ptfe tape

[franz]

can anyone tell me the difference between normal ptfe tape and gas ptfe tape please?

 

[mikegas]

I thought It was just thicker

 

[franz]

so its the same stuff.? not wanting to be thick! but what difference does it make?

 

[plumbdoctor]

single wrap or multi wrap

 

[franz]

explain please

 

[gasmarc]

one is thicker and designed for gas and the other is designed for water and thiner is my uptake

 

[plumman]

They are the same material, i.e., both "100% pure, virgin PTFE and containing less than 0.1% wt residual lubricant".

The only difference is the thickness, 0.20 and 0.075mm.​

 

[GrahamM]

Are they not essentially different products manufactured to different standards?
The yellow gas tape MUST be used for gas.

 

[sparra1100]

normal ptfe only for use with water as it deterates over time and will leak were a gas yellow stuff is guarenteed for a minimum of 5 yrs and does not deterate with gas

 

[wheeto]

normal ptfe only for use with water as it deterates over time and will leak were a gas yellow stuff is guarenteed for a minimum of 5 yrs and does not deterate with gas

Really? What's your source for this? I only ask as I've been trying to find out for ages what the difference is ... so far the only answer has been "yellow is for gas"! Not helpful!

Edit: Especially the five year part. What's the point in saying a gas fitting will only be gas-tight for 5 years?? If it's not going to last 50 years, it might as well only last six months.

 

[sparra1100]

Really? What's your source for this? I only ask as I've been trying to find out for ages what the difference is ... so far the only answer has been "yellow is for gas"! Not helpful!

Edit: Especially the five year part. What's the point in saying a gas fitting will only be gas-tight for 5 years?? If it's not going to last 50 years, it might as well only last six months.

worked at city plumbing for 4 yrs about 5 or 6 yrs ago used to chat to the reps from the manafactures was chatting to one from hayes one day

dont no how anything can have a lifetime guarentee as nothings proved unless its on for 50 yrs as you say so think they can only guarentee it for 5 yrs

 

[johnnyplumb]

They are the same material, i.e., both "100% pure, virgin PTFE and containing less than 0.1% wt residual lubricant".

The only difference is the thickness, 0.20 and 0.075mm.​

i think your right when you say the only difference is the thickness. the gas stuff is thicker because it's one wrap. if you where to use the thinner stuff for gas, there's the question of how many times do you wrap it. the thicker tape takes away this question.

 

[garrywhite]

Gas (methane) molecules are a lot smaller than water (h2o) and can pass through water PTFE tape as its so thin. Thats why gas PTFE is thicker. So I was told by someone...

 

[plumman]

i think your right when you say the only difference is the thickness. the gas stuff is thicker because it's one wrap. if you where to use the thinner stuff for gas, there's the question of how many times do you wrap it. the thicker tape takes away this question.

THATS RIGHT JOHN! thats the only dif and the reason its thicker to stop MR scrouge plumber from putting a skinny rap on.

 

[sparra1100]

THATS RIGHT JOHN! thats the only dif and the reason its thicker to stop MR scrouge plumber from putting a skinny rap on.

unbelievable and there not the same meterial

 

[johnnyplumb]

Unbelievable but true, these safety boffins sit on there fat erses thinking of anything to justify there jobs. It's as if they don't trust us to put enough tape on & test it afterwards for soundness.

 

[GrahamM]

Gas tape (one wrap) is higher grade PTFE made to BS6974. It is denser and more durable than standard grade PTFE.
There is no guarantee of lifespan for the material, but as gas tape is a denser it is more durable.
Standard PTFE is made to a lower standard.

 

[REDSAW]

about four times the price for two thirds less and three times as thick!.

 

[Mike Jackson]

Just do what I do and use Loctite 55.

 

[Best]

normal ptfe only for use with water as it deterates over time and will leak were a gas yellow stuff is guarenteed for a minimum of 5 yrs and does not deterate with gas

Hard to believe normal ptfe tape deteriorates over time, as it goes back a long time - must be in use 40 years & always seems as new, with no leaks if done right on water pipes. Maybe nobody wants to guarantee anything used for gas, too many years?

 

[stevetheplumber]

theres plenty of gas fittings out there with the thin stuff i dont think the thick stuff was available originally

 

[sparra1100]

Hard to believe normal ptfe tape deteriorates over time, as it goes back a long time - must be in use 40 years & always seems as new, with no leaks if done right on water pipes. Maybe nobody wants to guarantee anything used for gas, too many years?

it doesn,t with water only if used with gas ,something in the gas, think its something to do with the stuff they put it to make it smell,remember the bloke saying something it was a while ago tho

 

[plumman]

theres plenty of gas fittings out there with the thin stuff i dont think the thick stuff was available originally

About 18 years ago I had a bloke on site that was told not to use it, just come out his gas, He sent all day on a gas hob trying to stop it leaking with paste, would not be told, phoned the gas hob makes up they told him put it on, phoned college, well had this before arrrr i will ask so and so, so and so arrr i will ask............ One bloke at college once gave me a answer i was stuck on and the other marked it wrong? of they went to the back room! training is better now, Common sense, experience with training is a must i think

 

[AWheating]

this is what i think is correct :]

gas ptfe tape and normall ptfe tape are made from the same material, the difference is the thickness. The reason why the gas ptfe tape is thicker/a specific thickness because its designed to suit the gap between bs threads on gas fittings. im not sure but i believe it was first the idea of british gas/Advantica who originally came up with the standards of gas threads on the likes of cooker hoses etc....

the idea was to have a tape that gave the correct amount of tape to seal the designed thread, so in theroy if all threads are designed to this specific standards then you cant go wrong. This may be why some manufactures still advertise there cooker hoses and fittings as being BG/ Advantica approved.

as we all know nothing ever seems to be standard today.

 

[Bigred]

As AW says the design specifications talk about type of material/ thickness/ purity etc and the fact that Gas tape should conform to more conditions and tests before being approved for use, than normal PTFE.

Apparently Gas tape is manufactured to and conforms with, BGC IM 16, BS 6974: 1989, BS 5292 Type C tests, BS 7786: 1995 grade H

whereas normal PTFE only has to conform with BS 7786 Grade L

Not sure if that helps or complicates

 

[gaspastemania]

loctite 54 seals all and is better , imo
besides thick or thin ptfe i still put nice smear of gas paste on it

 

[gasmarc]

That sounds like belt and braces to me. You dont have to put gas paste on loctite , You may if anything make the joint fail sooner if the loctite is affected by gas paste. I know it is highly unlikely but you never know :confused5:

 

[quality]

Just use loctite 577 and forget ptfe tape on gas

 

[gasmarc]

Opps I forget which one I have .i think it was loctite 55 which I hope can be uesd on water and gas

 

[wheeto]

I hope [Loctite 55] can be uesd on water and gas

yes, you're ok Water (including potable) and gas.

 

[gasmarc]

Cheers Wheeto Panic there for a second lol
i am sure at some point I have used the normal ptfe by accident on gas still havnt had a call back yet

 

[wozo]

was in jtf other day and they had the yellow gas ptfe and normal for 35p plus vat couldnt believe it they had loads !! like you say redsaw they charge a fortune for this

 

[gasmarc]

Anything that is to do with gas they appear to charge extra , I suppose they say it is better quality