KemPress Stainless Steel Fittings

MM Kembla has combined the experience and knowledge of over 100 years of Australian metal tube manufacturing with German engineering to produce the KemPress Stainless press-fit connection system.

With a warranty of 25 years for potable water and fuel gas applications, and a design life of 50 years, KemPress Stainless offers you the peace of mind and the simplicity you want with the highest quality, most reliable and trusted press-fit system.

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KemPress Stainless Steel Fittings – Australian Standard AS 3688

MM Kembla^® has combined the experience and knowledge of over 100 years of Australian copper tube manufacturing with press-fit technology & engineering to produce the KemPress^® copper press-fit connection system. With a warranty of 25 years, and a design life of over 50 years, KemPress^® offers you peace of mind and the simplicity that you want.

Kembla Stainless Steel Tube and KemPress Stainless press fittings have been optimised for combined use, with fittings produced using Kembla Stainless Steel Tube. When you need the highest quality stainless streel press-fit system, use Kembla Stainless Steel Tube, KemPress Stainless Fittings and KemPress Press Tools. Our press tools with jaws to suit stainless steel are of the highest quality, are the lightest on the market and have the longest intervals between servicing.

FEATURES

Unpressed Fitting ID – Leak Path

KemPress Stainless fittings for Water and Gas are designed to allow a small amount of water or air to escape from any fitting that is un-pressed. This feature ensures a system isn’t commissioned with unpressed fittings installed that under high pressure may cause a temporary seal and cause a future leak and reduce the risk of costly failures, rectification and damage to property. The leak path feature is activated by performing a low pressure test prior to normal pressure testing as below.

Push & Stay Technology

Press copper fittings up to DN50 are equipped with the unique ‘Push & Stay’ feature. Utilising strict process control, the tightest of manufacturing tolerances and the most accurate production technology, KemPress fittings have been designed to ensure the fitting is tight enough to stay on the tube prior to pressing. Such a feature is symbolic of the high quality manufacturing and quality control processes employed during manufacture. KemPress “Push & Stay” has been designed to minimise risk during the installation process and make KemPress fittings easier to install with the following benefits:

Fitting is tight enough to complete rough in before pressing
Fitting won’t fall off when preparing for vertical installations
Ensures plumber has right design & tube placement prior to pressing
Minimises risk of fitting slipping and minimum tube insertion depth not met

Bluetooth Equipped KemPress Tools

KemPress KPS2 and KPL3 press tools are equipped with smart Bluetooth technology so you can stay fully connected with your job site and installation performance. The innovative technology combined with the Novocheck App means you can manage the job straight from your smart phone or tablet. The ability to monitor and maintain your tool performance as well as installation performance reduces installation risk and increases the quality of your installations. Pre-start tool checks will ensure your tools are ready to work, service logs will mean you can see when your tool needs its next service and generation of site reports means you can detect any unpressed fittings by comparing the number of completed presses to those required on each section of work.

Download the NovoCheck App from the App Store or Google Play and connect with your tool today.

FITTINGS

KemPress Stainless Fittings are available in 3 types based on their application and O-ring; Water, Gas & High Temperature. Inside each fitting is a sealing element called an Elastomeric O-ring. Fittings are available for Water (EPDM – Black), Gas (HNBR – Yellow) and High Temperature/Industry (FKM – Red). They are not interchangeable for their different applications.
KemPress Stainless fittings are manufactured and quality controlled to AS3688, with 316L (material EN1.4404) for parts made from tube, 316Ti (material EN1.4571) for threaded fittings and 316 (material 1.4408) for precision cast fittings, all having Watermark Approval # 23087 for Standard (EPDM) and Industry (FKM) fittings.

KemPress fittings are not suitable for Medical Gas, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning applications, Acetylene, Urea Solution, Methanol, Glycerin Triacetate, Coolant Inhibitor, Sodium Hydroxide or Ammoniac-gaseous.

For further information regarding suitability of KemPress fittings for applications, refer to the Application Guide downloadable in the “Support” section at the bottom of this page contact MM Kembla customer service.

Water

Standard press fittings utilise a black EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) O-ring sealing element. This O-ring is suitable for hot and cold potable water applications and some industrial applications. It is not suitable for aromatic hydrocarbons, di-ester based lubricants, halogenated solvents or petroleum based oils and greases.

Gas

Gas applications use a HNBR (Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber) O-ring sealing element. HNBR has been used for decades in automotive and industrial applications. It is designed for gas, oil and chemical resistance. It is not suitable for drinking water. Gas fittings have a yellow O-ring and are clearly marked with a distinctive yellow colour and the word GAS.

High Temperature (HT)

Industry or High temperature applications use an FKM (fluorocarbon) O-ring sealing element. Ideal for petroleum products, fuels including those blended with ethanol or methanol, diesel, biodiesel, mineral oils and greases, silicone oils and greases, high vacuum, strong acids, ozone, weather and very high temperatures. This O-ring is suitable for applications where temperatures exceed 120°C (up to 200°C), often at the collector. HT fittings have a red O-ring and are clearly marked with a distinctive red colour and the word HT.

KemPress Stainless O-Ring Specifications

Colour Code	Black	Red	Yellow
Fitting Type	Standard	Industry	Gas
Material Code	EPDM	FKM	HNBR
Material	Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer	Fluorocarbon	Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber
Maximum Continuous Temperature Range °C	-30°C up to 120°C	-20°C up to 200°C (depending on the medium)	-20°C up to 100°C
Peak Short Term Max. Temp °C	150°C	280°C	100°C

KemPress Stainless Design Pressures Using Standard Tools, Jaws and Slings

Application	Pipe External Diameter	Safe Working Pressure
Water and Aqueous Solutions	d ≤ 22mm	40 bar
	d = 28-35mm	25 bar
	d = 42-108mm	16 bar
Flammable/Fuel Gases	d ≤ 108mm	5 bar
Technical Gases & Compressed Air (Non-Toxic, Non-Flammable)	d ≤ 108mm	16 bar
Fire Sprinkler Systems	d = 22-76.1mm	16 bar (EPDM & FKM for VdS)
		12 bar (EPDM & FKM for FM)
	d = 108 mm	12.5 bar (EPDM only for VdS)
		12 bar (EPDM & FKM for FM)

KEMBLA STAINLESS STEEL TUBE

Kembla Stainless tube is 316L grade (EN 1.4404) complying with DIN EN 10088, fabricated according to DIN EN 10312 and DVGW – W 541 and is supplied as straight 6m lengths with outside diameters in the range 15mm – 108mm. It is compliant with AS 5200.053 and has Watermark Approval #23151. Kembla Stainless tubes combine low carbon, at less than 0.03%, with a minimum molybdenum content of 2.3% for improved corrosion resistance. Low carbon, austenitic stainless steel is roll formed and then longitudinally plasma-inert gas-welded to precisely form the tubes. Kembla Stainless tubes are bright annealed and solution heat-treated, resulting in an attractive, hygienic and highly durable product. For more information see Kembla Stainless Steel Tube

RECOMMENDED PRESSING TOOLS

MM Kembla guarantees the leak tightness of the KemPress Stainless pressed joints for standard potable water and gas applications, regardless of the manufacturer of the pressing tools, providing the pressing machines and pressing jaws and/ or slings meet the following requirements:

The pressing tools must be maintained and used according to the respective manufacturer’s guidelines.
KemPress press tools and standard pressure jaws/slings are fully compliant as follows:
KPS/KPS2 or tools with min. press force of 18kN for 15 mm – 28 mm inclusive
KPL/KPL2/KPL3 or tools with min. press force of 30kN for 15 mm – 54 mm inclusive
KPXL/KPXL2 or tools with min. press force of 32kN for 15 mm – 108 mm inclusive
The correct EN size jaw/sling shall be used for the fitting
With KemPress Stainless fittings up to including 54 mm in diameter, pressing jaws and slings for press connections of the type M-MM must exhibit the original profiles SA, M or V
With KemPress Stainless fittings greater than 54 mm in diameter, pressing jaws and slings for press connections of the type M-MM must exhibit the original profiles M.

BENEFITS

Fast & easy to use – Considerably faster than traditional jointing methods
No need to drain water out of the system
No waiting for adhesives to set
Flame free connection – no hot works permit required and ideal for retrofit projects
Same tools used for the KemPress® Copper system, simply change jaws, adaptors and slings to suit stainless and press profile as required.
High quality fittings manufactured and quality controlled to AS 3688
High quality 316L stainless steel ensures higher corrosion resistance
Push & Stay feature
Unpressed Fitting ID (Leak Path) feature
Watermark Certified (Fittings Licence no. 23087, Tube Licence no. 23151)
FM and VdS approved for sizes 22-108mm with EPDM for wet systems and FKM O-ring for wet and dry systems
25 Year Warranty for potable water and fuel gas applications
10 Year Warranty for industrial applications subject to MM Kembla written confirmation of product suitability.

WARRANTY

10 Years (Industrial Applications)

For industrial applications, subject to MM Kembla confirming in writing that the products are suitable for the application, MM Kembla guarantees that the tube and fittings will be fit for their intended purpose for a period of not less than 10 years. MM Kembla warrants that if any installation using KemPress fittings becomes defective or fails and MM Kembla is notified of the details and is satisfied that the defect or failure was a result of a manufacturing defect and not the result of faulty specification, installation or incompatible environment, MM Kembla will replace or repair the defective goods and make good the installation.

25 Years (Potable Water and Fuel Gas Applications)

An intensive ISO 9001 certified quality control system is applied to all MM Kembla KemPress fittings to ensure they confirm to AS3688 and Australian Watermark certification requirements. MM Kembla warrants that if any installation using KemPress fittings becomes defective or fails and MM Kembla is notified of the details and is satisfied that the defect or failure was a result of a manufacturing defect and not the result of faulty specification, installation or incompatible environment, MM Kembla will replace or repair the defective goods and make good the installation.

KEMPRESS STAINLESS FITTINGS – PRODUCT TABLES

Stainless Tubes 6M Lengths AISI 316L