Lockable outside tap
Last post 27-09-2009 11:34 AM by Praetorian. 13 replies.
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10/06/2009 08:37 PM
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- LisaH
- Sheffield
- 22 Apr 2009
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23
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I am desperate for an outside tap to be installed so that watering the vegetable garden at school is easier but am coming across a lot of resistance. At the moment we have to fill watering cans inside one of the classrooms which often leads to wet floors and cross teachers :( This also has the problem where watering can only be done when the classroom is empty - so basically lunchtimes and no weekend or holiday watering can be done once I have emptied the water butt. I am really after either a lockable tap or tap cover or another method we could use so that I can have my tap and naughty kids can't come and turn it on - is there such a thing?
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10/06/2009 09:07 PM
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- Digger
- Northern UK
- 18 Jul 2005
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4,743
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Yes you can get taps that take a padlock on them, or it's a simple matter to weld together a small lockable removeable box that can be locked over the tap when it's not in use, who is the opposition coming from? if it's the school headteacher get them to explain a better system to you, water butts even covered are a magnet for mischief at a school.
digger 
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11/06/2009 09:27 AM
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- LisaH
- Sheffield
- 22 Apr 2009
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23
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Its the caretaker of all people I seem to be getting most opposition from - I had just got the school manager to agree to it financially and he has put the boot in. You would think that kids spilling water on the floor in classrooms regularly would be an issue in this health and safety obsessed world - hopefully he will get called to mop up every time they spill any. Im only a volunteer at the school and cant spend the time that is needed to keep everything watered at the moment (it means I can opnly really do anything at a lunchtime which kind of breaks up my day so much I can't do anything else useful) and an outside tap is essential really :( Have you got any ideas of where I might be able to get a padlockable tap?
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11/06/2009 09:41 AM
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- Digger
- Northern UK
- 18 Jul 2005
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4,743
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Try a few plumbers merchants, either on the web or locally, basically it's just a normal tap with a hole in the bit that turns, so you can put a lock in to stop it turning. I wonder what the caretakers problem is? is there no drain nearby to take away excess? as long as the tap is switched off during the winter and lagged properly it shouldn't really be a problem.
digger
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11/06/2009 10:43 AM
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Or you can just unscrew the capstan from the top of the tap and keep that separately - that should be enough to avoid low-level misuse of taps.
Boggy
Beware the bat-eared bogweevil
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11/06/2009 12:25 PM
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- Lloyd
- Sandy
- 08 Mar 2008
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61
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Or have an isolation valve inside, which is opened when the outside tap needs to be used, and closed at the end of the day. Probably helps with frost protection as well.
Lloyd
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30/06/2009 10:40 PM
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- DownTrodDad
- Nottingham
- 30 Jun 2009
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1
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Just found this in my search for a lockable tap for a water butt. It might solve your problem better than mine :).
http://www.trssupplies.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=353
I'm sure there are other similar ones out there, but should give you an idea of whats possible.
The suggestion for an inside isolation valve is also very sensible: even if you lock an outside tap, a large hammer/brick/fridge could still be used to smash the tap off the wall, and you'd be back where you started. Still, a lockable tap might be more convenient day to day.
Example:
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=20001&partNumber=738542
This ones needs a screwdriver to turn on and off, but you can also get ones with a little handle (like the ones used to isolate washing machines). Any major DIY store/plumbers merchant carries a range.
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17/07/2009 12:15 PM
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- Praetorian
- Northants
- 17 Jul 2009
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3
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Hello. I work for an Engineering company and we produce a lockable 'Tap Box' specifically to protect unauthorised use of outside/garden taps. The box is attached to an outside wall and fits directly over an existing or newly fitted outside tap. It has a hinged lid for easy access to the tap and the lid is lockable. The box is of metal construction, and is strong and durable. It will certainly provide protection for the tap and prevent children and others from turning the tap on. If you haven't already solved the problem, let me know and I can e-mail some photos of the product. We currently sell the product for £24.95 plus postage.
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20/07/2009 07:14 PM
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- impis
- Midlands
- 04 Jun 2009
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14
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Hi, With help from my students, i look after our school garden. We have an outside tap. it is in two parts. It looks like an ordinary tap, when it s all together and working, but the part that you actually turn lifts off, leaving just an empty socket that the kids can't use to turn it on [or off]. Its great, as long as you don't lose the top.
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20/07/2009 07:17 PM
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- impis
- Midlands
- 04 Jun 2009
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14
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Its like this one - but the turning bit lifts out: 
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21/07/2009 10:25 AM
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- Arrem
- West Midlands. UK
- 12 Jul 2009
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90
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I'll stand for correction but isn't what you describe known as a "bib" tap?
There is no such thing as useless - you can always be a bad example.
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14/09/2009 11:07 AM
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- Tezza
- Hornchuurch
- 14 Sep 2009
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1
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Hi!
Have been searching for a l"ockable tap box" on the internet when I came across your forum and signed up. Would you be able to provide me with the contact details of your engineering company and an e-mail as I am keen to see the product as it may just be what I am looking for
Tezza
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27/09/2009 11:12 AM
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- Praetorian
- Northants
- 17 Jul 2009
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3
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Hello. Apologies for the delay in replying. If you search on E-Bay for 'Tap Cover' or 'Tap Box' you should find the product. If you are not an E-Bay user, let me know and I can E-Mail some images of the product directly to you. We have sold quite a few of these Tap Boxes on E-Bay and the customers have been completely satisfied - its a great product. You can contact us directly if you wish by e-mail, our e-mail address is amberelectronics@aol.com We are Amber Electronics of Daventry, Northamptonshire. Thanks for your interest and hope we can help.
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27/09/2009 11:34 AM
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- Praetorian
- Northants
- 17 Jul 2009
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3
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Here are a couple of images of the product.  LvtBKp7E5uqWg~~_35.JPG)
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