Traditional materials and the risk of theft

摘要

With the value of raw materials regularly increasing, REHAU is urging M&E specifiers and contractors to consider traditional pipework alternatives in order to reduce risk of theft. This warning comes from polymer specialist, REHAU, as it prepares to unveil a major new piece of research highlighting copper theft as a significant problem among M&E professionals. Out of 500 architects, M&E specifiers and contractors, 83% of respondents stated they have experienced copper theft at Steve Richmond, head of marketing & technical for building solutions at REHAU explained: "We have recently seen a 10-year high on some raw material prices, which of course increases its appeal to thieves. This not only has cost implications for construction sites full of new materials, but also causes potential project delays though insurance claims and police reports." The report also found that fluctuating commodity prices for metal pipes impact willingness to specify certain products - 29% big influence, 56% fair influence, 10% not much, 3% no influence. The detailed insights will form a series of reports focusing on different building types over 2021. Despite these facts, metal remains a commonly used material for heating and plumbing pipework. Steve Richmond says this is predominantly down to being the more familiar option to contractors for many years. However, he states that innovations in polymer and jointing technology are creating a major shift regarding the materials used for heating and plumbing pipes. Mr Richmond continued: "While it is easy to list out the benefits of polymer over metal, this is a debate that has long been dividing the building services industry. Granted both materials have their uses, but in the context of wider building issues the advantages for polymer are clear-cut. Polymers, such as PE-Xa, fluctuate less on price and are not targeted for theft so are a lower risk for contractors."