Viega: Response by Product Manager Ilos Gatto to “Multi-layer Pipes for Gas Installations in Italy”
The approval of multi-layer pipes for use in gas installations in Italy is currently still somewhat “unclear”. Contributing factors here are both the “normative Kraft des Faktischen” (an acceptance of the reality of the situation), identified by Winfried Hamich, and the efforts of the European Union to harmonise standards and regulations in a united Europe – and at the same time take account of national idiosyncrasies, for which appropriate provision must then be made …
This results in the apparent paradox that in Italy gas installations using multi-layer pipes do indeed exist, but because there are no regulations, no new ones are permitted: in the past, thousands of gas pipes for the housing sector have been installed using multi-layer pipes not officially approved. The Ministry has now given these a sort of status protection, if planning permission for the building was issued before 31st December 2005. From this it has been interpreted, that multi-layer pipes are not permitted for use in new installations.
The situation for future gas installations using multi-layer pipes is as follows: the necessary regulations are currently in the consultation phase. The product regulations are almost complete. The Italian Gas Committee has already prepared a first draft of the installation regulations. Once the public consultation process is complete, a “white paper” can be expected in a few months. Until the two sets of regulations are signed off and issued by the UNI (the Italian standards institution), there is little likelihood of multi-layer pipes being used for domestic gas installations, as the supply companies could refuse to supply gas on the basis of the above ministerial decision.
Moreover Law No. 37/08 published in March further contributes to the general confusion surrounding the matter. According to it, all materials and installation methods accepted by the EU – therefore including multi-layer pipes – are supposedly approved for use in Italy. This is supported almost simultaneously by the publication of the latest version of EN 1775, which also provides for the use of multi-layer pipes. This standard, however, refers in the same breath to the national regulations – which do not yet exist in Italy in the case of multi-layer pipes for gas installations. More: www.kwd-globalpipe.com.