Pipe Lagging - Do we need it?

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Discussion started by David Austin
Started on Sat, 14/11/2009 - 16:59

We're building a new house, with underfloor heating and concrete floors upstairs and down. We are using copper pipes for hot and cold water and wonder if we should be having the pipes lagged. Our plumber has lagged the hot water circulation pipes, but argues that we dont need to lag the hot water tails or any of the cold water pipes within the house.

I'm surprised we don't lag all pipes as a matter of course; to keep cold water cold and hot water hot; preventing condensation drips spoiling ceilings etc. But this is a layperson's view.

Are there regulations that cover this, and if so, what do they say?

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#1

Re: Pipe Lagging - Do we need it?

Simon Johnson (not verified)
Wed, 25/11/2009 - 11:20
Simon Johnson's photo

BS 5250:2002 and Approved Document F2 (1995) of the Building Regulations recommend that all pipes be lagged for condensation control purposes. The specifics are dependent on the system's operating parameters, but as a rule of thumb you should always look to lag bare pipework as condensation can cause structural damage. Its relatively easy to do, and doesn't cost that much either. Speaking as someone who sells the stuff for a living I am of course inclined to say such things, but it wouldn't hurt to look into the regulations for yourself to see what you need to do.

#2

Re: Pipe Lagging - Do we need it?

Anonymous (not verified)
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 08:23
Anonymous's photo

while fitting a new bathroom I decided to lag all the hot and cold pipes in my house (where accessible) with a good quality foam lagging and also covered the hot pipes lagging with foil. The whole system is now incredibly quiet. The cold water now runs very cold which is great for making up drinks in the summer and the hot water was running so hot I had to turn the thermostat down on our tank by a few degrees. You will save alot of water as you will no longer need to run off so much to get the hot and cold water to the taps.
The lagging and foil cost around £30 for the whole project and the savings I will make on our water meter and reduction on temp of the boiler will probably pay for itself in a few months.

#3

Re: Pipe Lagging - Do we need it?

Rob Willan (not verified)
Tue, 15/12/2009 - 19:26
Rob Willan's photo

Yes we do!!, but watch out for mice!! We are in a house with mostly new plumbing dating from 2000. We are staggered that, with the prevailing concern over energy use, the previous owners, and Building Control, allowed long pipe runs (25m), under ventilated ground floors and in ventilated eaves, with somewhat casual Climaflex insulation - i.e. poor attention to detail. The insulation has been shredded by mice!! On first moving in, I covered all pipework I could get access to with fibreglass blanket and have 20 or so bait points, and blocked up all holes I could find, but mice are still getting in.

I have asked several pipe insulation manufacturers and the Energy Saving Trust if there is mouse-proof pipe insulation on the market - apparently not.

We are now taking up all the flooring on the ground floor, adding more pipe lagging, and crimping on 6 mm square garden mesh around the pipes we can reach. Seems a lot of bother, but we are also insulation between the joists, so once that is done the pipework will no longer be accessible. Each room will have a small inspection hatch to see if there is still mouse activity and to allow rebaiting.

We are very disillusioned with local building Control, also with the Government who have not recognised how difficult and expensive retrofitting insulation is. In fact two weeks after Copenhagen, they will raise the tax on insulation! How stupid is that?? So if you are a newbuild, design and detail well, insulate your pipework and overspec your insulation overall. It is really frustrating retrofitting!

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