Pipe Bending from fixed points

When bending and installing copper tube from appliances that are in fitted in situ and where pipework is required to be fixed into position with pipe clips, you will find you are working from two fixed points. It is crucial that pipework measurements are accurate for the job to look neat, tidy and professional.

One of the skills students will be required to learn when training, is to be able to measure from back of the pipe to back of the pipe. This equates to being the same as a centre to centre measurement. It is easier to hold a tape or rule touching the back of a fixed pipe and measure to the back of your next fixed pipe that is in position than it is to try centre to centre measurements especially in restricted spaces.

This skill is relatively easy to learn, once you have mastered bending the simple 90ᵒ bend.
You could possibly cut the pipe and use pressfit, compression, or soldered 90ᵒ elbows, yet the more joints you have in any pipework installation, the less chance you have of leaks occurring. Also accurately bent pipework looks neater, creates less restriction and the chance of back pressure occurring in pipework.
  

The example shown demonstrates how much more professional, a neatly bent pipework installation looks. When carrying out practical assessment tasks in the workshop, the assessment requirements are usually end of pipe to centre of pipe, or centre of pipe to centre of pipe.

Back of pipe to back of pipe measurements are more realistic in regards to how you would measure and install pipework in a working installation. Such an important and great skill to acquire, which is fairly simple to master with plenty of practice.