PLUMBING AND SANITARY SERVICES TOPICS

Are the plumbing and sanitary regulations in France the same as in the UK?

Can I do the plumbing and sanitary work myself?

Can I use UK pipework and fittings in my house?

Is it OK to install UK taps and fittings in my house?

What is a Pressure Reducing Valve for?

Why is there no header tank for the hot and cold water system in my house?

What does a 'pressurised' hot water system mean?

My builder tells me that he can do the plumbing work at my property. Is this OK?

Are the plumbing and sanitary regulations in France the same as in the UK?

No, there are some fundamental differences between the two sets of regulations and it is imperative that all installations fully meet the specific requirements of the French regulations.

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Can I do the plumbing and sanitary work myself?

There is nothing to prevent a property owner from undertaking work upon their own property provided that they comply with the requirements of all current legislation and standards in force, just as would be expected of an artisan.  Failure to comply with such legislation or standards may leave you exposed to legal comeback and may make your property unsaleable.

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Can I use UK pipework and fittings in my house?

It is inadvisable to use UK pipework in your property for a number of reasons.  Firstly, the common sizes of copper pipework used in France are not equivalent to those commonly found in the UK.  More importantly, however, is the specification of copper pipework which differs from the UK to France.  UK specification copper has a thickness of 0.7mm whereas French specification copper has a wall thickness of 1.0mm.  As French systems generally operate at increased pressures to those of the UK it is inadvisable to use UK copper within your property.  Additionally, as the use of hard brazing of joints is used in France as opposed to the soft silver soldering of UK pipework the annealing of UK specification copper can lead to premature failure of the pipework with the resulting consequences.  It is likely that any insurance claim for your property may be rejected under such circumstances.

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Is it OK to install UK taps and sanitaryware in my house?

Whilst UK taps and sanitaryware will generally directly replace those fitted in your property, you should consider that replacement parts, such as washers, traps and ball valves, may not be available here in France and the cost of obtaining replacements from the UK may far outweigh the initial savings of the equipment in question in addition to the delay in repairing the system.

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What is a Pressure Reducing Valve for?

Most water services systems in France will have some sort of pressure reducing arrangement in place, although some older properties may not.  Essentially a pressure reducing valve, which would normally be installed adjacent to the water meter or point of entry to the property, serves to limit the pressure of water within the premises to about 3 bar, although this can be adjusted to suit particular requirements.  Additionally the pressure reducing valve can smooth the fluctuations of water pressure within the property which may occur in the external mains at various times throughout the day, preventing problems such as water hammer, etc.  Additional pressure reducing valves may also be found on the inlet to specific items such as boilers and water heaters.  In these cases the valves serve as protection devices to limit the pressure of water in the equipment to prevent it being damaged.  It is inadvisable to adjust any pressure reducing valves unless you fully understand their purpose and have suitable equipment to undertake such a task.    

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Why is there no header tank for the hot and cold water system in my house?

In France, both hot and cold water systems operate on a pressurised basis and, as such, do not need any form of tank or cistern to allow for the storage or expansion of water as there are other specific devices to ensure that this occurs safely.  When correctly installed, the hot and cold water systems will operate efficiently and safely, offering balanced pressure between the hot and cold outlets.

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What does a 'pressurised' hot water system mean?

A pressurised hot water system effectively means that the hot water system operates as a closed circuit, served from the cold water main, at approximately the same supply pressure as the cold water service to the property.  Such a system requires the installation of suitable safety and control valves and normally operates at a pressure of around 3 bar.  Such a system allows the use of thermostatically controlled mixing valves which normally require the pressures between the hot and cold supplies to be balanced to operate effectively.

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My builder tells me that he can do the plumbing work at my property. Is this OK?