Copper End Feed Fittings: Endex vs Flomasta

paperclap

Hi all,

So I’ve recently started practicing soldering, in run up to replacing my central heating system.

 I have been practicing using Endex end feed fittings. 10 for £5:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/endex-copper-end-feed-equal-90-elbows-15mm-10-pack/88036

However, have just seen Screwfix also sell these Flomasta ones. 20 for £5:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/flomasta-end-feed-equal-90-elbows-15mm-20-pack/91735#

Wish I would have practiced on the Flomasta ones! Anywho, only a tenner or so lost.

Are they literally the same? Or, are Endex fittings better? E.g. better construction, thicker walls, connection, finish, etc?

Thinking ahead for when I come to do the real thing!

Thanks!

Section62

laurencewhymark said:

Are they literally the same? Or, are Endex fittings better? E.g. better construction, thicker walls, connection, finish, etc?

Both are made to BS EN 1254-1, so should be the same for your purposes.

One might be made with marginally more copper than the other - you could find out by buying both and weighing (say) 10 of each to see if there is any difference?

Reading around the reviews it is possible the Endex are individually marked with the BS details, which might be a necessity for gas work (mixed opinions there). But that wouldn't affect what you are doing.

Maybe get some Flomasta and test the ease of use yourself?  TBH with professionals many will only use one particular brand and swear that anything else is rubbish and difficult to work with.

However, it can just be a bit of a Coke vs Pepsi thing. And in the 'blind' test it turns out they like the supermaket own brand the best.

Another_Level

They all have to meet BritishStandards or a EN european standard.

Endex is a pegler yorkshire product, they have good history.
Flomasta is a kingfisher brand, no history, its a mystery who produces them. Maybe both are imported from somewhere.

Have found unbranded end feed fittings to vary and sometimes the copper pipe fit is slack but that void is filled with solder, so all ok.

Bendy_House

The Flomasta items have universally awful reviews.

NO THEY DON'T! They're completely positive reviews.

If you were handed one at random and you carried out your glorious soldering on it, you probably wouldn't know which was which... :-)

paperclap

Thanks all!

Endex
EN 1254-1 and KM 15121 (“Kitemark”)
25 year guarantee

Flomasta
EN 1254-1
1 year guarantee

Not that I’m dealing with gas, but I think products are required to be “Kitemarked” in order to be used with gas?

25 year vs 1 year guarantee. Sounds impressive, but is there actually in substance in that? What could it possibly be guaranteeing against – warping, susceptibility to pinhole leaks, etc?

Section62

laurencewhymark said:

Endex
EN 1254-1 and KM 15121 (“Kitemark”)

"KM 15121" is nothing more exciting than the certificate number allowing Pegler to use the Kitemark to demonstrate compliance with BS EN 1254.

Which reminds me, I must dig out my Cycling Proficiency certificate to add the details to my CV.

laurencewhymark said:

Not that I’m dealing with gas, but I think products are required to be “Kitemarked” in order to be used with gas?

From what I could make out it is about the individual marking placed on each component, rather than whether or not the product meets the standards.  I.e. Someone inspecting the gas installation will be able to see that the elbows (etc) used are to BS EN 1254, rather than some cheap junk.

I could be wrong, but I believe copper pipe fittings have to meet BS EN 1254 to be imported and sold in the UK, regardless.

laurencewhymark said:

25 year vs 1 year guarantee. Sounds impressive, but is there actually in substance in that? What could it possibly be guaranteeing against – warping, susceptibility to pinhole leaks, etc?

As a general rule, the longer the guarantee offered, the less likely the manufacturer thinks the defect guaranteed against will ever occur in practical usage.  We could ask why only 25 years, not 50?

In terms of things like corrosion, the question would be whether the wall thickness of the pipe you are using is as thick as the copper on the Flomasta fittings.  Subject to the quality of copper used, which is going to leak first?