RIIFO F18 MCLP Press Fittings

RIIFO F18 fittings consist of a brass body with sealing O-rings and a stainless steel press sleeve. The prepared pipe end slides over the fitting body and inside the sleeve, and inspection holes in the sleeve allow the installer to confirm visually that the pipe is fully inserted before pressing. The press tool then compresses the sleeve evenly around the pipe, locking it onto the fitting body and creating a permanent, impermeable seal.

The inspection holes are a practical advantage on-site. Full insertion depth can be verified at a glance on every joint, giving confidence in the connection before the jaw is ever closed. Once pressed, the joint is complete and ready for immediate testing, with no cooling or curing time.

RIIFO F18 fittings are installed using a press tool fitted with TH or U profile jaws, with both press profiles suitable for the range. This dual compatibility means the fittings work with a wide selection of press tools already in use on site. Guidance on compatible tools and jaw sets is available on our RIIFO Tools & Accessories page.

• Couplings and reducing couplings: For joining straight lengths of multilayer pipe, and for stepping between pipe diameters where a run reduces in size.
• Elbows: For clean 90-degree changes of direction where a tight, tidy corner is preferable to a formed bend, such as in confined joist spaces or at appliance connections.
• Tees and reducing tees: For branching a supply from a main run, with reducing options allowing a smaller branch to be taken from a larger distribution pipe.
• Threaded adaptors: Male and female threaded options for transitioning from multilayer pipe to brassware, valves, cylinders, radiator tails and other BSP threaded connections.
• Wallplate elbows: For fixing a secure, braced outlet at taps, showers and outside walls, providing a solid termination point for the pipework.
• Valves and manifolds: Isolation and distribution components designed for the RIIFO F18 system, allowing zoned control and balanced supply across multiple circuits.

RIIFO F18 press fittings are dimensioned for RIIFO PEX/AL/PEX multilayer pipe and are available across the core size range of 16mm to 75mm. The correct fitting size corresponds to the outer diameter of the pipe, so 16mm fittings suit 16mm multilayer pipe, and so on through the range.

All formats of RIIFO multilayer pipe, whether coiled, straight length or pre-insulated, share the same outer diameters, so the same RIIFO F18 fitting suits any format of a given size. Details of the available pipe formats can be found on our RIIFO Multilayer Pipe page.

RIIFO F18 press fittings are suitable for hot and cold water services and central heating systems in residential and commercial installations. Typical uses include first fix plumbing in new build and renovation projects, radiator and underfloor heating connections via manifold distribution, bathroom and kitchen installations, and replacement pipework in occupied properties where flame-free jointing is a significant advantage.

The combination of flexible multilayer pipe and press fittings allows long, continuous pipe runs with connections placed only where they are needed, keeping installations neat and making efficient use of materials.

• Can RIIFO F18 fittings be used on central heating systems?

  • Yes. RIIFO F18 fittings are suitable for both hot and cold water services and central heating pipework, including radiator connections and manifold-fed circuits.

• How do I know the pipe is fully inserted before pressing?

  • Each RIIFO F18 fitting has inspection holes in the press sleeve. When the pipe is visible through these holes, it has reached full insertion depth, and the joint is ready to press.

• What is the difference between press fittings and compression fittings?

  • A press fitting is crimped permanently onto the pipe with a press tool, creating a fast, consistent joint that is ready for immediate testing. A compression fitting is tightened by hand with spanners and can be dismantled later. Press fittings are the faster choice for full installations, while compression fittings suit locations where future access to the joint may be useful.

• Can RIIFO F18 fittings be installed without soldering?

  • Yes. The press connection is entirely mechanical, with no flame, flux or solder required. This makes the system ideal for occupied buildings, timber frame properties and sites where hot works permits would otherwise be needed.