The Victaulic jointing system has been used for connecting steel pipe for many years and today is one of the most common and trusted systems. Victaulic couplings for joining copper tubes have been used successfully for over ten years in America and Europe, however were only recently developed for Australian AS 1432 copper tube.

Technical Manager for Kembla Tube & Fittings, Jarvis Fletcher, described the Copper Victaulic groovedend system as “the most economic, reliable and versatile copper tube jointing method on the market today. This relatively new system for joining copper tubing in Australia is now gaining popularity as a welcome alternative to conventional soldering and brazing methods”.

Standard sizes are DN50 to DN 150 (2” to 6”). The system comprises a full range of couplings, valves, and pre-grooved copper elbows, 45° bends, tees, reducers, flange adaptors and end caps. Special roll grooving tools for Australian AS 1432 copper tubes are also available. They range from portable hand held machines to groovers which attach to standard power drive units.

“We are very excited with Copper Victaulic as it offers significant advantages for plumbing, fire and mechanical services contractors. It also compliments our existing product range as we already manufacture the tube and fittings for use in this system”, Jarvis said.

The major advantage that the Copper Victaulic system offers over conventional jointing methods is a more economical “total cost” installation.

Main advantages are:

The Copper Victaulic system uses a proven pressure-responsive synthetic rubber gasket to seal the outside diameter of the tubing whilst the coupling housing surrounds the gasket and grips into grooves rolled into the tube and fittings. The housing is isolated from the fluid but provides the gripping strength for pressure ratings up to 2440kPa, depending on the diameter and thickness of the copper tubing.

Standard Victaulic copper roll grooving tools can be used in the field or workshop to roll groove all AS1432 Australian copper tubing. Only copper coloured grooving tools however can be used with copper tube, rolls intended for steel pipe should never be used or joint failure may occur.

Copper Victaulic products and pre-grooved copper tubing is available throughout Australia from all stockists of Kembla products. For more information or technical literature please contact your local Plumbers’ Supplies Co-op or Kembla Tube & Fittings branch.