Push-fit fittings have become a common feature in many domestic water installations as they present clear benefits compared with other types of plumbing joints. Due to their popularity, they are produced in large volumes by manufacturers. Given the number of push-fitting fittings sold, the possibility that a defective part is produced and sold in the marketplace increases.
Gerald will discuss examples where Hawkins has investigated escapes of water caused by a fault in a push-fit fitting, and how laboratory inspection can be conducted to generate data that allows us to compare the characteristics of exhibit and exemplar fittings, in order to determine the cause of failure.