PIPED SERVICES
Seal of approval: durable airtight pipe and flue penetrations
Meeting Part L requirements for airtightness doesn’t have to mean extra time, cost or risk on site, says Dean Heathfield, commercial director at Talon
R
esidential buildings are a significant source of carbon emissions in the UK, and reducing their impact is central to strategies for achieving Net Zero. Cutting emissions from both new and
existing homes is therefore a national priority. The Future Homes Standard, due to come into full effect by the end of 2025, requires new homes to produce 75–80% fewer carbon emissions and to achieve this, attention to detail in airtightness is more critical than ever. One area that has historically been overlooked is service penetrations. Holes drilled through walls and floors for pipework or flues often leave gaps that allow warm air to escape and cold air to enter. These draughts increase heating demand, which in most homes is still met by fossil fuels, and that means higher bills for occupants as well as higher emissions overall. The 2022 update to Part L of the Building Regulations sought to address these issues directly. It made airtight sealing around pipe and flue penetrations a requirement not an afterthought. Pipe seals or grommets must now be used and photographic evidence of their installation must be submitted to the SAP Assessor for the Building Regulations England Part L (BREL) report. Failure to demonstrate airtight sealing can lead to significant delays on site. In some cases, it may mean disassembly and retrofitting, adding both time and cost for installers, contractors and developers.
The old methods
Traditionally, installers relied on mortar, foam or silicone to seal around pipes and flues. These solutions have long been recognised as imperfect. Mortar takes time to mix and apply, can weather or crack and rarely delivers a clean finish while expanding foams and sealants often shrink or discolour. All three can deteriorate over time, compromising airtightness and inviting draughts, damp and even pests.
They also add to the risk and cost of working at height. For boiler flues in particular, applying mortar or silicone externally often requires ladders or scaffolding, a process that increases time on site and raises health and safety concerns.
PipeSnug and FlueSnug were developed to offer a simple, all-in-one solution. Fitted in seconds, they create a durable airtight seal around pipe and flue penetrations, inside and out, without the need for messy sealants, costly air sealing tape or time-consuming mortar. PipeSnug is available in 32mm and 40mm sizes for solvent-weld waste pipes, fitting into a 52mm core-drilled hole. The 110mm version suits soil pipes and fits into a 152mm core hole, working with both push-fit and solvent-weld fittings. All are available in black, white and grey, allowing them to blend neatly with different finishes. Boiler flue replacements on finished exteriors have always been a source of frustration. Aligning the new flue with the old core hole, then patching up with mortar or silicone, is a slow process that rarely produces a neat result. FlueSnug was developed specifically for this challenge. Available as a standard version or as the FS5 (designed for 5-inch boiler flue holes) it provides a precise fit that ensures airtightness and compliance without the need for extra drilling or patching. The FS5 works with all 100mm boiler flues, fitting directly into a 127mm core- drilled hole and tackles a long-standing issue with boiler swaps – aligning the new flue with the existing core. When the hole is already there, no installer wants to enlarge it or pack it with additional materials for a tight fit. The FS5 fits cleanly, removing the need for additional materials and making life easier for the installer. As well as improving the finish, FlueSnug
preserves the integrity of the wall and can be removed without damage if the flue needs to be repositioned. This makes it especially valuable in retrofit projects, where changes to boiler position or alignment are common. Both these solutions are UV resistant, designed to withstand exposure to sunlight
over the lifetime of the building. The larger FlueSnugs (not the FS5) are flexible enough to be pushed through a core-drilled hole from the inside, yet rigid enough to snap back into place against the wall outside. This simple design allows installers to complete the work without ladders or scaffolding, reducing the risk of falls from height.
For housebuilders, PipeSnug and FlueSnug make compliance with Part L easy to demonstrate. Their distinctive appearance means that Building Control inspectors and SAP Assessors can instantly recognise compliant sealing in photographic evidence for the BREL report. This reduces the risk of delays and avoids the possibility of remedial work later in the build. They offer faster installation, reduced
reliance on additional materials, simple compliance checks and a professional, tidy finish. At a time when developers face increasing scrutiny over energy efficiency, they help ensure standards are met without adding unnecessary complexity.
Safer working from the inside
Beyond compliance and speed, the solutions bring a further benefit: they can be installed from inside the property. Both are flexible enough to be pushed through a core-drilled hole, yet rigid enough to snap back into place against the exterior wall. This feature reduces the need for ladders or scaffolding, helping to cut the risk of falls from height, still one of the leading causes of serious injury in construction. By removing the need for external finishing, the products not only save time but also support safer working practices. Reducing emissions from buildings is non- negotiable. Every poorly sealed pipe or flue penetration contributes to unnecessary heat loss, driving up energy demand and carbon emissions. Products like these are a small but significant part of the solution, making it easier for installers and contractors to deliver homes that are efficient, compliant and ready for the low-carbon future.
34 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2025 Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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