We are in the process of building a new kitchen. For the tap we
would like to use the same one we had in our last kitchen in the US.
The fitting for these are indicated on the technical drawings as '1/2"
NPSM coupling nut for 3/8" or 1/2" flexible riser'. Would I need any
special adapter couple the standard UK plastic pipe to this? If so,
where might I find such an adapter?

I realise that mixer taps are made a bit differently here, mostly to
prevent syphoning from the hot water tank into the cold water system
in the case of low pressure. Since we have a combi boiler, this isn't
a concern, so assume the american taps can be used safely.

Thanks for any help.

Michael Dritschel

m,a,dritschel&ncl,ac,uk

, - . and & - @ for email

"Michael Dritschel" wrote in message
-did-not-set--mail-host-address--so-tickle-me...
We are in the process of building a new kitchen. For the tap we
would like to use the same one we had in our last kitchen in the US.
The fitting for these are indicated on the technical drawings as '1/2"
NPSM coupling nut for 3/8" or 1/2" flexible riser'. Would I need any
special adapter couple the standard UK plastic pipe to this? If so,
where might I find such an adapter?

I realise that mixer taps are made a bit differently here, mostly to
prevent syphoning from the hot water tank into the cold water system
in the case of low pressure. Since we have a combi boiler, this isn't
a concern, so assume the american taps can be used safely.

Thanks for any help.

Michael Dritschel

m,a,dritschel&ncl,ac,uk


Apparently; The 'N' is for National versus the 'B' which is for
British ... so the USAians have at least a different nomenclature
if not any different size for their water connections;

American National Standard Pipe Threads

NPT: National Pipe Taper Thread
A sealant compound or Teflon tape must be used for a
leak-free seal.
FPT: female (internal) National Pipe Taper threads
MPT: male (external) National Pipe Taper threads
NPTF: Dryseal American National Standard Taper Pipe Thread
No sealant is needed for a seal.
NPS: American Standard Straight Pipe Thread
Used for mechanical joining -- holding a fitting in place.
An O-ring or a metal seal is required.
NPSF: Dryseal American National Standard Straight Pipe Thread

British Standard Pipe Thread
BSPT: British Standard Pipe Taper threads
BSPP: British Standard Pipe Parallel (straight) threads

Assuming that NSPM is National Pipe Standard _Male_
then one might need a BSP(parallel) ... ?

Aren't there water bye-laws insisting that only 'approved' appliances
are connected to the water-main?

--

Brian

Yes there probably are. We can buy some real crap fittings in UK no one will know where they are fitted or probably care. The US just sells the same , or often better quallity fittings for half the price.Bathroom gear , along with most other "household" stuff, is mostly made in China. The higher price fittings are made in Germany or the like but i bet that in fact the production line is in the Far East (or soon will be).
I have no recollection of any fitting i have bought in UK being labelled as suitable for local byelaws.(except for the water storage tank lid kit which i think is Bylaw 32? and ensures you have to buy a huge amount of gear you do not need in most cases as you cant buy just a lid.) Have you? You can still install a plumbing fitting abiding by the local byelaws (ie a non return valve in the system)but they do not have to be "approved" as far as i know just do the job the byelaw requires.
If they are sold in the local plumbers merchant then they should be ok.
By the way - a half inch American fitting will fit a UK half inch fitting no problem.

Freddy

"Brian Sharrock" wrote:


Assuming that NSPM is National Pipe Standard _Male_
then one might need a BSP(parallel) ... ?

National Pipe Straight Mechanical - similar in thread form and
threads per inch to BSPP except at small diameters.

Luckily In 1/2" size the threads per inch are the same but there is a
slight difference on the thread OD 13/16" for BSPP and 27/32" for NPSM
which for all practical purposes will make bugger all difference.

--

"Michael Dritschel" wrote in message
-did-not-set--mail-host-address--so-tickle-me...
We are in the process of building a new kitchen. For the tap we
would like to use the same one we had in our last kitchen in the US.
?

I realise that mixer taps are made a bit differently here, mostly to
prevent syphoning from the hot water tank into the cold water system
in the case of low pressure.

That regulation never seemed to worry the DIY sheds much. A lot of the
foreign mixer taps they sell have a one-tube spout and will connect the hot
and cold supplies. Perhaps its legal to sell them, but not install in the
UK?

rusty

freddyuk writes:

Brian Sharrock Wrote:
"Michael Dritschel" wrote in message
-did-not-set--mail-host-address--so-tickle-me...-
We are in the process of building a new kitchen. For the tap we
would like to use the same one we had in our last kitchen in the US.
The fitting for these are indicated on the technical drawings as
'1/2"
NPSM coupling nut for 3/8" or 1/2" flexible riser'. Would I need any
special adapter couple the standard UK plastic pipe to this? If so,
where might I find such an adapter?

I realise that mixer taps are made a bit differently here, mostly to
prevent syphoning from the hot water tank into the cold water system
in the case of low pressure. Since we have a combi boiler, this
isn't
a concern, so assume the american taps can be used safely.

Thanks for any help.


Michael Dritschel

m,a,dritschel&ncl,ac,uk
-

Apparently; The 'N' is for National versus the 'B' which is for
British ... so the USAians have at least a different nomenclature
if not any different size for their water connections;

American National Standard Pipe Threads

NPT: National Pipe Taper Thread
A sealant compound or Teflon tape must be used for a
leak-free seal.
FPT: female (internal) National Pipe Taper threads
MPT: male (external) National Pipe Taper threads
NPTF: Dryseal American National Standard Taper Pipe Thread
No sealant is needed for a seal.
NPS: American Standard Straight Pipe Thread
Used for mechanical joining -- holding a fitting in place.
An O-ring or a metal seal is required.
NPSF: Dryseal American National Standard Straight Pipe Thread

British Standard Pipe Thread
BSPT: British Standard Pipe Taper threads
BSPP: British Standard Pipe Parallel (straight) threads

Assuming that NSPM is National Pipe Standard _Male_
then one might need a BSP(parallel) ... ?

Aren't there water bye-laws insisting that only 'approved' appliances
are connected to the water-main?

--

Brian

Yes there probably are. We can buy some real crap fittings in UK no one
will know where they are fitted or probably care. The US just sells the
same , or often better quallity fittings for half the price.Bathroom
gear , along with most other "household" stuff, is mostly made in
China. The higher price fittings are made in Germany or the like but i
bet that in fact the production line is in the Far East (or soon will
be).
I have no recollection of any fitting i have bought in UK being
labelled as suitable for local byelaws.(except for the water storage
tank lid kit which i think is Bylaw 32? and ensures you have to buy a
huge amount of gear you do not need in most cases as you cant buy just
a lid.) Have you? You can still install a plumbing fitting abiding by
the local byelaws (ie a non return valve in the system)but they do not
have to be "approved" as far as i know just do the job the byelaw
requires.
If they are sold in the local plumbers merchant then they should be
ok.
By the way - a half inch American fitting will fit a UK half inch
fitting no problem.

Freddy


--
freddyuk

I could easily fit a non-return valve on the cold water if this will
make things compliant with various regulations, but I assumed that
without a water storage tank, this was not an issue.

The tap we are considering is made by Chicago Faucets. Retail price
translates to about £300, though you can get it for half that by
shopping around. From experience I would say that the quality is as
good or better than those from Pegler we have installed in the bath.

I have friends who have shopped for taps in France and the Netherlands
to install here, both because the prices are quite a bit less for the
same quality and because there is a wider range of styles available.
Are there similar issues in this case?

Anyway, thanks to both of you for the helpful information.

Michael

Matt writes:

"Brian Sharrock" wrote:


Assuming that NSPM is National Pipe Standard _Male_
then one might need a BSP(parallel) ... ?

National Pipe Straight Mechanical - similar in thread form and
threads per inch to BSPP except at small diameters.

Luckily In 1/2" size the threads per inch are the same but there is a
slight difference on the thread OD 13/16" for BSPP and 27/32" for NPSM
which for all practical purposes will make bugger all difference.

--

Thanks! It's good to know that not everything has gone metric here!

Michael

Rusty wrote:
I realise that mixer taps are made a bit differently here, mostly to
prevent syphoning from the hot water tank into the cold water system
in the case of low pressure.
That regulation never seemed to worry the DIY sheds much. A lot of the
foreign mixer taps they sell have a one-tube spout and will connect the hot
and cold supplies. Perhaps its legal to sell them, but not install in the
UK?

It's (AFAIK) legal to use them in the UK, provided both H & C are from
the tank. Commonly called 'bathroom' mixers, as kitchens traditionally
need the two-pipe spout to keep the mains 'drinking' water separate.

Owain

"Owain" wrote in message
...
Rusty wrote:
I realise that mixer taps are made a bit differently here, mostly to
prevent syphoning from the hot water tank into the cold water system
in the case of low pressure.
That regulation never seemed to worry the DIY sheds much. A lot of the
foreign mixer taps they sell have a one-tube spout and will connect the
hot and cold supplies. Perhaps its legal to sell them, but not install
in the UK?

It's (AFAIK) legal to use them in the UK, provided both H & C are from the
tank. Commonly called 'bathroom' mixers, as kitchens traditionally need
the two-pipe spout to keep the mains 'drinking' water separate.

I'm pretty sure the kitchen mixer tap I got from Texas (as it then was) 10
yrs ago only has a single tube in the nozzle. It rotates through 360 deg.
without stopping. The 1960's mixer it replaced, which at one time were very
common, did have did have two tubes in the nozzle, but wouldn't rotate all
the way round. I can't think of a practical way to manufacture a 360
rotate with two tubes.

You tend to notice these things when you get an unexpected flood after
fixing the plumbing because of water running from hot to cold via a mixer
tap.


rusty

Rusty wrote:
I'm pretty sure the kitchen mixer tap I got from Texas (as it then was) 10
yrs ago only has a single tube in the nozzle. It rotates through 360 deg.
without stopping. The 1960's mixer it replaced, which at one time were very
common, did have did have two tubes in the nozzle, but wouldn't rotate all
the way round. I can't think of a practical way to manufacture a 360
rotate with two tubes.

The two tubes are concentric, with the cold on the outside so the tap
spout doesn't get too hot to touch.

Owain

"Owain" wrote in message
...
Rusty wrote:
I'm pretty sure the kitchen mixer tap I got from Texas (as it then was)
10 yrs ago only has a single tube in the nozzle. It rotates through 360
deg. without stopping. The 1960's mixer it replaced, which at one time
were very common, did have did have two tubes in the nozzle, but wouldn't
rotate all the way round. I can't think of a practical way to
manufacture a 360 rotate with two tubes.

The two tubes are concentric, with the cold on the outside so the tap
spout doesn't get too hot to touch.

I don't think I believe this. I will take the spout off at the next
opportunity and have a look.

rusty.

"Rusty" wrote:


"Owain" wrote in message
...
Rusty wrote:
I'm pretty sure the kitchen mixer tap I got from Texas (as it then was)
10 yrs ago only has a single tube in the nozzle. It rotates through 360
deg. without stopping. The 1960's mixer it replaced, which at one time
were very common, did have did have two tubes in the nozzle, but wouldn't
rotate all the way round. I can't think of a practical way to
manufacture a 360 rotate with two tubes.

The two tubes are concentric, with the cold on the outside so the tap
spout doesn't get too hot to touch.

I don't think I believe this. I will take the spout off at the next
opportunity and have a look.

Mine is certainly like that - a ceramic 1/4 turn monobloc fitted about
1986.


--

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 17:52:39 +0100,it is alleged that Matt
spake thusly in uk.d-i-y:

"Rusty" wrote:


"Owain" wrote in message
...
Rusty wrote:
I'm pretty sure the kitchen mixer tap I got from Texas (as it then was)
10 yrs ago only has a single tube in the nozzle. It rotates through 360
deg. without stopping. The 1960's mixer it replaced, which at one time
were very common, did have did have two tubes in the nozzle, but wouldn't
rotate all the way round. I can't think of a practical way to
manufacture a 360 rotate with two tubes.

The two tubes are concentric, with the cold on the outside so the tap
spout doesn't get too hot to touch.

I don't think I believe this. I will take the spout off at the next
opportunity and have a look.

Mine is certainly like that - a ceramic 1/4 turn monobloc fitted about
1986.

1995 Mixer tap in kitchen here is also the same, concentric, with 360
degree rotation.


--
Life is a whim of several billion cells to be you for a while.

Thanks! It's good to know that not everything has gone metric here!

Even the French use BSP pipe threads!

Christian.

1995 Mixer tap in kitchen here is also the same, concentric, with 360
degree rotation.

Me too!

Concentric separate channels. 360+ degree rotation.

Christian.

In article ,
Christian McArdle wrote:
Even the French use BSP pipe threads!

Wonder what they call them. ;-)

--
*A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.