When it comes to gas installations, tradition runs deep. For decades, copper has been the go-to material for gas engineers across the UK. It’s reliable, familiar, and for a long time, it was the most cost-effective choice. But the industry is changing quickly. With the rise of CSST training in gas engineer education, new installers are discovering why the flexible gas pipe is becoming the smarter option.
That’s why Flexigas is proud to sponsor an educational board at the Connect Plumbing Rayleigh branch, home to their gas training centre. This initiative gives trainees the chance to learn the advantages of CSST compared to copper, ensuring that the next generation of engineers is fully prepared for the future of gas installations.
Ask any experienced engineer, and they’ll tell you: copper was king. For years, flexible pipe for gas wasn’t widely known, and even when CSST first came onto the market, it came with a higher price tag. Add in the fact that older engineers had their systems and methods nailed down, and many saw little reason to switch.
Copper offered familiarity. Engineers had their routines, their tools, and their trust in a material they’d worked with for decades. Even when CSST began making waves as a faster and safer alternative, the higher upfront cost meant many stuck with what they knew best.
Why the Tide Is Turning
Fast-forward to today, and the landscape looks very different. Copper prices have soared, narrowing the cost gap between traditional pipework and CSST. For larger projects in particular, the economics now make CSST training and adoption a no-brainer.
And when you factor in the unique advantages of CSST, fewer fittings, no need for hot works, faster install times, and safer runs through walls, voids, and underground, there are fewer and fewer reasons not to use it.
Unless the pipework needs to be visible for aesthetic reasons, CSST offers engineers a way to save time, reduce risk, and deliver smarter results.
Flexigas’ Commitment to Training
At Flexigas, we know that knowledge is power. That’s why we’ve partnered with Connect Plumbing in Rayleigh to support their gas training centre with an educational board dedicated to CSST.
This isn’t just about promoting products; it’s about giving future gas engineers the right information to make smart choices on the job. The board breaks down:
* How flexible gas pipe compares to copper in terms of speed, safety, and ease of installation.
* Why CSST is now more cost-competitive than ever.
* The real-world scenarios where CSST outperforms copper like unvented voids, risers, underground runs, and through solid walls.
By embedding these insights into training, we’re helping engineers understand not just how CSST works, but why it should be part of their professional toolkit.
The next generation of gas engineers faces a very different landscape than their predecessors. They’ll be working in an industry that demands efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness on every project. And they’ll need to know when to stick with copper and when to reach for CSST.
By investing in CSST training at the start of their careers, trainees are set up to embrace innovation instead of defaulting to tradition. That’s where initiatives like Flexigas’ sponsorship at Connect Plumbing come in, shaping habits, building confidence, and showing engineers that there’s a smarter way forward.
Final Thoughts
The world of gas installations is evolving. While copper will always have its place, the rise of CSST and the affordability shift brought on by rising copper prices mean the balance is changing fast.
By sponsoring CSST training at the Connect Plumbing Rayleigh branch, Flexigas is proud to play a part in preparing the next generation of engineers to embrace flexible gas pipe solutions.
For us, it’s not just about products. It’s about supporting the trade, driving innovation, and making sure that the gas engineers of tomorrow are equipped with the knowledge they need to succeed.
Learn more about Flexigas and our commitment to smarter gas installations: flexigas.com