Plumbing olives

[Am333rcr]

Hi

I was wondering what is the differece with copper or brass olives.
Are they for different applications?

Cheers

 

[Kayos]

Only for gas, doesnt matter for water

I prefer brass as copper is easy to deform

 

[Wozzaaah]

I think it’s just down to cost isn’t it?

 

[Am333rcr]

Ok

Thanks so doesn't matter I can use either.

You learn something new everyday

Cheers

 

[Kayos]

Have to use brass with LPG, if the regulator fails copper olives could burst

 

[brightspark]

copper ones are better when u fit them on nylon fittings in showers etc. a lot softer than brass and can seal better if anything is deformed without over tightening

 

[awemawson]

But the olive, of whatever material, is totally enclosed by the rest of the compression fitting so how can it burst? I'd be interested to see details of that risk if you have any to cite.

 

[Kayos]

But the olive, of whatever material, is totally enclosed by the rest of the compression fitting so how can it burst? I'd be interested to see details of that risk if you have any to cite.

Its not enclosed though, its deformed to fit the space

I will dig my LPG books out and find the regulation later this week

 

[Agroshield]

Food for thought:

https://www.bes.co.uk/natural-gas-lpg/lpg/compression-fittings

"Wade soft copper olive compression fittings for LPG and natural gas are to BS 2051-2-1984 and recommended by Calor gas suppliers."

 

[Am333rcr]

Thanks . It will be going on to copper water pipe.

 

[awemawson]

Its not enclosed though, its deformed to fit the space

I will dig my LPG books out and find the regulation later this week

It's enclosed. I think that you are confusing the corrosion / reaction issues perhaps ?

 

[Kayos]

It's enclosed. I think that you are confusing the corrosion / reaction issues perhaps ?

I know how an olive works thanks.

If it was as tightly enclosed as you are suggesting then they would never leak, except they do

 

[brightspark]

Have to use brass with LPG, if the regulator fails copper olives could burst

what about the rest of copper pipework to and in the appliances

 

[awemawson]

I beg to differ, but you are entirely entitled to your opinion.

Personally I can't see much of an olive from the outside of a tightened fitting, and the inside is (or should be) firmly squashed onto the pipe.

I was taught to put the slightest smear of Bosswhite or similar, NOT to form a seal, but to lubricated the fitting / olive junction to promote cold forming as you tighten.

 

[awemawson]

To add to the above, I'm talking water, town gas, LPG and oil, BUT DO NOT LUBRICATE OLIVES ON OXYGEN PIPEWORK

 

[grim_d]

I know how an olive works thanks.

If it was as tightly enclosed as you are suggesting then they would never leak, except they do

I was having a 'mare once with some cheap compression fittings, the bloomin' things just would not seal up...nipped up, rumped up, new olives...it wept....I wept.

I text a plumber I knew asking for advice.

"10 wraps of PTFE round the olive" came the reply.

Worked a charm...but I'd use solder or push fit these days, I avoid compression fittings if at all possible.

 

[angellonewolf]

commpression fitting have there uses in order of prefferance

solder

compression

push fit (not in my house )last resort

 

[dobbslc]

I prefer the copper ones as they seem to need less tightening to get a good seal, I put on a bit Blue Jet compound on the treads to make it smoother to tighten up.
Only trouble I've had recently is when I forgot the olive altogether....

 

[Kayos]

If anyone has been on Google you will get massive difference of opinion, Calor recomend copper olives with soft pipe and inserts, not hard copper (why its important to get the full details)

Copper on lpg was recommended due to issues with brass sealing problems but modern olives don't suffer with that, when i say regulator failure I don't mean on a little 47kg bottle, I'm talking bulk tank.
The OPSO valve will slam shut but the tank pressure can find its way into the pipework and everything possible needs to be done to keep it there

 

[bricol]

I was having a 'mare once with some cheap compression fittings, the bloomin' things just would not seal up...nipped up, rumped up, new olives...it wept....I wept.

I text a plumber I knew asking for advice.

"10 wraps of PTFE round the olive" came the reply.

Worked a charm...but I'd use solder or push fit these days, I avoid compression fittings if at all possible.

Similar issue - which was when I learnt I had imperial sized tubing in my house . . . 15mm olives work on 1/2" pipe . . . 22mm don't on 3/4" . . . You can get "conversion" olives though.