Not all copper tube is created equal and installing brands of copper tube that do not consistently conform to AS1432 can result in costly consequences that increase risk and liability for plumbers, builders, developers, designers and merchants.
Copper plumbing tube is one of those products that we practically take for granted – Understandable, considering most of the tube we use is hidden behind walls where we never see it, and well, copper plumbing has been around for as long as most of us can remember. And it lasts. Take the original plumbing in your 65-year-old home that has outlived Grandpa; you can put money on the fact that the piping is copper.
Despite the fact that copper plumbing tube works so well for so long, the tube-making process is much more complex than one might imagine and that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Kembla applies its 100 years of experience and stringent quality control systems to ensure every length of copper tube is manufactured to Australia’s quality standards.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about other brands of copper tube in the Australian market today. Recent tests of 62 samples from 6 manufactures found that 92% did not meet the requirements of Australian Standards. Installing these brands of copper tube can result in costly consequences that increase risk and liability for plumbers, builders, developers, designers and merchants.
The consequences of installing copper tube that does not meet AS1432 and AS1571 Standards:
| NON CONFORMANCE | CONSEQUENCES |
|---|---|
| Outside diameter under | Increases the velocity of the system |
| Minimum | No capillary action when soldering resulting in an incomplete seal, and reduced joint strength |
| Outside diameter over | Affect the capillary action of brazing (no solder flow) |
| Press-fit fittings will have a lower pull out strength | |
| Maximum | Tube may not fit within fittings |
| May have difficulty bending tube | |
| Wall thickness under | Lowers the burst pressure of the tube |
| minimum limit | Will effect length of service if in a corrosive environment |
| Wall thickness over | Increases the velocity of the system – impacts on lifespan of the tube and connected tapware |
| maximum limit | |
| Marking and identification | May affect traceability to manufacturer |
| not to standard | May affect certification of an installation |
| Cleanliness failed | Can foul refrigerants or medical gas |
| Potential for explosive combination | |
| Can interfere with pumps and compressors | |
| Incorrect Hardness | Can affect ease of use, especially when bending or forming the tube |
| Contributing factor to tube collapse during pressing of Press-Fit fittings | |
| Chemical Analysis | Low phosphorous can lead to cracking during brazing |
| High levels of impurities (e.g. lead, iron, antimony) will affect the workability/ductility of the tube | |
| High Eccentricity | Can affect ability to bend tube |
| Can prevent effective joints using press-fit fittings | |
| Contributing factor to tube collapse during pressing of Press-fit fittings |
THE KEMBLA DIFFERENCE
MM Kembla’s manufacturing processes and quality systems are built upon 100 years of experience in manufacturing copper tube in Port Kembla, Australia. You can trust that Kembla Copper Tube is the most reliable product in the Australian market, owing to Kembla’s:
- Comprehensive ISO 9001 certified quality management system that ensures consistent quality of every length of copper tube, E.g. Chemical, concentricity and wall thickness.
- Quality standards and testing that go above and beyond Australian Standards requirements, E.g. Sampling rate and traceability.
- In-house chemical composition analysis to ensure our tube contains minimum 99.90% copper content.
- Accessibility of product, with state representation and warehousing locations across Australia.
- Technical support that is second to none; providing on-site service, investigative analysis and reports, laboratory analysis, test certificates , technical literature, advice, design manuals and more, all as part of the Kembla service.
