Why the Lagging Material Matters
Every plumber knows the frustration of seeing pipes crack, shear, or shift after a concrete pour. You did everything right — measured, wrapped, taped — yet months later, there's movement or leaks through the slab. Nine times out of ten, the issue comes back to how those pipes were isolated from the concrete.
That's where pipe lagging sleeves come in — but not all sleeves are made equal.
For decades, most of us used a form of polywrap because it was the only thing available. But now, neoprene-based lagging sleeves like Neolag are changing how we isolate pipes in slabs and footings.
Installation Speed: Neoprene Wins Every Time
Polywrap:
Installing polywrap means wrestling with the wrap as well as tape in between steel, formwork, and pipe fittings. It's slow, fiddly, and easy to miss a section. Every extra wrap adds minutes, and on large jobs, that turns into hours.
Neoprene (Neolag):
Neolag is a pre-formed, slide-on sleeve made from flexible neoprene. You simply cut to length, slide over the pipe and fittings, glue, position, and you're ready for concrete. Minimal tape. No wasted material. No stress.
Installers report more than 50% faster installation time compared to wrapping.
"Once you use Neolag, you'll never go back to wrapping pipes the old traditional way."
Durability and Performance: Neoprene Outlasts Polywrap
Polywrap:
Polywrap was never designed for heavy-duty slab work. On-site it gets torn up quickly, especially around reo mesh, formwork, and sharp edges.
Neoprene:
Neolag's high-resilience neoprene material is built to last. It's the same base polymer used in industrial gaskets, insulation, and marine applications.
- ●Resistant to water absorption and compression
- ●Won't tear easily or split during install
- ●Maintains flexibility in extreme temps
Compliance & Engineering Confidence
In Australia, compliance isn't optional — and the Plumbing Code of Australia (via AS 2870) requires that pipe penetrations through concrete are properly isolated to allow for movement.
Neolag is a pre-formed sleeve system designed to fully comply with AS 2870 movement requirements.
Cost Efficiency
When you factor in time, tape, labour, and waste, neoprene sleeves quickly pay for themselves.
Real-World Results
"We've used it across 10+ projects now — no failures, no cracks, no callbacks."
The Verdict: Neoprene Is the New Standard
Neoprene-based sleeves like Neolag offer:
- ✓Faster installs
- ✓Tougher performance under load
- ✓Guaranteed compliance
- ✓Less rework and waste