With tightening regulations and increasing expectations for quality, housebuilders need pipework solutions that ensure compliance, save time on-site and enhance the overall appearance of a property, says Dean Heathfield, Commercial Director at Talon.
Getting pipework right in new builds is about more than just compliance – it’s about delivering a polished, professional finish that reflects the quality of the entire build. With the tightening of regulations like Part L, ensuring airtightness and energy efficiency is a must, but it doesn’t stop there. Housebuilders and developers need solutions that not only meet the new standards but also save time on-site and enhance the overall aesthetic of the property.
From 2025, all new builds will have to comply with the Future Homes Standard. Homes built under this standard are expected to have 75 to 80% lower carbon emissions compared to those built under current regulations. A major source of heat loss in homes is through gaps around pipe penetrations in walls, floors and ceilings. Without proper sealing, these gaps allow warm air to escape and cold air to seep in, reducing energy efficiency and raising heating costs.
Recent updates to Part L of the Building Regulations, which move toward the Future Homes Standard, aim to combat this issue by requiring builders to use pipe seals and grommets that create an airtight barrier around pipes passing through the building envelope.
Talon’s PipeSnug and FlueSnug are a quick and efficient solution, providing an all-in-one seal that prevents heat loss, drafts, damp and even pest infiltration. PipeSnug is designed to seal around pipes that penetrate external walls, ensuring that builders can quickly and easily comply with regulations without compromising the thermal envelope of the building. FlueSnug serves a similar purpose for boiler flues, creating a reliable airtight seal that can be installed from inside the property, simplifying both installation and maintenance.
With both PipeSnug and FlueSnug, the days of relying on messy mortar or silicone for sealing are over, and builders can ensure a durable, weather-resistant solution that meets the new regulatory standards. These products also offer long-term UV resistance and can be installed in seconds, eliminating the need for additional materials and labour. For developers working to tight deadlines, this efficiency can make a big difference on-site. Not only do they help builders save time, but they also provide a neater, more professional finish, improving the aesthetic of the final build while still ensuring compliance with Part L regulations.
While airtightness and compliance are crucial, how a building looks at handover is just as important. Exposed pipes, especially in high-visibility areas like kitchens and bathrooms, can detract from the overall ambience of a space. Homebuyers expect these rooms to reflect modern, sleek designs and messy or unfinished pipework can leave a bad impression, suggesting a lack of attention to detail. This is where products like Talon’s Snappit come into play, offering housebuilders and developers a simple, effective way to give pipework a clean, professional appearance. Snappit is designed to cover exposed copper pipes around radiators and towel rails, providing a neat finish with no need for painting or fiddly workarounds. Simply cut the uPVC sleeve to the required length, snap it into place and add the collar for a perfectly finished look.
Using Snappit not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also saves on time and effort; there’s no need to wait for paint to dry or worry about chips and scratches. Snappit is UV stabilised and comes with a 10-year guarantee, meaning it will look just as good years after installation and is available in a range of colours, including chrome and anthracite grey, so it blends seamlessly into the design of modern interiors.
Beyond sealing and covering, the right clips and accessories can make all the difference in ensuring a tidy, organised installation. Talon’s Hinged Clips are known for their durability and ease of use, securing pipework in a single step for safe, efficient and visually neat installations. Alongside these clips, link spacers are available to ensure uniform pipe spacing, creating a tidy, professional finish. The clips come in a range of colours, including red, blue, yellow for easy identification of hot, cold, and gas pipes, as well as white and black, offering a complete colour range to suit any installation.
For housebuilders looking to save time and effort, the EZ Joist Clip simplifies and secures pipework installations, particularly in challenging overhead or hard-to-reach areas, offering a quicker, more secure solution than traditional nail-in clips. The clip’s side-on installation design allows for safer work above head level, with a side-nailing feature that eliminates the need to access the top of joists. Its 360-degree pipe retention allows for fixing pipes already in place and multiple clips can be seamlessly connected for extended runs or complex layouts.
Another practical accessory is the Identification Clip range, which helps installers easily mark pipes according to their contents. With colour-coded options for hot water, gas and cold water, these clips help builders and future occupants identify which pipes carry what, reducing the time spent tracing systems and improving safety on-site. It’s not an overstatement to say the finish can make or break a project. While meeting regulations is critical for compliance, achieving a polished, professional look is what leaves a lasting impression. Pipe collars offer builders an efficient, effective way to meet airtightness requirements, while clips and accessories provide the finishing touches that take a build from functional to flawless.
For developers and housebuilders, the right products represent an opportunity to improve efficiency, save on labour and deliver a higher standard of workmanship. By incorporating these innovations into their projects, builders can ensure not only that they meet the latest regulations but also that their work stands out for its attention to detail and quality.
