Is this Pex Al Pex pipe any good?

[ProDave]

I am sourcing all my UFH components individually this time rather than buying a kit.  And first off, I need the pipe.

 

This one from Germany is coming in at typically half the price I can find anything in the UK https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEX-AL-PEX-Underfloor-heating-pipe-pipe-16mm-x-2mm-300m-rolls-WRAS-approved/263265218704?hash=item3d4bd47090:g:NbYAAOSwZZlZ5FZI

 

The same stuff appears to be on sale by several different German sellers for almost identical prices.

 

Would you feel safe using it?

[Russell griffiths]

I’m contemplating the same thing at the moment, the only thing about it people don’t like I have been told is it can be a bit awkward to bend neatly. 

 

Anybody got an opinion. 

[ProDave]

I used Pex Al Pex  16 by 2 for the UFH in my last house and didn't have a problem. It's a 2 person job unwinding a big coil like that, but generally Pex Al Pex bends and stays bent.

 

So it wasn't a question of is this the right pipe, but rather would you trust a product from Germany that's half the price of anything I can find in the UK, has all the correct approvals, but no sign of a manufacturers name that I can see in any of the photographs.

[Onoff]

Picture 11 of 12 gives a CJ... code:
a) Chinese trade standard: CJ/T108, CJ/T159, CJ/T111

[Alexphd1]

Sorry bud, I don't think I would. Pretty sure it's Chinese not European made.

[Onoff]

From the Kyoto Dangerous Toy & Lawnmower Company...

[Russell griffiths]

Well spotted. ??

[dpmiller]

so it's unbranded i-pipe then?

[Triassic]

How much of the branded stuff is made in China?

[PeterW]

45 minutes ago, Triassic said:

How much of the branded stuff is made in China?

 

A lot...

 

There is a significant thought process that everything that comes out of China is crap - it’s not .... There are some very good manufacturers who produce high quality products and it’s sheer economies of scale that allow them to produce at lower prices. 

 

There is a lot of crap out there from across the world - it’s not just limited to China !

[Nickfromwales]

It looks ( end section ) identical to what I routinely use. 

Its cheap enough to make me look closely at it that's for sure. 

It'll only ever see <2.0bar in normal service so how bad can it actually be ?

[ProDave]

... and it will only run at low temperature <30 degrees

 

Some say do it. Some say run.

 

[MikeSharp01]

Just taking a quick look round it does come out at about 60% of other sources. I am also in the market for a 300m coil but had not started my search, now ones eyes are open in a big way!

[Alexphd1]

1 hour ago, Triassic said:

How much of the branded stuff is made in China?

 

A lot of the pipe is still manufactured in Germany and Italy.

[newhome]

Here’s a link to a site manufacturing pipe in China for info. 

 

http://m.sunplastpipe.com/multilayer-pipe/astm-f-1281-standard-en-iso21003-standard-ce.html

 

The following suggests that they supply to companies who wish to sell with their own branding? 

 

Markings on the pipe

Customer's logo can be stamped

 

If reclaiming the tax is important check whether they will supply something that HMRC will allow otherwise the cost differential is less. 

 

And if you do order via the original link it appears that they will accept a ‘best offer’ from feedback received. 

 

Worth an enquiry to ask for a free sample maybe? 

 

iPhones are made in China 

 

 

 

 

[Alexphd1]

I wouldn't touch a iPhone with a bargepole!!!! ???   

I am happy to stick to something that has been installed locally for over 20 years with no problems. 

It would be interesting on how much it costs direct.... buildhub group purchase.... 20km of 16mm buildhub branded mlcp..... 

Edited May 13, 2018 by Alexphd1

[newhome]

25 minutes ago, Alexphd1 said:

 

I wouldn't touch a iPhone with a bargepole!!!!

 

 

Ha ha, don’t you think that’s why I wrote that, so someone would bite  . Marmite. Love mine. 

 

Wonder if there are uk sellers who buy pipe from such factories though and rebrand it? I didn’t know my solar thermal panels were Chinese until @billt told me. 

 

 

 

 

[Triassic]

Why use 16mm rather than 15mm?

 

if you use 15mm you can use any left overs for other water supply jobs. 16mm just adds to the plastic waste problem!

[dpmiller]

16mm tends to be cheaper than 15mm. And if required, you can get fittings to go 16-15 and 16-BSP.

[MikeSharp01]

Hi @ProDave did you finally decide one way or another. 

[ProDave]

No not yet, still deciding.

[Onoff]

This is where I got mine (back in Dec 2015  :

 

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/esavep/?_dmd=1&_nkw=16mm+pex-al-pex

 

 

 

[Nickfromwales]

8 hours ago, Onoff said:

This is where I got mine (back in Dec 2015  :

 

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/esavep/?_dmd=1&_nkw=16mm+pex-al-pex

 

 

 

Down to 50p a metre, so how much cheaper do you want than that?

[Triassic]

300 metres for £127. So 43pence per metre.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Underfloor-heating-pipe-PEX-AL-PEX-pipe-16mm-x-2mm-300m-rolls-WRAS-approved/122806677415?hash=item1c97d92fa7:g:tuoAAOSwy0JaCTeI

Edited May 16, 2018 by Triassic

[dpmiller]

China, not Germany.