Press profiles and tools: why jaw and connector belong together

What a press profile is

The press connector carries a bead at each end in which the sealing element sits. During pressing the jaw compresses the bead and the cylindrical part of the connector onto the pipe: the sealing element is deformed and seals, the cylindrical part joins pipe and fitting with a positive lock against pull-out and twisting. The geometry of this process – where the jaw presses, how deep, in what shape – is the press profile. It is laid down in no standard but is the property of the system manufacturer, and the system approval (DVGW) covers pipe, connector, sealing element and tool together.

From this follows the most important sentence of this page: a connector is pressed with the jaw of its profile, otherwise neither approval nor warranty applies. Two jaws can look alike and yet produce different forces and shapes; a wrong profile can deliver a joint that passes the leak test and starts leaking years later.

The profile families of the systems we carry

The table shows for each system the manufacturer's statement on profile and tool and whether the system has the property “unpressed = leaking” (see Leak testing and SC-Contur).

Viega: SC-Contur with V profile, Megapress with press rings

All metallic Viega systems (Profipress, Sanpress, Sanpress Inox, Temponox, Prestabo) use the same profile with the SC-Contur as forced leakage; up to 54 mm press jaws work, from 64 mm press rings with articulated adapter jaw. Megapress has its own range of jaws from ⅜ to 2 inch; the XL sizes 2½ to 4 inch need the press ring and the Pressgun Press Booster, which amplifies the pressing force of the machine. Raxofix (multilayer pipe) has press rings from 16 to 63 mm.

Sanha: SA, V or M up to 54 mm (combipress)

NiroSan, SANHA-Press and SANHA-Therm may be pressed up to 54 mm with SA, V or M original profiles, above that with SA and M, the sizes 139.7 and 168.3 mm only with press slings M. Heavy Steel Press for thick-walled steel pipe has a standardised profile that can be pressed with commercially available press machines. That is why Sanha fittings can be processed in a company's tool pool with V or M jaws without a second range of jaws.

Geberit: Mepla and FlowFit

Mepla has its own profile for multilayer pipe with press jaws and press rings per size. FlowFit is the most recent design: lateral press technology in which two jaws (blue for d16–d40, green for d50–d75) cover all eight sizes and a press indicator makes the pressing visible; for d16–d40 there is a hand press tool.

Without a profile: push-fit and grooving

GF iFIT needs no press tool – the pipe is chamfered, calibrated and pushed in up to the mark; the tools are pipe cutter, chamfering tool and calibrator. Victaulic couplings sit on a roll groove or cut groove in the pipe end; the tool is the grooving machine, the coupling is bolted.

Press jaw, press ring, press chain – and the machine behind them

Press jaw: a two-part mouth inserted directly into the press machine; the rule up to 54 mm (Viega, Sanha, Geberit) or up to 2 inch (Megapress, where from 1 inch a press ring is optional). Press ring (also press sling, press chain): a multi-link ring placed around the connector and drawn together by an adapter jaw or articulated adapter jaw in the machine; the rule from 64 mm, because a jaw no longer brings the force evenly around the circumference. Viega allows the press ring instead of the jaw for Megapress from 1 inch.

Machine classes (manufacturer statement Viega, model overview in the planning manual): compact machines such as the Pressgun Picco 6 Plus press metallic systems 12–35 mm, Megapress ⅜–¾ inch, plastic systems 12–32 mm; standard machines such as the Pressgun 6 Plus press 12–108 mm, Megapress ⅜–2 inch and with Press Booster 2½–4 inch, plastic systems 12–63 mm. Geberit and Sanha have analogous classes; the assignment size → jaw → machine is in the system's instructions for use and is part of the approval.

What the manufacturers promise on compatibility – and what they do not

The honest answer to the question “can I press fitting A with jaw B?” is: only if the manufacturer of the fitting releases it. Viega states that it does not test whether its system press jaws, chains or rings are suitable for pressing systems of other manufacturers, and makes no statement on whether permanently tight joints result. Sanha releases its fittings up to 54 mm for SA, V and M (combipress) – with full warranty, as the manufacturer stresses. Geberit ties Mepla and FlowFit to its own jaws and rings.

For the site this means: whoever mixes two systems (say NiroSan to Sanpress Inox) needs either a profile that both manufacturers release, or two sets of jaws. And whoever works a size above 54 mm needs ring and adapter jaw, not just the machine. The manufacturer's statement on the profile is in the table above; if in doubt, the current edition of the instructions for use applies.

From our practice (experience value, rule 4 of the practical rules): before ordering, check that the correct tool for system and size is on site – otherwise include it in your enquiry to us. The most expensive delay is a connector for which the jaw is missing.

Further reading

Tools of this section: System finder (which system suits medium, pipe and size) · Joining methods compared · Cost comparison calculator · Press systems overview.

The cross-cutting topics: Mixed installation and corrosion · Seals and media · Leak testing and SC-Contur · Zeta values of press connectors