ᐅ Is it permitted for the water pipe to be installed within the concrete slab?

Hello.

We are getting a slab-on-grade foundation with an 80cm (31.5 inches) frost skirt. This is a common practice in almost every build here.

As far as I understand, the frost skirt prevents water from seeping under the slab and freezing. The slab itself is not insulated.

The water pipes are installed on top of the slab (insulated) and do not freeze or get damaged.

What happens if the pipes are embedded in the concrete with insulation? Would the pipes freeze and get damaged in that case?

This is not about whether it makes sense to place the pipes there, just a question regarding the above.

Thank you.

Without insulation = can break, with insulation = does not break, unless temperatures drop to minus 100 degrees Celsius (minus 148 degrees Fahrenheit).

seat88 schrieb:

No insulation = can get damaged, with insulation = it won’t get damaged, unless temperatures drop to minus 100 degrees.

Well, insulation doesn’t generate heat; it only slows down the heat loss.

I’m not so sure if your assumption would hold up during a two-week winter holiday (which means the pipe is stagnant).

Whether the tensile forces in the concrete keep the pipes intact is another question. The pipe should be specified for this type of installation, including the pressure it needs to withstand.

Of course, the question of whether this makes sense arises ;-)

In my bathroom (which is currently under construction), an aspiring architect also suggested installing the drain INTO the floor. While this would be practical, the slope would be minimal—if there is any at all—and it would require a skilled and reliable tradesperson to do it properly. I decided against this because of the slope issue. The pipes will be installed in front of the wall inside a box about 1.20 m high (4 feet), which takes up space and is therefore inconvenient, but that’s probably how we will do it.

... and that’s actually how all the plumbers I know do it.

seat88 schrieb:

Without insulation = can get damaged, with insulation = won’t get damaged, unless the temperature drops to minus 100 degrees.

Are you sure about that?

guckuck2 schrieb:

Whether the tensile forces in the concrete would keep the pipes intact is another question. The pipe should be specified for this type of installation, including the pressure it will be subjected to.

That should be the case. Many people also install metal composite pipes in ceilings for heating and cooling.

guckuck2 schrieb:

Of course, the question of practicality arises ;-)

Less piping on the floor, better insulation.

manohara schrieb:

In my bathroom (currently under construction), a trainee architect also suggested placing the drain in the floor.
That would be practical, but the slope would be minimal—if there was any at all—and it would require a reliable and skilled craftsman to do it properly.
I decided against it because of the slope issue. The pipes will be installed in front of the wall inside a box about 1.20 m (4 feet) high, which takes up space and is therefore not ideal, but that’s probably how we will do it...

In your case, it’s about the wastewater pipe; for me, it’s the water supply.
I would never install it above the floor if there is another option.

K1300S schrieb:

... and that’s actually how all the plumbers I know do it.

I think it looks, well, not great.
Especially those shelves in the bathroom collect dust, I don’t want that 🙂
All pipes will be laid directly under the floor slab.