Crimping versus soldering: saving time and safety

By JMG Communications Published on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 01:00

Photo credits : VIEGA

For 20 years now, Viega has been developing a technique that allows for faster, easier and safer domestic installation of copper pipes: crimping.
This crimping technique provides a more suitable alternative to the brazing or soldering practices usually used depending on the fluid and the use.
Its faster implementation, which can be around 50% faster, and the increased safety it guarantees have enabled it to be approved by many European countries, even for gas installations.

VIEGA

Crimping instead of soldering: the film!
In a timed and filmed demonstration, during which the techniques of crimping and brazing are contrasted, the Viega company establishes that crimping provides an undeniable time saving and requires less bulky equipment.
This particularly explicit film can be viewed on the Viega company website:
www.viega.fr/film

One tool for all applications: the Viega Pressgun
No oxygen or gas cylinders, no blowtorch, no welding accessories. Instead, one of the three convenient Viega Pressguns is all you need. A single pressing tool is all you need for the Viega pressing technology.

An economical technique in terms of time and costs
Viega pressing tools allow craftsmen to forgo the hassle of transporting and the ongoing expense of gas cylinders and soldering accessories. Viega's versatile press guns are therefore efficient across the board. They are lightweight, fast, safe, and low-maintenance.

Crimping, safer!
All Viega press fittings offer a unique safety factor:
Viega's SC-Contur. It guarantees that unpressed fittings are visibly leaky. It works with both compressed air and water.
The SC-Contur, which is only available for Viega press fittings, plays a decisive role in providing the safety guarantee: in the unpressed state, water already visibly escapes between 1,0 and 6,5 bar when the system is filled.
During the "dry" leak test, the pressure drops immediately over the entire pressure range from 22,0 mbar to 3,0 bar. The unpressed connection can then be removed immediately and prevent subsequent damage when using the system.

Crimping, more flexible and stable!
The rapid implementation of Viega press fittings is easily seen after just 3 steps. Once the pipe has been cut to length, the press fitting installed and the insertion depth checked, the pressing is carried out in a single operation.
Calibration, required by all other piping systems, is not necessary. Depending on the tube dimensions, this allows for a labor saving of 30 to 50% compared to brazing.
Crimping the fittings with the sealing ring upstream and downstream of the rib ensures increased resistance to longitudinal forces.
Crimping operations are carried out using crimping tools and their appropriate crimping jaws. In addition to mains-powered crimping tools, battery-powered crimping tools offer great flexibility: their compact design allows them to work in hard-to-reach areas. The articulated jaws can be rotated 180° to provide even more space.

Crimping, cleaner!
The Viega pressing technique allows for much cleaner work.
Laborious preparatory and rework, such as drying pipes or removing burn and soldering marks, is no longer necessary.
Even hard-to-reach places can be reached easily and without the work leaving any traces.

No more risk of fire
Another reason for the international success of the press technology is the greater safety of use compared to soldering. Since there is no open flame during the press process, and therefore no risk of fire, it is possible to dispense with the corresponding protective measures. This is why the press technology often allows pipes to be installed without interrupting business operations, even in industrial areas exposed to explosion hazards. The fact that the Viega range includes suitable pipe systems made of stainless steel (Sanpress or Sanpress Inox) and galvanized steel (Prestabo) makes the work of professionals much easier. This makes it possible to carry out pipe installations for a wide variety of media with a single supplier, a press tool and the appropriate press jaws.
You will find more information on this safe and economical crimping technique below www.viega.com