Building installation
Copper is the only material that can be used in almost all areas of installation technology, such as drinking water, heating, heating oil, gas, liquid gas and solar installations, technical and medical gas supply, refrigeration and compressed air systems, rainwater utilisation systems and certain waste water systems.
In contrast to many other systems, all installation components are compatible with each other, i.e. pipes and fittings from all manufacturers can be combined with each other in compliance with the relevant regulations. The use of copper is also supported by its ease of processing and the almost unlimited compatibility of the individual components with each other.
The universal applicability of copper in supply engineering, which does not exist with any other material, determines the number of regulations that have to be observed. There are neither more regulations to be observed than with other materials, nor are the processing techniques more complicated. Copper applications are merely more diverse.
Tubes and fittings
Copper installation tubes
Copper tubes for plumbing are standardised in DIN EN 1057 (Seamless round copper tubes for water and gas pipes for plumbing and heating systems) and are made of oxygen-free, phosphorus-deoxidised, 99.9 % pure copper ‘Cu-DHP’ (material number CW024A). DIN EN 1057 describes seamless round tubes with an outer diameter of 6 to 276 mm for cold and hot water distribution networks, hot water heating systems including surface heating systems and for the distribution of gaseous and liquid domestic fuels and waste water disposal. The standard also applies to plastic-coated and factory-insulated copper tubes. Other areas of application: thermal solar systems, air-conditioning technology, rainwater utilisation systems, technical gases and compressed air as well as industrial applications. Tubes according to EN 1057 are manufactured in the states soft (R220), semi-hard (R250) and hard (R290). Soft tubes (6-22 mm) are usually supplied in coils of 25 or 50 m, semi-hard (12-28 mm) and hard tubes in rods of 5 m.
At least the following information shall be permanently marked on the tubes: EN 1057 / manufacturer’s mark / date of manufacture (year and quarter or year and month). Furthermore, the following markings shall be permanently or permanently affixed:
- Outside diameter x wall thickness
- Marking of semi-hard tubes by the symbol
Quality-tested copper tubes
- simplified quality mark (circle with centred dot)
- Country of manufacture in German
Copper tubes for gas and drinking water installations
All parts and components (i.e. also copper tubes) intended for use in gas or drinking water installations must comply with the recognised rules of technology (e.g. DIN or DVGW regulations) applicable to these areas of use. The mark of a recognised testing body such as the DVGW (Deutsche Vereinigung des Gas- und Wasserfaches e.V.) indicates that these requirements have been met. Copper tubes for gas and drinking water installations must meet the requirements of DIN EN 1057 and DVGW worksheet GW 392. For fabricators, planners and building owners, this results in the urgent recommendation to use only quality-assured and DVGW-tested products.
DVGW-tested copper tubes must also bear the following marking:
DVGW marking with manufacturer’s registration number “DV-72XX-YZ-XXXX”.
Copper tubes for refrigeration
Copper tubes for refrigeration are standardised in DIN EN 12735-1 (Seamless round copper tubes for refrigeration and air conditioning; Part 1: Tubes for piping systems) and are made of oxygen-free, phosphorus-deoxidised, 99.9 % pure copper ‘Cu-DHP’ (material number CW024A). DIN EN 12735-1 describes seamless round tubes with an outer diameter of 6 to 108 mm (or from 1/8″ to 4 1/8″) for piping systems in refrigeration and air-conditioning technology. Tubes according to EN 12735-1 are manufactured in the states annealed (R220), semi-hard (R250) and hard (R290). Annealed tubes are usually supplied in coils of 25 or 50 m, semi-hard and hard tubes in rods of 3, 5 or 6 m. Each tube must have a diameter of 6 mm (or 1/8″ to 1/8″) at both ends. Each tube must be closed at both ends with a cap, plug or similar to maintain the cleanliness of the internal surfaces during handling and storage. The tubes must also be packed in such a way that they are effectively protected during transport.
Refrigeration tubes shall be packed in uniform batches. Each package shall be legibly and indelibly marked with at least the following information:
EN 12735-1
Manufacturer’s mark
Outside diameter x wall thickness
Quantity and strength condition
Copper tubes for medical gases and vacuum
Copper tubes for medical gases and vacuum are standardised in DIN EN 13348 (seamless round copper tubes for medical gases and vacuum) and are manufactured exclusively from oxygen-free, phosphorus-deoxidised, 99.9 % pure copper ‘Cu-DHP’ (material number CW024A). DIN EN 13348 describes seamless round tubes with an outer diameter of 8 to 108 mm in piping systems with working pressures up to 2000 kPa (= 20 bar) and under vacuum for the media oxygen, nitric oxide, helium, xenon, carbon dioxide, breathing air, mixtures of the gases listed above, compressed air for driving surgical instruments, gases and vapours for anaesthesia as well as vacuum.
Tubes according to DIN EN 13348 are manufactured in the states soft (R220), semi-hard (R250) and hard (R290), whereby soft tubes are usually supplied in coils of 25, 35 or 50 m, semi-hard and hard tubes in rods of 4, 5 or 6 m. Each tube has to be equipped at both ends with a pipe-head. Each tube must be closed at both ends with a cap, plug or similar to maintain the cleanliness of the internal surfaces during handling and storage. The tubes must also be packaged in such a way that they are effectively protected during transport.
At least the following information shall be permanently marked on the tube:
- EN 13348
- Manufacturer’s mark
- Outside diameter x wall thickness
- Date of manufacture (year and quarter or year and month)
- Marking of semi-hard tubes by the symbol
Fittings for gas and drinking water installation
Fittings for installation technology are standardised in DIN EN 1254 1-5. All parts and components (i.e. also fittings for connecting copper tubes) intended for use in gas or drinking water installations must comply with the recognised rules of technology (e.g. DIN / DVGW regulations) applicable to these areas of use. The mark of a recognised testing body such as the DVGW (Deutsche Vereinigung des Gas- und Wasserfaches e.V. – German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water) indicates that these requirements have been met. For fabricators, planners and building owners, this results in the urgent recommendation to use only quality-assured and DVGW-tested products. Fittings for gas and drinking water installations must (analogous to EN 1254) be permanently and legibly marked with the manufacturer’s symbol. If supplementary labelling with the letters ‘DVGW’ is not possible (e.g. for reasons of space), the DVGW test mark must be affixed to the packaging.
Evaluation of water analysis data
Since the chemical relationships are not entirely simple, even for water experts, the Deutsche Kupferinstitut (in addition to the German tube and fitting manufacturers) offers the free evaluation of water analyses.
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