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PLUMBING CONNECTION
SUMMER 2016
RENOVATIONSGET COPPERMAKEOVER
A
new survey of leading building companies suggests
that copper plumbing is not only doing reasonably well
in the renovation market, but could be set for growth.
The first time Housing Industry Association (HIA) research
showed copper being used in 33% of cold water and 34% of
hot water renovation work around the country.
Sixty seven per cent of the most prevalent jobs were
extensions of existing pipes, while nearly a third were
for replacements of the existing plumbing systems.
Interestingly, the HIA study showed that very few
homeowners get to choose plumbing materials or are even
offered the opportunity to participate in the decision, with
the vast majority being selected by the builders involved.
And for them the three key drivers for what materials they
choose are price, existing systems and ease of installs.
While this is the first study looking at plumbing and
renovation in Australia, the results suggest copper has
defied anecdotal and industry feedback that suggested its
market share was likely to weaken due to issues around
price.
MARKET GLOW
One of the reasons that renovation copper is holding its
own is the fact that the overall new construction market is
looking robust. As Rupert Blatch from MM Kembla recently
pointed out, “the Australian copper tube market has seen
around 5% growth since 2012 due to some important
changes that have occurred in this time.”
Most of the changes have been due to copper industry
innovations that not only identified the challenges facing
copper in the construction industry, but worked to overcome
them with smarter products.
Chief among those has been the so-called press-fit suite
of products that have taken the complexity out of plumbing
systems and joining. In fact the HIA study found that well
over a third said the introduction and adoption of press-fit
type systems has made copper a more attractive plumbing
material in home plumbing work due to the ease and speed
of installs.
The other big market impact has been the changing
nature of urban new builds with a growing focus on high rise
towers and residential apartments where copper plumbing
systems not only handle the height and pressure challenges
more effectively than plastics, but have proven to be more
robust and far less prone to break downs and performance
issues.
The copper industry has also stepped up its technical
information and plumber/builder advisory role. The launch
of a free Hydraulic Services Designers Guide and Pipe
NEW RESEARCH SHOWS COPPER PLUMBING DOING WELL IN THE BOOMING RENOVATION MARKET AND THAT, SAYS
JOHN FENNELL
, REFLECTS SOME FUNDAMENTAL MARKET CHANGES.
Copper is becoming a huge component of plumbing systems
in the renovation sector across the country.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
RENOVATION COPPER IS HOLDING ITS
OWN IS THE FACT THAT THE OVERALL
NEW CONSTRUCTION MARKET IS
LOOKING ROBUST.
COPPER CONNECTION
JOHN FENNELL