FREE DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £75
JG Speedfit Push-Fit Fittings — Tees, Elbows, Couplers and Reducers for UK Plumbers
JG Speedfit is the UK's best-known push-fit plumbing system, trusted by professional plumbers for fast, tool-free connections on copper, plastic and barrier pipe. Whether you're running a central heating circuit, capping off a supply or adding a branch, Speedfit fittings click into place in seconds — no solder, no compression ring, no flux.
APM Electricals stocks the full JG Speedfit range: equal tees, equal elbows, straight couplers, socket reducers, stem fittings, stop valves and more, in sizes from 10mm to 28mm. Everything available online with next-day delivery or same-day collection from our Acton trade counter.
What Is JG Speedfit?
JG Speedfit (John Guest) is a push-to-connect plumbing system designed for use with plastic barrier pipe, copper pipe and MDPE. A stainless steel grab ring inside each fitting bites onto the pipe as it's inserted, and an O-ring creates a watertight seal. No tools are needed to make the connection — just push the pipe in to the tube stop and it's done.
The system is approved for use in domestic hot and cold water supplies, central heating (with barrier pipe), underfloor heating and gas (specialist yellow fittings only). It meets WRAS approval requirements and is widely specified by housebuilders and M&E contractors across the UK.
Key Benefits Over Compression and Solder
- Speed — A Speedfit connection takes a few seconds. Compression fittings take longer to torque correctly; solder fittings need flux, heat and drying time.
- No heat — Safe in timber-framed walls, near insulation or in tight spaces where a blowtorch is impractical.
- Demountable — Connections can be released with a collet clip and reassembled, useful during commissioning or alterations.
- Plastic body — No dezincification risk; compatible with barrier pipe on heating circuits where some metal fittings are not recommended.
- Compact — Speedfit fittings have a smaller footprint than most compression equivalents, useful in joists and behind panels.
Speedfit Fitting Types
Equal Couplers and Straight Connectors
Join two lengths of the same diameter pipe end-to-end. Available in 10mm, 15mm, 22mm and 28mm. Straight couplers are used when pipe lengths need extending or when re-running old pipework with a join that won't be buried in masonry.
Equal Tees
Branch a single supply into two — the most common fitting in central heating circuits and domestic pipework. The 15mm equal tee is the workhorse of the range; 22mm tees are used on flow and return mains, and 28mm tees on boiler primaries and high-flow circuits.
Equal Elbows
Change direction by 90°. Speedfit elbows are used at corners, around obstacles and when routing through notched joists. The 15mm elbow is the highest-volume single fitting in the plumbing trade — it appears in virtually every domestic install.
Socket Reducers and Reducing Tees
Step down from one pipe diameter to another. A 22mm x 15mm socket reducer connects a 22mm main to a 15mm branch, avoiding the need for a separate reducing insert. Reducing tees do the same in a single fitting where a branch of a different size is needed.
Stem Fittings (Male Iron)
Male iron (MI) thread on one end, Speedfit push-fit on the other. Used to connect Speedfit pipe runs to threaded valve bodies, radiator valves, boiler connections and appliances. Common sizes are 15mm x ½" BSP and 22mm x ¾" BSP.
Stop Valves and Service Valves
Speedfit's 15mm and 22mm stop valves and service valves allow isolation within a push-fit circuit without needing a separate compression or solder valve. Particularly useful for appliance isolation under sinks and for washing machine supplies.
Which Pipe Works with Speedfit?
Copper pipe (half-hard/hard drawn): Speedfit fittings connect directly to copper without any inserts. This is by far the most common application in the UK.
Plastic barrier pipe (PEX/MLCP): Plastic pipe requires a stainless steel or plastic pipe insert (Superseal insert) to prevent the pipe wall collapsing under the grab ring. Always use inserts when fitting Speedfit onto plastic. JG Speedfit sell 50-packs of inserts for 15mm and 22mm.
MDPE blue pipe: Use Speedfit's dedicated blue MDPE couplers (PE x CU or PE x PE). These are a different product line to the standard white plumbing range and use a different internal grab mechanism suited to the softer MDPE wall.
PB (polybutylene) / older plastic: Check the pipe OD carefully. Some older plastic pipework is not a standard OD and may not grip correctly. Always test fit on offcuts before committing.
Installation Tips
- Cut pipe squarely — a diagonal cut can prevent full insertion to the tube stop and cause leaks.
- Deburr and clean pipe ends before insertion. Swarf or scale on the pipe OD will damage the O-ring.
- Insert the pipe firmly to the tube stop. You should feel and hear it click. Mark the insertion depth on the pipe before connecting so you can confirm full engagement.
- Always use pipe inserts with plastic pipe — never connect plastic pipe to Speedfit fittings without them.
- Do not overtighten or force connections. If resistance is felt before the tube stop, check the pipe OD is correct and the pipe end is clean.
- To release a fitting, push in the collet ring (grey or blue depending on size) and pull the pipe out. Reusable multiple times.
- Pressure test at 3 bar for 15 minutes before closing up walls or floors.
Featured Products
Speedfit vs Hep2O vs Wavin HepVO
Several push-fit systems compete in the UK market. Speedfit (JG/John Guest) is the most widely stocked and arguably the most plumber-trusted brand for water and heating. Hep2O (Wavin) is its main competitor and offers a similar range at a similar price point. The two systems are not cross-compatible — fittings and pipe from each brand must not be mixed. APM stocks Speedfit; if a job already has Hep2O installed, stick with Hep2O throughout or run new Speedfit from a break point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Speedfit on hot water central heating?
Yes, with barrier pipe. Standard plastic pipe (without an oxygen barrier layer) must not be used on sealed heating systems. Use JG Speedfit B-PEX barrier pipe or multi-layer composite pipe and always insert Superseal pipe inserts before pushing onto Speedfit fittings.
Is Speedfit approved for drinking water?
Yes. Speedfit white push-fit fittings are WRAS approved for use in cold and hot potable water systems. Check the WRAS certificate number on the JG Speedfit datasheets if required by your local water authority.
Can you use Speedfit behind plasterboard?
Speedfit is suitable for concealed use, including behind dry lining, in timber-framed walls and under screed (with appropriate pipe insulation). However, all connections concealed in walls or floors should be pressure tested and must be accessible if any part of the fitting is in a restricted void — best practice is to use lengths of pipe with all connections accessible in service cavities.
What's the maximum working pressure?
JG Speedfit fittings are rated to 10 bar at 20°C and 6 bar at 82°C. Domestic mains water pressure in the UK is typically 3–6 bar; heating system working pressure is usually 1–1.5 bar. Both are well within Speedfit's rated limits.
Do I need a special tool to release Speedfit?
No tool is required. Push the grey collet ring toward the fitting body while pulling the pipe out. On 28mm and larger fittings a collet tool (or two fingers) helps. JG Speedfit sell a demount tool, but most plumbers manage without on standard domestic sizes.
Shop the Speedfit Range at APM
APM Electricals stocks JG Speedfit tees, elbows, couplers, reducers, socket reducers, stem fittings, stop valves, service valves, barrier pipe and pipe inserts. Browse the full JG Speedfit collection online, or visit our trade counter at 24 Western Avenue, Acton, London W3 7TZ. Call us on 020 8702 8080. Free delivery on orders over £50; next-day available on in-stock items.
Leave a comment