and money.
Versa fi re sprinkler boxing
UK contractors on countless social housing projects has formed the basis of a new video, which illustrates how installation times can be reduced signifi cantly when using pre-formed boxing compared to site made. Another advantage of pre-formed casings
becomes clearer when assessing ‘whole life’ costs, which escalate signifi cantly when routine maintenance visits are considered, as in most situations, site made casings are damaged or destroyed during their removal. Also, a joiner may be required to remove the
site made boxing prior to any maintenance being carried out by a service engineer and would then need to revisit the property once the work is completed to either refi t the casing or construct a new one. None of this applies with preformed pipe boxing.
It is usually a simple process of removing the plastic screwcaps and screws so the boxing can be removed and replaced quickly and easily. For boiler pipe casings, this process is even simpler, as they are oſt en self-supporting and
Housing Management & Maintenance Autumn 2026 On site, time is money, which is why the
simplicity, speed and economies that can be achieved using preformed boxing solutions can be a key advantage when planning housing upgrade programmes. Scan the QR codes to view the pre- formed vs site made comparison video or visit the Encasement website.
01733 266 889
www.encasement.co.uk
Arma metal pipe boxing
require no screws to hold them together, so they can be easily removed and replaced in just a matter of seconds.
Arma concealing heat pump pipework
Comparison video
Pipe boxing range
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