UK Manufacturers of Vulcanised Fibre

RH Nuttall are fast becoming the UK leading stockist and supplier of all grades and thicknesses of vulcanised fibre sheeting. A robust and universal material in nature, vulcanised fibre lends itself to a multitude of applications, be it fluid sealing, lining, packing, or void filling. Available in different thicknesses depending on the use, our grades of fibre are all approved under our Quality Standard of ISO9001:2015. Furthermore, both WRAS and non-WRAS grades are both available from stock for immediate despatch.

The process of manufacturing WRAS Approved vulcanised fibre

The process of making this base material is complex, but briefly involves the saturation of cotton paper with zinc chloride. The zinc chloride enables the cellulose structure of the cotton to swell and once pressed together, begins to form a bond. The zinc chloride is then slowly leached out of the material on steam drums to leave the finished product with 5 to 6 percent moisture content. This is then pressed to form flat sheeting. The final product is a homogenous piece, and nearly a 100% cellulose mass, free from any matter.

What is WRAS Approval?

At RH Nuttall we aim to supply our products across a broad spectrum of industrial sectors. One of the main ones is into plumbing industry. Legislation dictates that any non-metallic part coming into contact with public mains water supply must undergo testing, then be approved to ensure that the material does not itself contaminate the water and therefore satisfies this particular requirement of the regulation.

This material is suitable for contact with wholesome water for domestic purposes, having met the requirements of BS6920-1:2000 and/or 2014 “suitability of non-metallic products” for use in the contact with water intended for human consumption, regarding their effect on the quality of the water. The reference relates solely to its effect on the quality of the water with which it may come into contact and does not signify the approval of its mechanical or physical properties for any use. For use with water up to 85˚C. For use only as a jointing/gasket material having been tested at reduced surface area to volume ratio.

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Bespoke and standard manufactured WRAS vulcanised fibre products

Although we stock a huge volume of sheeting that is readily available to purchase on a next day basis, here at RH Nuttall we also manufacture bespoke parts in-house. All shapes and sizes of fibre gaskets, and fibre washers can be supplied, from simple shapes, to more intricate and detailed designs. With over 5,000 tools to choose from, we are confident we will have the answer for your application. Furthermore, we also stock large volumes of standard sizes of both ½” and ¾” BSP tap washers. For more information on this please contact our sales team directly.

In addition, RH Nuttall also stock a range of standard red fibre washers, including: M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10, M12, M20, M25, M36, M40, M50, M63, M75, M80, M90, M100.

All our parts are cut in-house, crafted in the UK.

WRAS Approved vulcanised fibre sheeting sizes and thicknesses

Colour	Sheets Size*	Thickness*
Red	2200mm x 1275mm	0.8mm
Red	2200mm x 1275mm	1mm
Red	2200mm x 1275mm	1.5mm
Red	2200mm x 1275mm	2mm
Red	2200mm x 1275mm	2.5mm
Red	2200mm x 1275mm	3.0mm

*all sheet sizes and thicknesses are nominal and are what RH Nuttall currently have within their product range. Additional colours and thicknesses are readily available, but dependant on minimum order quantities.

Free samples of WRAS Approved vulcanised fibre

At RH Nuttall we believe in “right first time”, and therefore if you have an application in mind, but are unsure of the suitability of this base material, please feel free to contact us to request a free-of-charge sample to test before committing to purchasing.

Other applications

Our range of WRAS fibre also has many other hidden attributes including high mechanical strength, good machining properties, as well as a high tensile strength, and good electrical properties. In addition, this grade of fibre also has an excellent temperature range. More information about this, including key values can be found in the specification document below:

Specification Sheet for WRAS Approved Vulcanised Fibre Sheeting

Non WRAS Approved Vulcanised Fibre

In addition to the above mentioned WRAS approved base material, RH Nuttall also offer, stock and supply a range of Non-WRAS approved fibre sheeting. A more economical grade of base material, available in red or black colours, that is suitable for applications where fluid sealing is not needed. Many of the raw material properties remain the same as its sister product, however, this base material is not recommended for any type of fluids to be in contact with it. Non-WRAS approved fibre is generally used for solutions to spacing, packing, and electrical insulation applications. It is often supplied into the glazing, construction, electronic, and knife industries due to its robust and resilient nature.

Applications for Non-WRAS approved vulcanised fibre

This grade of material is supplied into the construction trade all over the world. Its hard and long-lasting nature makes it an ideal gap filler between any metal parts, acting as a solid non-compressible barrier, and making a perfect seal in applications such as balustrades and glazing packers.

Non-WRAS approved vulcanised fibre sheeting sizes, and thicknesses

Colour	Sheets Size*	Thickness*
Red	2000mm x 1000mm	0.5mm
Red	2000mm x 1000mm	0.8mm
Red	2000mm x 1000mm	1mm
Red	2000mm x 1000mm	1.5mm
Red	2000mm x 1000mm	2mm
Red	2000mm x 1000mm	3.0mm
Black	2000mm x 1000mm	0.8mm
Black	2000mm x 1000mm	1mm
Black	2000mm x 1000mm	1.5mm
Black	2000mm x 1000mm	2mm
Black	2000mm x 1000mm	3mm
Blue/Grey (Leatheroid/fish paper)	60m x 690mm	0.38mm
Blue/Grey (Leatheroid/fish paper)	60m x 690mm	0.5mm

Free samples of Non-WRAS approved vulcanised fibre

Bespoke and standard fibre components

Being a manufacturer, be it a small one-off piece for a home project, or multi-thousand sheet requirement, RH Nuttall can supply your needs. In-house cutting facilities allow for a range of non-WRAS approved fibre parts to be manufactured. These include fibre washers, fibre gaskets, fibre pads, and fibre sheeting. For more information, or if you have an application in mind, please feel free to contact our sales team today. Guillotined blanks and pads are also manufactured in-house.

For a more in-depth insight into our Non-WRAS approved fibre grade of material, feel free to view the specification document below.

Specification Sheet for Non-WRAS Approved Vulcanised Fibre Sheeting