should I insulate mains water pipe?

[Toodlepips]

Hi there

I am in the process of installing 25mm new plastic mains pipe to two buildings.  It will be buried underground between 8 and 12 inches.  This may be a silly question to those in the know but should I insulate it? if so with what the foam sleeves

thanks

[Le Plombier]

It should be buried at least 500mm deep or it will freeze for sure in the winter

Le Plombier

[Punch]

Agree about the depth - the deeper the better really. Also it is a good idea to install it in a "gaine TPC (blue)" with a "grillage avertisseur" place 10-15cm above it on a layer of sand.

[BIG MAC]

500mm! I wouldn't go less than 1500mm no insulation required indicator tape is a good idea pipe should be sleeved when passing through walls which in turn should have a lintel inserted above the duct

[Nick Trollope]

The regs say that a water pipe must be buried in gaine at a depth of 50cm (as punch says) except where there is vehicular traffic over it, where (as BM says) it must be buried at a depth of 1.50M. Marker tape must be used in both cases, sand is a good idea to prevent movement relative to the pipe.

Simple really, that is why regs exist....

[Toodlepips]

Thanks everyone for the advice.  Have now buried pipe at 500mm in a gaine as no vehicular access.  What is a grillage avertisseur?

thanks

[Anton Redman]

Bit late I suspect.

It is the coloured plastic mesh that you buy to put above the pipe so that in x years time somebody does not put a pnuematic breaker straight through the pipe, mains feed drains etc. They come in varying colours depending on what they are warning about.

[Gyn_Paul]

[quote user="Anton Redman"]

Bit late I suspect.

It is the coloured plastic mesh that you buy to put above the pipe so that in x years time somebody does not put a pnuematic breaker straight through the pipe, mains feed drains etc. They come in varying colours depending on what they are warning about.

[/quote]

Their main function is to enable the digger driver to know from the colour of the remains of the plastic, mixed with the soil in the digger's bucket, exactly what type of service he has just sliced through.

Although this is usually self-evident when : -

The entire village goes dark all of a sudden,

Everybody's internet goes off,

or a fountain of water is suddenly entertaining the locals

p

[Cassis]

 [:D] [:D]