Mains Inlet through loft

[JLS]

Was asked to look at a Mains inlet today that the property owner wants moving. It currently comes into the hall in black HDPE , through a concrete slab and about 6 inches up the wall in copper, then poly up the wall and through the unheated loft space. It's not pretty, but at least whoever fitted it used 4" insulation in the loft. The owner wants to have a new water pipe laid from the meter into the garage and from there up the wall and into the loft space. Doesn't sound like such a good idea to me but on reflection isn't vastly different to what they currently have. My question is, is that allowable under water/building regs? I know that normally it's 750mm from an outside wall or sealed both ends and insulated if running up the wall but that's assuming it's inside the building by that point. Oh, and it's a bungalow so if they were to go ahead the length of pipe from where it breaks ground to where it drops into the kitchen has got to be 40-50m.

 

[Timmy D]

I’d be adding trace heating and insulation to the external run.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I would say it’s fine from the meter underground to the garage stop tap after it comes out of the slab would use some insulation also

then from the stop tap to where the old stop tap is I guess? Would use a coil of speedfit so it’s in one length and use min of 19mm wall insulation will be fine

 

[JLS]

Good call on the trace heating. Thanks lads

 

[Ric2013]

I'd want a stopcock at the first accessible point within the building. In the garage, perhaps.

 

[Chuck]

Oh, and it's a bungalow so if they were to go ahead the length of pipe from where it breaks ground to where it drops into the kitchen has got to be 40-50m.

That's quite a distance.

Obviously frost is a problem in winter but I'd also be worried about how warm the water standing in the pipe might get in summer if it's above ground particularly if it's not shaded from direct sunlight. I seem to recall that one should keep potable water supplies below 20°C, but I can't remember where I got the figure from or whether it was a reg or just 'good practice'.

 

[Timmy D]

That's quite a distance.

Obviously frost is a problem in winter but I'd also be worried about how warm the water standing in the pipe might get in summer if it's above ground particularly if it's not shaded from direct sunlight. I seem to recall that one should keep potable water supplies below 20°C, but I can't remember where I got the figure from or whether it was a reg or just 'good practice'.

Just checked the water regs. It’s 25c.