Professional Builder first featured PipeSnug when it was launched by builder Chris Burdett and Alex Lever back in 2017. Now, we catch up with the PipeSnug story as it finds a new home at Talon Manufacturing.
It’s fair to say we have featured some great inventions by builders over the years and PipeSnug has to be up there with the best of them. We first encountered the product in 2017 when we profiled builder Chris Burdett and his business partner Alex Lever.
Since then, PipeSnug and then FlueSnug have been used by thousands of plumbers and builders. The products’ success has transformed the way the industry and the Building Regulations approach sealing around pipework and it even appeared on BBC One’s Dragon’s Den.
In May 2023, it was announced that Talon, manufacturer of pipe clips, collars and covers, had agreed an exclusive worldwide licensing deal with PipeSnug. Headquartered in Gillingham, Kent, Talon’s own journey began way back in 1984 with the moulding of its first pipe clips and today it has a wide range of popular plumbing products tailored to the evolving needs of installers.
“Our whole product range is geared towards quality, reliability and a great finish to every job,” says Dean Heathfield, Talon’s Commercial Director. “PipeSnug is a natural fit for Talon and bringing the two together under one roof makes perfect sense.”
For PipeSnug’s founders Chris Burdett and Alex Lever, the deal with Talon ends one chapter of their story but opens another. Both of them will be engaged by the company to advise and consult on expanding the range as well as new product development, including ideas that may potentially be as transformative as PipeSnug.
“The move to Talon is absolutely the right one,” says Alex Lever, PipeSnug’s co-founder. “We shall join Dean and his team in pushing forward and under Talon’s wings we shall look to bring more ideas to market that save time and money for the trade.”
A game-changing moment for the product came with the new Part L of the Building Regulations, which focuses on energy efficiency and air tightness in building. The requirement for pipe penetrations to be fitted with pipe seals and grommets means builders now need to use pipe seals, which retain warm air within homes and prevent cold air from entering, rather than messy or porous mixtures and chemicals when sealing pipes.
PipeSnug and FlueSnug provide this airtight seal, and prevent heat loss, drafts, dampness, and pests. Easy to install internally or externally they do away with the need for sealants, mortar, or expensive air sealing tape. They also create a neat finish and eliminate the need for pointing.
Furthermore, the products are flexible enough to be pushed through a core-drilled hole from the inside, and yet rigid enough to snap back into place, and so eliminate the need for ladders or scaffolding. They are UV resistant and designed to withstand sun damage, unlike mortar or silicone. Moreover, they cover any brickwork damage during installation, and so protect the building’s structure, while simultaneously safeguarding the pipe from sharp brick edges.
“We are really excited to have PipeSnug on board,” says Dean. “We will help accelerate the “‘Snug” family of products’ growth through increased distribution, next day delivery, more product development and even more marketing support.”
For more information on Talon and its wide range of pipe clips and plumbing accessories, visit Talon Manufacturing.
