Buried copper piping

Greg_8

I have a project where the Architect insists on burying copper piping in the slab. I have always opposed this due to concerns over the salts in the concrete corroding the piping. Wasn't this the case with the radiant floor system failures of the 50's?
What is the best approach, if any, to accomplish this?
Thanks
Greg

Joe_13

Designed failure

Why do these guys go to college to design systems to fail in 50 years? I would try to get some flexible plastic tubing to run the copper in.

J.C.A._3

I agree with Joe,

Find some properly sized electrical conduit and run the pipe in there.I believe they refer to it as non-metalic, liquid tight electriacal tubing.(NMET)I suppose you could use a rubber pipe insulation that is not split, but I get to crumble this stuff off pipes daily after only 10 or so years. The rubber flexible stuff turns particularly brittle and breaks off in chunks. I prefer the styrofaom looking stuff. It's easier to install and looks better, not that anyone will see it under the floor.

Don't forget to add this into the price, as it ain't cheap! If the designer insists that you have to, let him know why you won't and stick to it. I saw my share of failed in floor copper radiant installs when I started a long time ago, but I'm pretty sure they were about the last to fail in this area.Built in the late 40's and retired by the early 80's wasn't the expected lifespan.

hr

talk him into

pex al pex!

There are some coated coil copper tubes available these days. Seen em in Fuel Oil News. Must be for underground fuel oil lines. Not sure what gauge copper it would be, however.
Try a web search for coated copper tube.


hot rod

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kevin coppinger_4

what are the....

lines to be used for? Domestic h2o or heat?

Unknown

Envirotube

is what we use for underground oil line . Poly coating over 3/8 or 1/4 type L soft copper . We get it in 60 or 100 foot rolls . They also might make it in longer lengths and pipe diameters .

Dave Yates (PAH)

Coated copper

HR

We've been using the coated lines for below grade propane lines between the primary and secondary regulators. Yellow PVC jacket over type L soft drawn copper. Ours comes via REM.

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