What is BS 8537 - Press-fit copper fittings about?
Press fittings are becoming more widely used in plumbing, heating, and chilled water installations.
BS 8537 will help manufacturers, suppliers, or specifiers of copper tube fittings adapt to the increasing demand and ensure their products are suitable for use.
Specifying to BS 8537 will help manufacturers of press fittings find wider acceptance of press fittings in the UK market. Consultants often prefer to quote compliance to the standard so they remain independent from endorsing a manufacturer’s product. Pipe fittings conforming to BS 8537 are more likely to be referenced in contracts.
BS 8537 is the British Standard that specifies requirements for materials and design of press-fit copper fittings intended to carry water or gas. Press fittings (also known as crimp fittings) are crimped, by the closure of a special jaw within a press machine, onto a tube. The crimping process mechanically locks a fitting onto a tube and presses a sealing ring within the fitting against the surface of a tube to make a seal between them.
Press fittings are quick to install and unlike solder fittings do not require the use of heat/blow torch to make a joint.
Who is BS 8537 - Press-fit copper fittings for?
- Fitting manufacturers in the UK, Europe, and the Far East
- Procurers of press fittings
- Construction industry consulting engineers
- Construction and engineering consultants
- Mechanical service contractors
- Local authorities.
Why should you use - Press-fit copper fittings?
BS 8537 gives methods of test for copper press end connections of plumbing fittings up to 108 mm in diameter, used for the purpose of joining copper tubes conforming to BS EN 1057 and non-copper metallic tubes that are intended for use in hot and cold water, heating and cooling systems, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas systems.
BS 8537 is related to parts of the BS EN 1254 Copper and copper alloys. Plumbing fittings series of standards for copper and copper alloy fittings for joining metallic tubes or plastics pipes. BS EN 1254 is published in five parts:
- Part 1: Fittings with ends for capillary soldering or capillary brazing to copper tubes
- Part 2: Fittings with compression ends for use with copper tubes
- Part 3: Fittings with compression ends for use with plastics pipes
- Part 4: Fittings combining other end connections with capillary or compression ends
- Part 5: Fittings with short ends for capillary brazing to copper tubes
What are the contents of BS 8537 - Press-fit copper fittings?
- Scope
- Normative references
- Terms and definitions
- Operating temperatures and pressures
- Plumbing fitting press end and tube compatibility
- Plumbing fittings
- Evaluation of plumbing fittings
- Type tests
- Routine tests
- Designation
- Permanent and durable marking
- Documentation
- Copper and copper alloys commonly used for the manufacture of plumbing fitting press ends
- Method for testing the leaktightness of joints and tube under internal hydrostatic pressure
- Method for testing leaktightness of joints and tube under internal pneumatic pressure
- Method for testing resistance to pull-out
- Test method for resistance of plumbing fittings with Type 1 press ends to temperature cycling
- Test method for the resistance of joints to working temperature
- Method for testing the resistance of joints with tubes to pressure cycling
- Test method for the leaktightness of joints with tube under vacuum
- Test method for the resistance of joints and tube to vibration
- I.4.3.2.1 Carry out a test for leaktightness under internal pneumatic pressure in accordance with 8.4.1.2
- Test method for the resistance of joints to static flexural strength for plumbing fittings with Type 2 press ends
- Test method for the resistance of joints to static flexural strength for plumbing fittings with Type 2 press ends
- Test method for the resistance of joints on plumbing fittings with Type 2 press ends to high temperature
- Pressure test for plumbing fittings bodies with as-cast microstructure or fabricated by welding or brazing
- Determination of mean depth of dezincification
- Bibliography
- Arrangement of apparatus for leaktightness under internal hydrostatic pressure test
- Assembled test sample and apparatus for leaktightness under internal pneumatic pressure test
- Test assembly for resistance to pull-out test
- Test assembly for systems based on tubes measuring ≤54 mm
- Test assembly for systems based on tubes measuring 66.7 mm to 108 mm 28
- Cycle times
- Typical test arrangement for testing the resistance of joints with a tube to pressure cycling
- Typical test assembly
- Test assembly for a vibration test
- Typical test assembly for testing the resistance of joints of plumbing fittings with Type 2 press ends to static flexural strength
- Test assembly for testing the resistance of plumbing fittings to high temperature
- Typical arrangement of apparatus and test sample for an internal pressure test of plumbing fitting bodies with as-cast microstructure or fabricated by welding or brazing
- Example of contiguous fields
- List of tables
- Operating temperatures and pressures for Type 1 and Type 2 press ends
- Minimum wall thicknesses of copper tube with R250/R290 temper conforming to BS EN 1057 and suitable for press end jointing
- Minimum bore diameter
- Tests for plumbing fittings with Type 1 and Type 2 press ends
- Temperature cycling parameters for water applications
- Vibration test parameters
- Examples of copper and copper alloys commonly used for plumbing fittings
- Tensile force
- Bending force
