How much pressure can ice build?

[thinfourth2]

For various boring reasons i'm going to be fitting an outside tap.

It gets bloody cold up here and is libel to freeze.

i work in the oil industry and can acquire ballvalves rated to 10,000psi

Would these survive a freezing?

[shimmey69]

i think they would survive freezing but the biggest problem is the rest of the system, i know a lot of the outside tap kits that you can get to literally run though a wall are using hosepipe as this is able to expand without cracking, might be something to consider???

[Sam_68]

You're asking the wrong question.

The question you should be asking ins 'how much pressure can the pipe leading to the ball valve sustain and/or will it deform sufficiently to accommodate the expansion of the ice.'

Having said which, most people get away with an brass tap from B&Q and a bit of lagging on the copper pipe, so I suspect you'll be just fine.

[dickymint]

You can buy non-freeze outside taps. Basically they purge themselves when turned off.

[dirkgently]

thinfourth2 said:

For various boring reasons i'm going to be fitting an outside tap.

It gets bloody cold up here and is libel to freeze.

i work in the oil industry and can acquire ballvalves rated to 10,000psi

Would these survive a freezing?

Why not fit it properly? install an isolation valve, double-check valve and drain off all inside the house.

[Brite spark]

Lag the pipe with insulation and fit trace heating with a thermostat to control it, job done.

[Simpo Two]

thinfourth2 said:

It gets bloody cold up here and is libel to freeze.

Oh well in that case you can sue and get your money back