Viega elevates crimping to the status of an essential solution

Viega Profipress G makes pressing technology faster and more economical

The HNBR sealing ring and the SC-Contur system ensure safe gas installations with Profipress G.

For the installation of drinking water pipes, pressing technology is increasingly used, which is significantly faster and therefore more economical than soldering. Viega's Profipress G system, an ATG-approved pressing technology, is now also available for gas installations. The special HNBR rubber seal and the SC-Contour, which is only available for Viega fittings, provide maximum safety.

The success of the press fitting technique began in 1995, when Viega developed the Profipress range, the first copper system capable of this technique and ready for series production. Since then, other advanced piping systems have been developed, such as Sanpress Inox and Pexfit, a multi-layer pipe with PPSU or bronze fittings.

It is therefore possible to carry out all common installations using the crimping technique - drinking water and heating installations as well as gas pipe networks - thanks to the numerous nominal diameters and the many suitable installation components, such as valves, flanges, transition fittings.

No fire protection required

This rapid development, which replaces welding or brazing with crimping, was motivated in particular by three reasons:

• The crimping technique is significantly faster; the time saving per connection is between 30 and 50%, depending on the dimensions of the tube.

• Crimping does not require any tedious preparatory or subsequent work and does not require any fire protection.

• Piping systems installed using Viega press fittings are equipped with SC-Contur. This ensures that accidentally missed press connections are immediately noticed when filling the system or during a leak test. Only Viega piping systems offer this safety feature, which has been repeatedly inspected by neutral testing agencies.



 

Overall, the crimping technique is therefore significantly more economical and safer than soldering or welding, which automatically leads to greater cost-effectiveness in implementation.

Especially since it is possible to implement all the connections of the different piping systems using the same Viega pressing tools. It is therefore possible to use the electric Pressgun 4E and 4B pressing tools or the compact Picco battery-powered machine, allowing very practical work, especially in very confined spaces. Only the jaws and press rings will need to be modified according to the corresponding diameter.

Viega has thus managed to keep investment costs within reasonable limits during the transition to press technology. In addition, using a single press tool for all pipe installations significantly simplifies implementation on the construction site.

Highly resistant HNBR gasket

Thanks to the ATG approval granted by CERTIGAZ for the Profipress G copper piping system, Viega is now also able to offer these safety and processing advantages for gas installations, in sizes from 12 to 54 mm. A 100% leak-tightness of the professionally pressed connection is guaranteed thanks to the use of a special HNBR seal, even in the event of a fire. In an HTB test in Germany, the pressed connection was exposed to temperatures of 650 °C and showed no leaks even after 30 minutes.

At the same time, this HNBR seal, specially developed for use in fittings for gas installations, is resistant to ozone and carbon. It does not break in installations in the open air or exposed to sunlight. This has been proven, among other things, in the context of extensive tests to which all fittings and molded parts were subjected. These tests have shown that the press-fitting of Profipress G fittings is significantly superior to brazing. The press points from the building connection to the gas meter and the various sampling points benefit from a long service life.

This also applies to any JPG and JPC threaded connections. Viega was the first manufacturer to have these transition pieces inspected and certified.

No more confusion

To prevent any risk of confusion between Profipress G fittings for gas installations and those for other systems, the crimping moulding of Profipress G fittings bears the characteristic yellow dot.

Advice from competent professionals

The Profipress G copper piping system has been used for years for the installation of gas pipes, particularly in the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and, of course, Germany.