Copper Development Association in the

Building & Construction Industry

Article by Nick Hay, Assistant Project Manager

Copper Development Association was formed in 1933 with the objective of promoting the uses of copper and copper alloys by ensuring the best use of copper in its existing applications and promoting new uses where their potential could be proved technically. Copper and copper alloys are suited to a wide variety of applications including: plumbing, roofing, cladding, electrical power and communications, exterior and interior architectural fittings, door, window and electrical hardware, cost-effective industrial components, marine hulls, pipework and fittings resistant to corrosion and biofouling. As a biocide and an essential trace element, copper is essential to successful agriculture.

CDA has produced many technical publications over the years, giving details of pipework for buildings and sheet for roofing. The earliest publications, produced in the 1930’s, included ‘Copper tubing’, ‘Copper sheet-work for building’, ‘The uses of copper for domestic water services’, ‘Copper for gas and water installations’, ‘Copper alloy extruded and drawn sections for architecture’ and ‘Copper pipeline services in buildings’. These were promoted with a series of advertisements that were classics of their time.

Prior to the outbreak of the 1939-45 war, the annual production of copper tubes for domestic plumbing systems, hot and cold water, was 8,000 tons. Following work on British Standards for copper tube and fittings the water undertakings accepted the use of copper tubes. Over the next twelve years the annual consumption of copper in the production of plumbing tube rose to 120,000 tons with copper pipework being used in 95% of all new buildings.

Publications produced in the post war period, supplying design and installation information vital to those re-building the nation, included: ‘Copper flashings and weatherings’, ‘Thermal properties of copper and copper pipes’ and ‘The strength of copper tubes and cylinders’. In addition to these new publications, the copper plumbing and heating bible ‘Copper pipeline services in buildings’ was revised and re-issued.

Developments in the production of tube and fittings and innovative system design saw the promotion of small-bore copper tube for heating system in the late 1950’s and systems development continued with the introduction of ‘mini-bore’ systems in the mid 1970’s. At this time work was also being done on the promotion of solar heating systems, CDA organised a Solar Heating Design Competition in 1975. One of the winning designs, along with several other installations, were featured as case studies in the following years. It is interesting to note that solar power is once again being seriously considered as an economic energy resource.

As system design improved so Standards for copper tubes developed and BS 2871 Part 1 for copper tubes for water, gas and sanitation was issued in 1971. CDA supported this with the publication of ‘Design and installation guide for copper water services in building’. More recently CDA has produced publications which focus on the two distinct areas of water services in domestic properties: ‘Copper tube in domestic water services’ and ‘Copper in domestic heating systems’, with ‘Large diameter copper tube for industrial and commercial heating applications’ providing information for other buildings.

The continued production of high quality copper tube and fittings are ensured by the new European Standards, BS EN 1057 "Seamless round copper tubes for water and gas in sanitary and heating applications" and BS EN 1254 "Copper and copper alloys- Plumbing fittings", the latter being a Standard in five parts.

Roofing applications in copper have developed over the years, just as copper pipework systems. Copper, with its distinctive green patina, has been used as a roofing material for many years and was designed and installed using what is termed the ‘Traditional’ method. Developments in Europe saw the introduction in the late 1950’s of the ‘Long strip’ method of roofing design. CDA has produced publications giving details of the traditional method of roofing design (1930’s), and of the long strip method (1959), and more recently for both methods in CDA publication ‘Copper in Roofing’. To recognise high standards of design and construction, CDA now organises a ‘Copper Roofing Competition’ each year.

The current set of CDA publications on building and construction topics include roofing, domestic plumbing and heating, domestic natural gas installations and, providing information for a new market for copper pipework, fire sprinkler systems for residential and domestic properties. All the information in these publications, and many now out of print, is contained on the Megabytes on Coppers II CD-ROM and in this Website.

Copper Development Association continues to provide technical and promotional information on many topics, including those associated with the building and construction industry, and a full list of publications is available from CDA. For those with technical enquiries CDA operates a free technical helpline, providing information on all coppers and copper alloys and all applications. Copper Development Association encourages the correct and efficient use of copper and its alloys in all of the many different applications.