Is white PTFE tape allowed on gas fittings these days? | Gas Engineers Forum | Plumbers Forums

  • Welcome to PlumbersTalk.net

    Welcome to Plumbers' Talk | The new domain for UKPF / Plumbers Forums. Login with your existing details they should all work fine. Please checkout the PT Updates Forum

Welcome to the forum. Although you can post in any forum, the USA forum is here in case of local regs or laws

American Visitor?

Hey friend, we're detecting that you're an American visitor and want to thank you for coming to PlumbersTalk.net - Here is a link to the American Plumbing Forum. Though if you post in any other forum from your computer / phone it'll be marked with a little american flag so that other users can help from your neck of the woods. We hope this helps. And thanks once again.

Is white PTFE tape allowed on gas fittings these days?

Post thread
Post reply

Discuss Is white PTFE tape allowed on gas fittings these days? in the Gas Engineers Forum area at Plumbers Forums

A

Application

Messages
10
Ex gas fitter here. I haven't worked on gas for at least a decade so I'm not up to speed on any changes there may have been since I last worked in the industry.

However, I have recently gone to a family members house who has had a new kitchen fitted. I couldn't help but notice that the gas cooker bayonet fitting she's just had refitted has white tape on it rather than yellow gas rated tape I used to use.

Before I tell her to make a complaint, can any of you gas safe guys tell me if the regs have changed and are you now allowed to use white tape on gas fittings?

I've attached a photo of the fitting so you can see what I saw.

Thanks for any replies.

IMG_20190413_172806065~2.jpg
 
scott_d said:
Gas ptfe can be white
Why are you removing a cooker in a new kitchen? Smells fishy
Click to expand...

Scott d. I haven't removed any cooker. In fact, right now there is no cooker. The previous cooker was taken out and scrapped by the same gas safe registered fitter who refitted this bayonet. He had to do this because the existing pipework needed to be moved to allow the electrician to run some trunking.

The new cooker is being delivered next week and she has paid £85 to have it fitted by a gsr fitter via John Lewis.

I can assure you that there will be no illegal gas work taking place in this property. I just want to know if this ptfe is safe, or if she's had a cowboy take a short cut. Because when I worked in the industry it was a definite no no to use white tape on gas fittings.
 
Last edited:
I've seen a similar thing with Loctite 55 in the early days. It looked like someone had put hawkwhite and hemp on barrel pipework. The supervisor confirmed it was Loctite 55 and not hemp.
 
Darren Jackson said:
As previously stated gas PTFE is white nowadays but a lot thicker than ordinary PTFE. It is in a yellow dispenser though so as to not get confused and stated for gas use or at least what I use is from my local merchants is anyway.
Click to expand...

Ok that's good to know. However, I still have some concerns. On closer inspection this tape does look like thin water only rated tape that has been wrapped around the thread multiple times.

I mean it's probably safe enough. I've seen the paperwork and it's passed the tightness test. But when I was in the industry the thicker yellow gas tape was only ever wrapped one and a half times around the thread. This thread has been wrapped multiple times, which would indicate to me that it's not gas rated PTFE.
 
Last edited:
its ptfe and ptfe is approved gas tape is recommened but aslong as it seals and you do the tests i wouldnt have a problem with it

hell we used to use string
 
Application said:
If it's a permanent move to an electric cooker then I'm sure it's best to have it capped off, but isn't a self sealing bayonet ok? At least in the short term?
Click to expand...
That’s not what it’s meant for. It’s for short term removal and refitting eg cleaning behind the cooker.
A decent Gas safe registered person would leave it like that.
 
scott_d said:
That’s not what it’s meant for. It’s for short term removal and refitting eg cleaning behind the cooker.
A decent Gas safe registered person would leave it like that.
Click to expand...

Define short term? And if a gas cooker has been removed and a new one is to be installed the following week, is there an actual regulation that says that a self sealing bayonet isn't ok for this purpose? Im not arguing. I just want ammunition, because I'm not happy either.
 
Last edited:
If the white ptfe is suitable for gas, why does screwfix state that is isn't? I don't use ptfe on gas anyway but I was always under the impression that only the yellow gas tape was suitable for gas, after reading this thread I'm now not sure.
 
scott_d said:
That’s not what it’s meant for. It’s for short term removal and refitting eg cleaning behind the cooker.
A decent Gas safe registered person would leave it like that.
Click to expand...


See that left like that all the time here , also when I was on site never use to see gas tape ptfe .
Saying that no one was gas registered yet we all fitted boilers lol
 
Application said:
If it's a permanent move to an electric cooker then I'm sure it's best to have it capped off, but isn't a self sealing bayonet ok? At least in the short term?
Click to expand...

Not really I've seen loads of them leak. If I find that I'm meant to cap it off, pretty sure it's in the book as well.

They get dirt on the bearing and it's stop them fully sealing. Even tiny leaks will cause smells in confined places. The other more concerning issue what if it totally fails while away on holiday. If your a plumber working for a landlord then it would be capped off when the tenant moves out. It's designed to allow cleaning not so people can fit their own cookers.

As for PTFE the colour has always been white and the difference is thickness. It's designed to seal the thread so one wrap is enough for gas. I've seen a few where people have wrapped it that much and ended up splitting the back plate.
 
Last edited:
richard978 said:
Not really I've seen loads of them leak. If I find that I'm meant to cap it off, pretty sure it's in the book as well.

They get dirt on the bearing and it's stop them fully sealing. Even tiny leaks will cause smells in confined places. The other more concerning issue what if it totally fails while away on holiday.
Click to expand...

All valid points, but if the system has been tested via tightness test and the bayonet has been tested with leak detection fluid and no issues have been found, then shouldn't that suffice? At least in the short term if a new gas cooker is going to be installed the following week. Are there any specific regulations that state otherwise?
 
Last edited:
What about micropoint adapter plates( look like a single white pattress), that are permanently attached inside and cannot be wound out to plug off. That’s the same principal as it’s big brother.... sprung sealed shut. I certainly wouldn’t get excited about a bayonet fitting left in the wall.
 
New posts

Similar plumbing topics

C
Gas cooker/Hob pressure testing and fitting questions.
Excuse to give the injector the once over.
Replies
18
Views
504
Harvest Fields
Harvest Fields
I
Gas Meter attached to two pliable connectors - is it legal?
Storm in a tea cup. You wont get anywhere, as...
Replies
8
Views
13K
crossjitsu
C
R
    • Like
Can't get rid of the smell of gas sewerage leak, under my kitchen sink.
I had a kitchen sink waste trap smell for a...
Replies
24
Views
6K
Mr P Wilson
M
P
Soil Pipe Box smell and insulation.
Definitely shouldn't be stinky but as above is...
Replies
5
Views
3K
king of pipes
king of pipes
B
A lead gas supply; is it a safety issue?
Gottit! Thanks Chris.
Replies
12
Views
26K
BruceK
B
Back
Top