The most expensive copper press fitting is the one you don't have on the van. A trip to the trade counter for ten couplings costs an hour you can't bill. Getting van stock right is mostly about ratios: which fittings you use most, in what proportion, and in which sizes.
The ratio that matters: couplings and 90s
On a residential rough-in, straight couplings and 90° elbows make up the bulk of the joints by a long way. Tees come next, then a long tail of 45s, street elbows, end caps, adaptors and lugged elbows. That pattern is why the PSA 15mm bundle is built the way it is:
| Fitting (15mm) | Qty in bundle | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Straight couplings (No.1) | 80 | 36% |
| 90° elbows F&F | 50 | 23% |
| Equal tees | 30 | 14% |
| Lugged elbows (19BP, 75mm MI) | 10 | 5% |
| Street elbows (90° M&F) | 10 | 5% |
| 45° elbows F&F | 10 | 5% |
| End caps | 10 | 5% |
| Male adaptors (1/2" MI) | 10 | 5% |
| Female adaptors (1/2" FI) | 10 | 5% |
Use that as a starting template and adjust for your work. Someone doing mostly bathroom renovations will burn through lugged elbows and adaptors much faster; someone running long mains will use more couplings.
Stock in tens
Trade bags come in tens, so set every minimum and reorder level in multiples of ten. It makes stocktake a quick count of bags, not loose fittings, and makes it obvious when you're down to the last bag.
Don't forget the fittings that save a trip
- Slip couplings: a handful for repairs and closing gaps. See our slip coupling repair guide.
- Reducers: M&F reducers (20x15, 25x15, 25x20) and reducing tees.
- 20mm x 1/2" lugged female elbows (PFW193LF): 20mm to the outlet, standard 1/2" tapware.
- A few ball valves: see which press ball valve to use where.
- Separate bins for red-seal solar fittings and gas fittings if you carry them, so they never get mixed with water stock.
Bundles vs building your own
PSA's copper press bundles come in three sizes: the 15mm Mega Bundle (220 pieces, $724.90), 20mm (190 pieces, $800.00) and 25mm (130 pieces, $925.00). All are Standard Press V-profile with pre-lubricated black EPDM O-rings, lead-free brass adaptors and wingbacks, WaterMarked to AS 3688 with a 25-year warranty. A bundle is the fastest way to stock a new van or a new apprentice's kit in one order. If you already know your mix, ordering the individual fittings by the bag from the copper press water range lets you weight it to your own work — compare both at current prices before you order.
Need the tube too? PSA stocks Kembla Type B annealed copper coil in 15mm and 20mm x 18m.
Frequently Asked Questions
What copper press fittings should I keep on the van?
Mostly straight couplings and 90° elbows, then tees, with smaller quantities of 45s, street elbows, end caps, adaptors, lugged elbows, reducers and a few slip couplings.
What's in the 15mm copper press Mega Bundle?
220 pieces: 80 couplings, 50 90° elbows, 30 equal tees, and 10 each of lugged elbows, street elbows, 45° elbows, end caps, male adaptors and female adaptors.
Are the bundle fittings WaterMarked?
Yes. The bundles are Standard Press V-profile fittings, WaterMarked to AS 3688, with a 25-year manufacturer warranty.
How should I set reorder levels for press fittings?
In multiples of ten, matching trade bag sizes, so stocktake is a count of bags and low stock is easy to spot.