PLUMBING & DRAINAGE PRESSING MATTERS
Neil Gaffney, managing director of Instantor, shares his perspective on the latest developments in the plumbing and heating segment.
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nstantor manufactures superior plumbing and heating products for merchants, specifiers and installers and is renowned for its press solutions, which place ease of installation at the forefront of thinking. The company has manufactured products for professional installers since 1926. Instantor products, including its press fittings and all- in-one press solution, are utilised to facilitate hot and cold water supply to bathroom fixtures such as sinks and showers, as well as for central heating and underfloor heating systems.
The Instantor Press System is an all-in one solution, combining press fittings and Pex-AI-Pex pipe. Instantor Press Fittings are manufactured using high-grade CW617N brass and 304 stainless steel, which are corrosion-resistant materials that are built to be long-lasting and reduce the risk of leaks and contamination.
The Press Fittings are available in sizes from 16 mm up to 63 mm. The Instantor Pex-Al-Pex is a multilayer pipe for use in potable water, underfloor heating and all general heating and plumbing applications. Available in sizes up to 63 mm in straight lengths and up to 32 mm in coils, it is butt-welded providing a solid and resilient finish and is 100% oxygen and water vapour tight.
Lead-free brass
In response to growing concerns over drinking water quality and associated health risks, Instantor has enhanced its range of compression fittings by introducing lead-free brass options.
These fittings should be used on all drinking water supplies, including bathroom taps, to ensure water safety.
The new lead-free compression fittings by Instantor are manufactured with CW511L brass. This high grade material is used on all parts of the compression fittings that come into contact with the water supply. The material complies with the revised European Commission Drinking Water Directive, which aims to regulate the use of lead in components used in water supply systems. The current maximum limit for lead in drinking water is 10 µg/l. The revised directive states
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that by January 2036, the limit will decrease to 5 µg/l. Instantor’s press fittings, pipe and tools are designed as a flame-free, quick and reliable solution for plumbing projects on any scale; domestic, commercial and industrial. Using a press tool, the installer simply crimps the fitting securely on to the pipe in a couple of seconds. This can save up to 35 per cent of the installer’s time compared to more traditional methods.
No heat required As a press tool is used to crimp the fitting securely and safely onto the pipe, the need for heat based methods, such as welding and soldering, is removed. This eliminates the risk of scorching or heat marks, resulting in a neater appearance. It also saves the installer’s time as they are not required to return to check the site, as they do following a hot work method, to ensure the site is safe.
The Instantor team is always on hand to support merchants in a variety of ways, such as staff training on Instantor products, holding demo days at merchant stores including limited time special offers, providing marketing materials and co-branded promotional assets. Our after-sales service offers additional support to merchants with any post installation queries too.
Training allows trade counter staff to better understand its products and the services it offers. The Instantor Mobile Training Academy allows merchants to experience products first hand.
In addition to being safer and quicker to use, as the need for heat based methods such as brazing and soldering have been removed, press fittings are also known for their robust design. Additionally, press fit solutions are a cost effective solution as labour time is reduced and less fittings are required when compared with traditional plumbing methods, potentially saving material costs too. To stay competitive merchants should stock the latest time-saving technology and components, with one of the main challenges in the industry being the increasing shortage of plumbing engineers.
This means that there is a greater focus on time saving technology so that plumbing engineers can get more jobs done, without compromising on the quality of their installation service. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net June 2025
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