PLUMBING SYSTEMS & COMPATIBILITY
Most fittings will suit any type of plumbing system with some requiring more specific requirements.
Such systems are:
Gravity fed systems - hot and cold water tanks.
Gravity/Mains systems - hot water cylinder and mains.
Pressurised/Unvented systems - as above but hot pressurised by cold mains supply.
Pumped systems - gravity system with pump to boost water flow.
Combination boilers - instant water heater (but no hot/cold water tanks).
If in doubt regarding your own system, please see 'Identify your Plumbing System' to assist you.
IDENTIFY YOUR PLUMBING SYSTEM
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TERMINOLOGY FOR TAPS & MIXERS
Pillar Taps - Separate hot and cold taps for two-hole basins or baths.
Monobloc - Mixer tap requiring single fixing hole.
Single Lever - Mixer using only one handle to control flow and temperature.
Deck Mounted - Fitting required to be installed on horizontal surface.
Wall Mounted - Fitting required to be installed onto a wall surface.
Mechanical Valve - Traditional type valve that uses a rubber washer to create a
watertight seal.
Ceramic Disc Valve - Valve that uses hard wearing ceramic discs to create a
watertight seal. Popular due to low maintenance and easy quarter or half turn action
to operate.
Ceramic Disc Cartridge - Cartridge utilising cleverly made hard wearing ceramic discs
to create single lever operation. Becoming more popular due to low maintenance
requirements and ease of operation.
Pop-up waste - Supplied with most monobloc basin mixers negating the need for untidy
plug and chain type waste. An operating rod is usually concealed behind mixer to
raise and lower plug.
Minimum Pressure - Pressure required so that fitting performs adequately. Pressure
depends on type of fitting and type of plumbing system installed. As a general guide,
low pressure systems are gravity fed and less than 1.0 bar (1.0 metre vertical distance
between shower outlet and base of cold water tank is approximately 0.1 bar), high
pressure systems are mains fed, pumped or combination boilers.
Maximum Pressure - Maximum safe working pressure. If this is exceeded all guarantees
are void as fitting may get damaged.
Single Flow - Hot and cold water mixes within mixer body. To comply with the Water
Regulations/Byelaws fittings such as this require single check valves fitted to each
outlet.
Dual Flow - Hot and cold water mix at the outlet, thus no check valve required.
Check Valve - Check valves (or No Return Valves) are required to comply with Water
Regulations/Byelaws on certain fittings. They allow water to flow in only one direction.
Please contact your local water authority for details.
Pressure Reducing Valves - Sometimes required on systems using mixers and with a high
pressure imbalance. (Greater than a ratio of 5:1 generally).
Water Regulations/Byelaws - All fittings must be installed to comply with these to ensure
basic safety and legal compliance. Please contact your local water authority for
details.
WRAS (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme) - A product approval process whereby
fitting are checked for mechanical reliability and material safety.
BEAB (British Electrotechnical Approvals Board) - A product approval process whereby
electrical fittings are checked for quality and safety.
TERMINOLOGY FOR SHOWERS
Mixer Shower - shower using both hot and cold water supplies to obtain showering
temperature, generally give improved flow rates over electric showers. Can be used
on any system providing water pressures are reasonably balanced and within
recommended pressure range.
Thermostatic Mixer - Showers using a temperature sensitive cartridge giving further
benefits when compared to manual and pressure balancing mixers, either two handled
control (dual control) or single handled control (sequential). Safety features include
safety shut-off upon either failure or constant showering temperature upon fluctuations
in supply temperature and pressure.
Non-thermostatic Mixer - showers utilising ceramic disc cartridge with only one handle
to control flow and temperature. This type of valve does not react to pressure or
temperature changes in supply and is therefore manually controlled.
Pressure Balancing Mixer - Showers using a pressure sensitive cartridge giving added
safety benefits when compared to manual mixer, again using only one handle to
control flow and temperature. This type of shower provides a stable showering
temperature despite fluctuations in supply pressures and also includes safety shut off
upon failure of either supply.
Sequential - Single handled Thermostatic Mixer Shower. No control over flow, only
on/off and temperature. Otherwise performs as a thermostatic mixer.
Shower Panel - Self contained easy to install shower panel, incorporating a shower
valve (manual or thermostatic) with water outlet via shower handset or fixed shower
head. These may also include an adjustable riser and diverter to body jets.
Power Shower - Showers with built in pumps using both hot & cold gravity supplies to
give an invigorating shower. Cannot be used with combination boilers or unvented
mains systems. These products should be fitted by a competent person in accordance
with UK Regulation, Part P of the Building Regulations.
Electric Shower - Shower requiring mains cold supply only, thus no requirement for
stored hot water. The higher the rating, the better the performance. These products
should be fitted by a competent person in accordance with UK Regulation, Part P of
the Building Regulations.
Balanced Supply - A balanced supply is one that has equal pressure for both the hot
and cold water supplies. E.g. Gravity feed hot and cold or Mains feed hot and cold.
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Shower Booster Pump - Used to boost the performance of gravity fed installations.
Available in a variety of pressures to suit various showers requirements. A qualified
electrician should be consulted during the wiring of these products.
Mechanical Valve - Traditional type valve that uses a rubber washer to create a
watertight seal.
Ceramic Disc Valve - Valve that uses hard wearing ceramic discs to create a
watertight seal. Popular due to low maintenance and easy quarter or half turn action
to operate.
Ceramic Disc Cartridge - Cartridge utilising cleverly made hard wearing ceramic discs
to create single lever operation. Becoming more popular due to low maintenance
requirements and ease of operation.
Compression fittings - Standard method of connecting pipework consists of nut and
olive to create seal on pipework.
Push-fit fittings - Simple method of connecting pipework without the need for tools.
Recessed Valve - Shower hidden within finished wall hiding all but operating handles
and concealing plate.
Surface Mounted Valve - Shower fitted directly to finished wall with all parts visible.
Supply pipes can be either exposed or concealed.
Fixed Head - Showerhead fixed to wall for use with concealed pipework and recessed
showers.
Wall Mount Fixings - Fitting used to ease the installation of bar showers and wall
mounted bath fillers or bath shower mixers onto/into walls. These are available in both
exposed and concealed pipework versions.
Rigid Riser - Showerhead fixed to wall with exposed pipework from valve for use with
surface mounted showers.
Adjustable Riser - Shower kit and handheld showerhead with height adjustment to suit
varying user requirements.
Minimum Pressure - Pressure required so that fitting performs adequately. Pressure
depends on type of fitting and type of plumbing system installed. As a general guide,
low pressure systems are gravity fed and less than 1.0 bar (1.0 metre vertical distance
between shower outlet and base of cold water tank is approximately 0.1 bar), high
pressure systems are mains fed, pumped or combination boilers.
Maximum Pressure - Maximum safe working pressure. If this is exceeded all guarantees
are void as fitting may get damaged.
Pressure Reducing Valves - Sometimes required on systems using mixers and with a high
pressure imbalance greater than a ratio of 5:1 generally.
Check Valve - Check valves (or No Return Valves) are required to comply with Water
Regulations/Byelaws on certain fittings. They allow water to flow in only one direction.
Please contact your local water authority for details.
Water Regulations/Byelaws - All fittings must be installed to comply with these to ensure
basic safety and legal compliance. Please contact your local water authority for
details.
WRAS (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme) - A product approval process whereby
fitting are checked for mechanical reliability and material safety.
BEAB (British Electrotechnical Approvals Board) - A product approval process whereby
electrical fittings are checked for quality and safety.
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