PHAM NEWS | JULY/AUGUST 2025 30 Pipes, Fittings& Valves


How to handle heritage projects


Heritage properties often pose a variety of maintenance challenges for installers. Drew Clough from Viega UK explores how modern press connections are helping to overcome them, by off ering a safe, fast and fl ame-free solution.


E


arlier this year, the UK government announced a


£270 million investment into


the arts, museums and heritage infrastructure. Over £30 million of this has been allocated specifi cally to critical maintenance and upgrades. It’s a welcome and long-overdue commitment to the buildings that help tell the story of our nation, but the opportunity this investment represents comes with its own risk. Renovating heritage buildings


is no ordinary task, with one mistake potentially leading to irreparable loss. We’ve seen it happen before with the devastating 2019 fi re at Notre- Dame Cathedral in Paris, which was believed to have started during renovation work. In the UK the Cutty Sark, a 19th-century British maritime treasure, was severely damaged by fi re in 2007 during conservation eff orts. In both cases, renovation work intended to preserve history instead became the source of catastrophe. It’s why fi re prevention during


maintenance is becoming far more critical and product choice is changing to suit. Flame-free press connection technology is one area which is growing in demand because of the benefi ts it brings. By removing the need for hot works, press systems drastically reduce the fi re risk associated with traditional methods like soldering and welding. It’s faster, cleaner, and signifi cantly safer. All without compromising on performance.


Special needs There are approximately 400,000+ heritage sites in the UK,


with press off ering up to 80% faster connection times.


Pressing ahead The installation speeds off ered by press aren’t the only time effi ciency off ered to contractors. Where traditional connection methods require open fl ame, press connections don’t. Switching means no need for on-site permits, no fi re safety concerns, and no time- consuming fi re watch. It’s not uncommon for heritage projects to specify no hot works from the beginning. This speed doesn’t come at the


cost of reliability. Heritage sites have stood the test of time, so the products used within their walls should be up to this challenge too. The uniformity and consistency provided ensures installations are completed to a high-quality standard. The British Library is home to


more than 170 million artefacts and regularly welcomes visitors seven days a week. This meant the upgrade of the heating system to be supplied by new solar thermal and PVT panels would require a fast, fl ame-free and future-proof solution. Here, press connections could enable easy installation in the complex underbelly of the library without impacting day-to- day use.


Drew Clough Marketing manager at Viega UK


Peace of mind There’s a wider message here. As engineers, designers, and stewards of our national heritage, we are increasingly asked to balance the demands of sustainability, performance and cost-effi ciency with the equally vital responsibility of conservation. In this context, choosing the


each with their own unique blend of architectural legacy, material sensitivity and regulatory oversight. Whether it’s the ornate ceilings of the Banqueting House or the climate-sensitive halls of the British Library, each space requires installers to work with a balance of conservation and performance. Press technology is ideal in


these applications as rather than using open fl ame or the heavy equipment needed for welding or threading, it uses precision- controlled compression. That alone signifi cantly lowers the risk profi le for retrofi t and upgrade work. Extensive repair works that would otherwise be too diffi cult to achieve with traditional methods can now be undertaken without issue. But press advantages go


further. The speed of installation, the consistency of joint quality, and the fl exibility to work in confi ned or awkward spaces make press systems ideally suited to the constraints of heritage projects. Press connections were used


to great eff ect in the heating and chilled water update at the


Viega press technology, including Megapress, Profi press, Smartpress and Sanpress Inox, is safeguarding UK heritage sites like the British Library (pictured), Banqueting House and Queen’s House with fl ame-free, fast- install systems, proven solutions for modern upgrades in sensitive historic environments


Queen’s House, Greenwich. The 400-year-old building demands unparalleled levels of protection; one missed connection or leak could cause irreparable damage. The principles of Viega press technology ensured no connections were missed as a result of installation error.


Minimising disruption As the government’s funding starts to make its way into live projects, the need for future- proof engineering solutions which avoid disturbance grows.


These are public spaces, often still in use, and installation timelines are tight. This was critical at the National


Maritime Museum, where system shutdowns were limited to 24 hours as the artefacts required stable temperature control. Press systems enabled rapid installation and reconnection of heating and chilled systems without the risk of contamination or disturbance. Traditional methods simply wouldn’t have allowed for any meaningful progress to be made, especially


right technology isn’t just a question of specifi cation. It’s a matter of trust. The installations become


part of that site’s legacy, and the connections must hold for decades. The work must leave no mark on the past, even as it supports the future. Press technology off ers


installers a solution to these needs, combining modern engineering and precision with the sensitivity and care that heritage work demands. From Tudor palaces to Victorian institutions, it is helping to deliver upgrades that are as unobtrusive as they are eff ective. At Viega, we’ve seen fi rst-hand


how the right approach can protect the past while enabling the future. Our involvement in these landmark projects is not just about product, it’s about partnership, precision and peace of mind. In the end, preserving history


doesn’t mean resisting change. It means using the best tools available to ensure that the buildings that defi ne our story can continue telling it for generations to come. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/725/56


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