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Photograph of  this antiquated laundry sink with several unsanitary plumbing violations in view.Plastic Piping Types
Identify, Inspect & Test Plastic Plumbing Piping & Connectors
Properties, Failures, & Standards for ABS CPVC PB PEX PVC Piping

Plastic plumbing pipes:

Beginning here, this article series describes the properties of all types of plastic piping and tubing used in buildings for water supply, drainage, or gas or oil fuels, including ABS, CPVC, PB, PEX, PVC.

We include information about failures and problems with some generations of plastic pipes (ABS, polybutylene) and we describe good building practice installation details where plastic piping is being installed.

 

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Plastic Water Supply & Drain Piping Types, Failures, Inspection, Diagnosis, Repair

Polybutylene water piping guidelines (C) Carson Dunlop Associates

This is a starting point for finding out how to identify, inspect, or obtain & use various types of plastic pipes in building plumbing, heating, & air conditioning systems. Along with some identification photos and notes on how to recognize different types of plastic pipe used in buildings we link to articles offering in-depth information about each of those.

Included here and in this article series is information about ABS, PB, Polybutylene, PEX, PVC polyvinyl chloride and other plastic piping materials. We discuss problems and class action claims for plastic pipe product failures including both the piping itself and its connectors or fittings for each of these materials where trouble has been found.

We also discuss ongoing or previous health & safety concerns raised for some plastic piping products. The articles at this website will answer most questions about plastic building water supply and building drain piping products, failures, and claims as well as many other building plumbing system inspection or defect topics.

[Click to enlarge any image]

As Carson Dunlop Associates point out in the Home Reference Book, as currently used in buildings:

Types of Plastic water service piping

Plastic water piping may be made of different constituents with different properties and different uses listed here:

LDPE is suitable for use at lower pressures (below 45 psi or below 3 bar) whhile HDPE pipe may be used at highre pressures (45-175 psi or 3-12 bar). The structure of these two plastic famiies differes: HDPE plastics are crystalline in structure while LDPE is not, so HDPE is also a more-dense plastic. HDPE is a stronger material and more resilient than LDPE, but both LDPE and HDPE have suitable uses.

LDPE pipe is a bit more flexible than HDPE - useful in some applications. Both are similarly weatherproof, light-weight, and resistant to chemicals and to abrasion. (HDPE is a bit more abrasion resistant.)

More details about each of these plastics are given below.

Plastic building drain piping

Plastic drain pipes are typically be made of

Piping history of use (C) Carson Dunlop Associates

Most plastic piping used outdoors is buried at least 18 inches deep. Exposed piping may be subject to mechanical damage and deterioration from sunlight.

Plastic supply piping is popular because it is less expensive and easier to work with than copper.

There are many types available including cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), polybutylene (PB), and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC). - Home Reference Book, used with permission.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Contributions or comments are invited. CONTACT us to contribute.

As Carson Dunlop's sketch (above left) shows, plastic piping entered widespread use in North American beginning around 1965 and continues to the present.

ABS Plastic Pipe Failures, Leaks, Claims, Settlements

ABS Drain Piping (C) Daniel FriedmanComplete details about black ABS plastic drain piping are

at ABS PLASTIC PIPE. Excerpts are below.

As our black ABS drain piping photo shows (above), some drain line leaks having nothing to do with product defects can occur in this system if the piping is not properly installed.

Field investigations of leak stains (as in our photo) as well as investigations of sewer gas odors have traced these problems to failure to properly clean, prime, and glue the pipe joints during construction.

(SEWER GAS ODORS)

However, "All Black -hit," defective black ABS plastic waste pipe manufactured in the mid 1980's failed by cracking, as Cranor's photo below illustrates.

"All Black -hit," defective black ABS plastic waste pipe manufactured in the mid 1980's failed by cracking.

The result was litigation and some damage settlements, but currently it is unlikely that a homeowner will find legal relief for newly-discovered ABS drain waste vent piping cracks and failures.

ABS Plastic Drain/Waste/Vent (DWV) pipe failure Brands

ABS drain pipe material failures were reported for pipe made between 1985 and 1988. [1][2][5][6][7] below

More information: U.S. CPSC Hot Line: 800-638-8270

ABS Plastic Pipe Leak Failures Still Being Discovered

Cracked leaking ABS Drain Piping (C) Daniel Friedman John Cranor The House Whisperer

ABS plastic drain and vent line failures are still being discovered, as John Cranor's photo from 2011 illustrates.

Home inspector John Cranor provided the photo at left of a cracked ABS drain line, commenting:

This photo of cracked ABS is damage that I feel has to be related to the defective ABS that was reported years ago. I am in VA and have inspected close to 6000 homes and this was the first I have seen this issue here. I saw at least six spots on the drain pipe in the crawl space that had similar cracking and white crusty residue like shown in photo.

I know there was once a lot of information out there about this issue but now I cannot find hardly anything. The website abspipes.com is now owned by some plumbing contractor and it has no useful information about ABS or its issue.

The seller of the property where I took this photo has some plumber saying there is nothing wrong and that he has never heard of a problem as I described. He claims the white residue is mud and that he could see no crack.

Spotting ABS plastic pipe cracking failures

Plastic drain pipe mixup © D Friedman at InspectApedia.com

Although the cracked ABS drain line is quite visible in Mr. Cranor's photo (above), or in some areas where piping is exposed (photo at left) there may not be ready access for visual inspection of all surfaces of all of the plastic ABS drain lines in a building.

Here are some tips that can reduce (not eliminate) the chances of missing faulty black ABS plastic drains:

ABS Class Action & Litigation

The prior class action litigation involved five of the six ABS pipe manufacturer's brands listed above: Centaur, Phoenix, Polaris, Gable, and Apache. (Spartan was excluded). We have not found evidence of an class action (June 2012). The attorney involved in prior actions, David Birke-White, indicated (paraphrasing) that defective ABS piping failures are a progressive problem and that piping that had not already failed will do so in the future.[1]

ABS DWV pipe failure references

Pex Tubing: Cross-Linked Polyethylene (PEX)

PEX Water Piping installation (C) D Friedman Galow Homes

Complete details about PEX are at PEX PIPING INFORMATION, Excerpts are below.

PEX and PB plastic pipe are used for water supply in buildings use mechanical fittings (crimp and compression type) and we have found some installers using PEX tubing in low temperature heating applications (see below).

PEX piping is also referred to as "cross-linked polyethylene" piping or just "PEX".

Our photo (left) illustrates PEX water supply piping being installed in a New York home.

Installing both building water supply piping and heating supply piping (and radiant heating) can be significantly faster using PEX tubing because of its ability to bend around turns, avoiding some elbows, 45's and other fittings.

PEX piping is used in both hot and cold water applications (see the blue and red colors below). By convention the builder uses blue PEX for cold water and red PEX for hot water supply piping lines.

Watch out: however PEX tubing is sold in other colors too, including white PEX tubing and black PEX tubing.

Generally you will find PEX piping or tubing marked with the nominal pipe size, wall thickness, and pressure rating and other information (see the illustration just below).

Temperature and pressure ratings for PEX, according to Zurn Manufacturing's engineering specifications is 160 PSI at 73°F, 100 PSI at 180°F, and 80 PSI at 200°F.

PEX piping marking guide (C) Zurn Manufacturing

Illustration of PEX tubing markings - courtesy Zurn Manufacturing (permission requested 12/2010).

[Click any image or table to see an enlarged, detailed version.]

When installing PEX piping, care must be taken that the pipe does not contact heating ducts. If the pipe freezes, it is less likely to burst than and copper piping. Also, most types of plastic water pipe tend to sag and should be well supported by hangers.

Watch out: PEX plastic water piping should not be installed outdoors or exposed to sunlight for long periods. The red and blue PEX piping shown below (right) were delivering hot and cold water in a newly-constructed home. The larger black ABS plastic pipe is probably a drain line.

Polybutylene water piping guidelines Carson Dunlop Associates

Watch out: do not use plastic piping nor any other type of piping in applications for which it was not intended, or the result could be dangerous. For example, do not use PEX tubing for LP or natural gas piping

Examples & Photographs of the various types of PEX fittings and the special tools used include:

PEX Clamp fitting installation © D Friedman at InspectApedia.com

Photo below, white PEX tubing manufactured by Zurn, installed using crimp type PEX fittings in a Haddonfield New Jersey home). The copper crimp rings are used with most PEX connectors.

PEX Clamp fitting installation © D Friedman at InspectApedia.com

PB Pipe: Polybutylene Plumbing Plastic Pipe Use, Installation Specs, Failures, Leaks, Claims, Settlements

Plastic drain piping (C) Daniel Friedman

Complete details are at PB POLYBUTYLENE (PB) PIPE. Excerpts are below.

Thumbnail: Polybutylene (Polybutylene) Plumbing (plastic pipes): gray plastic water supply piping cracked, leaked, and resulted in a class action and settlement.

PB or Polybutylene pipe material (photo at left, center horizontal piping) is gray plastic water supply piping that racked, leaked, and its early use resulted in a class action and settlement.

In 1995 a $950 million class action settlement, Cox v. Shell Oil Company, provided relief for damage due to leaks in Polybutylene plumbing (PB Plumbing) within certain age constraints. Periodic notices were to be provided to homeowners over a 12-year period (ending ca. 2007) as follows:

Owners who purchased a house, mobile home, or other structure in the United States after August 21, 1995, provided that the structure contained polybutylene piping with plastic or metal insert fittings when they purchased it, are included in the class. These individuals may have been entitled to free replacement of their plumbing if it leaked previously or in the future.

The Polybutylene Pipe Settlement case is now closed. Homeowners whose structures still contain problematic versions of PB plumbing may nevertheless find that their building or mobile home is damaged by leaks and needs repairs. However there is no longer relief provided under the class action suit.

By 2010 it would be uncommon to find problematic plastic piping in buildings as we expect that where leaks were a problem, they have in many if not most installations, been discovered and repaired by now.

However home inspectors and home buyers as well as building maintenance staff need to be alert for discovery of older problematic or leaky plastic piping in buildings.

When we see several types (colors) of plastic piping mixed together, especially on older renovation or handyman plumbing jobs we worry that amateur work may have omitted use of the proper pipe glues and sealants.

PB polybutylene pipe failures notice

But the majority of leak problems with polybutylene supply lines involve failure of plastic fittings. Fitting failure may lead to the need for system replacement.

This type of fitting was commonly used from the late 1970s until the late 1980s. Copper fittings were used in most installations from the late 1980s until the late 1990s. Failure of copper fittings is rare.

PPR Piping: Polypropylene Random Copolymer

Green plastic water pipe PPR polypropylene random copolymer UV and sunlight resistant (C) Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.com

PPR pipe is a rigid pipe made from Polypropylene Random Copolymer plastic, manufactured using a continuous extrusion process.

With its green or white exterior and a white or gray internal core, PPR is used in both cold and hot water piping systems, in heating system piping and in a wide range of other applications.

Complete details about PPR plastic piping are

at PPR PIPING GUIDE

PVC Piping: CPVC Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride Water Piping in buildings

Plastic sewer pipe installation © D Friedman at InspectApedia.com

Complete details are at CPVC & PVC PLASTIC PIPING. Excerpts are below.

Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipe is not as flexible as PB or PEX and the fittings are solvent welded (glued) rather than press-on. This pipe is likely to split if freezing occurs. CPVC pipe is suitable for use on both hot and cold water lines.

Our photo (left) illustrates Royal brand PVC sewer piping being installed at a New York Home. Photo courtesy Galow Homes.

Watch out: PVC polyvinyl chloride pipe produced by JM Eagle Corp. is reported to be defective, leaking or breaking as early as in the first year after installation. Details are at PLASTIC PIPE LEAK CAUSES.

See WATER HEATER DEBRIS FLUSH for an example of a deteriorated plastic water heater dip tube debris that clogged the building water supply piping, faucets, fixtures.

PVC is Poly(Vinyl) Chloride, CPVC is Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl) Chloride.

PVC and ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) pipe are normally used for drain, waste and vent (DWV) systems.

CPVC is used for water distribution systems. It is important to choose the correct solvent cement or pipe glue based on the type of plastic pipe being used.

 




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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Help Inspecting & Identifying Plastic Pipe Types & Defects

Corroded leaky PB polybutylene pipe connectors and probably red PEX, perhaps a replacement pipe, (C) InspectApedia.com BnB Home Inspections 2019

Above: Gray PB Polybutylene piping and corroded leaky crimp connectors in a home inspected by BnB Home Inspections in 2019, photo courtesy of BnB Home Inspections.

Additional photographs pf PB pipe and pipe leaks are given with more detail

at PB POLYBUTYLENE (PB) PIPES

Gray polybutylene pipe or PB piping made by Vanguard,(C) InspectApedia.com photo courtesy Brad Barbour, BNB Home Inspections

These photos were taken from a 1989 Manufactured home where the inspector observed Vanguard markings on the piping as well, but this was not a Vanguard Manabloc set-up - see the photo above.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Watch out: when relying on the color of plastic pipe to identify its type. Identifying PEX by depending on color (red or blue) canalso trick us as we also may encounter white PEX water supply piping (e.g. Zurn PEX Non-Barrier Tubing & Zurn Q3PC100X or white PEX from Wisbro) and also gray PEX water supply tubing such as the snapshot I'll post below (from freshwatersystems.com) and also ViegaPEX Barrier Tubing that is black!

Gray PEX plastic tubing cited & discussed at InspectApedia.com

Above: this tubing is PEX not Polybutylene. Most plastic piping products are stamped with the piping type, the manufacturer, and other information.

ABS pipes are discussed at ABS PLASTIC PIPE

PB or PolyButylene piping is discussed separately at PB POLYBUTYLENE (PB) PIPES

PEX piping is discussed separately at PEX PIPING INFORMATION

Technical notes

1. excerpting from Zurn

Zurn PEX tubing is produced usitng the silane methos of cross-linking. It is used in residential and commercial applications for cold water service, hot and cold potable water, fire protection, underground fluid distribution and water distribution to manifolds, hydronic coils etc. It may also be used in radiant heating systems. Designed to continuously circulate hot water at 140 degrees ferenheit. 160 PSI @ 73 degrees, 100PSI @ 180 degrees. - GlobalIndustrial.com

Contact Zurn: Website: www.zurn.com/innovation-efficiency/pex

2. Excerpt from ViegaPEX

ViegaPEX Barrier tubing is produced from cross-linkable, high density polyethylene resin. ViegaPEX Barrier includes four layers. The first layer is cross-linked, high density polyethylene. The second layer is an adhesive for the third layer, the ethylene vinyl alcohol layer (EVOH oxygen barrier). The fourth layer is another thin layer of polyethylene, applied on the outside to protect the EVOH layer from damage. EVOH is highly resistant to the passage of oxygen.

ViegaPEX Barrier tubing is recommended for hydronic radiant heating, cooling and snow melting systems using water or a water/glycol mix as the heat transfer media. Tubing may be installed in concrete, gypsum based lightweight concrete, sand, asphalt (in accordance with special guidelines) in or under wood flooring or behind wallboard or plaster. ViegaPEX Barrier may also be used as transfer lines for baseboard heating systems with a maximum operating temperature of 200°F @ 80 psi.

Contact Viega: Website: https://www.viega.us/ Tel: 800-976-9819

Reader Question: Rat-Attack? Do Rodents Attack Plastic Tubing or Piping? Does the tubing color make a difference in rodent resistance?

This might seem a strange question but we have blue plastic used for the connection from our gas tanks to our cooker. We have just had it serviced and have been advised that it should be yellow plastic. We have had the blue plastic for a lot of years and have been told it must be changed because the yellow tubing is not susceptible to vermin.

Since we have never had a problem with vermin and the blue tubing – I was wondering how true this is and why do the vermin not like the yellow tubing. It would be good to get some advice before we start doing unnecessary work. Thank you for your help - D.M.

Reply: Yes, No, and maybe

We have indeed had reports of rodents chewing on plastic piping of various types, colors, brands, and application (water piping and gas piping for example). And rodents will gnaw on other plastic piping too, not just PEX.

You didn't say exactly what kind of plastic piping you are using nor its brand - that information would let us check with the manufacturer for recommendations about rodent proofing the piping. Certainly we don't want a rodent-chewed hole in any piping but in gas piping it would be particularly dangerous.

I am doubtful that changing from one color piping to another would make much difference in rodent resistance if the piping brand and material is the same; but if the color change includes a change of material, the new material might be more rodent resistance.

In a New York installation I have seen yellow plastic-covered flexible copper tubing used for both gas piping (not through walls and ceilings or hidden locations) and heating oil piping. A mouse that chewed the outer plastic cover would most likely not get through the copper, but you'd lose the protective coating at that spot. At that same installation, we used threaded black pipe for gas piping where it runs through hidden locations such as ceilings and walls.

If your pipe damage is occurring indoors you need the services of a pest control expert - an "exterminator" too.

If you can send along details about the pipe type and brand we'll research further. See the CONTACT link on our pages.

 




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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2016-01-03 by (mod) -

Charles:

I would cut back the Poly-B pipe (polybutylene pipe) to a location where I could fit a crimping tool, then install a Tee, Wye, or whatever stainless fitting you need to connect to both types of material. Be sure to also

read PEX BRASS CONNECTOR LEAKS

On 2016-01-01 by charles

What can I use to connect ply B (PB Piping) pipe to pex where there is no room for a crimping tool?

On 2015-02-10 by (mod) -

I think you are citing pipe that complied with this ASTM standard

ASTM D2662-96a

Standard Specification for Polybutylene (PB) Plastic Pipe (SIDR-PR) Based on Controlled Inside Diameter (Withdrawn 2003)

On 2015-02-10 by Linda

Trying to identify this blue water line with the numbers AST D2662, what kind is this? Is this polybutylene?

On 2014-05-04 by Anonymous

what are the basic principles of pipe fittings?

Question:

(June 15, 2014) Anonymous said:
is there any on going litigation or settlement remedies available to a homeowner with repetitive interior bursting of plastic water lines in the interior of the home, home built in 1998 in Murphreesboro Tn.

Reply:

Anon I think we need to start by identifying the type of piping involved. Then you can find its status in the links in the article above.

Question:

(Oct 1, 2014) Anonymous said:
Linda in Cape Coral Florida. I just had some major water leaks and Found out that the water pipes were defective. Can I still get help with this.

(Dec 4, 2014) Don in central fl said:
I have a 2006 fleet wood home and I just came home to my home filled with water. The problem was the white push button type shut off valve under the sink. Is there anything I can do to get help with all the repairs? My insurance company said they won't cover the damage. I also found another one that is leaking in the wall that supplies the washing machine.

Reply:

Don, ugh! Sorry you got flooded.

Check over your insurance policy with an attorney or an insurance adjuster to be sure you are being treats fairly.

See The article giving advice at FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT SAFETY &CLEANUP

Found in the ARTICLE INDEX near the end of this page. There you will find advice on minimizing damage, safety, etc.

Question:

Rebekah said:
We live in Colorado with decently cold winters. We have orangeburd pipe that is starting to squish into an oval pipe and the tree roots are begining to penetrate. Which type of pipe is better, will last longer, for main sewer line replacement? PVC, Schedule 40, HDPE,any others you could recommend?

Reply:

In my OPINION Schedule 40 PVC plastic sewer piping is quite durable (quoting from Harvel's specifications: Produced rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compound, Type I Grade I, with a Cell Classification of 12454 as defined in ASTM D1784, trade name designation H707 PVC ... and meeting the requirements of ASTM D1785 and ASTM D2665.)

But keep in mind that installation details are important: proper trench excavation to compacted soil, bedding pipe on and in sand, avoiding backfill with sharp rocks &c.

If piping is to be buried where it may be driven-over by vehicles or heavy equipment, you might even consider Schedule 80 pipe for that location or pipe run.

Question: is PEX the same as Kitec® ?

Is PEX the same as Kitec? How does one tell distinguish between Kitec and PEX? - see PEX PIPING INFORMATION

Plastic vs Copper pipe in buildings, which is better?

This discussion is now found at PLASTIC vs. COPPER PIPES in BUILDINGS

Question: Pex vs. Copper Water Supply Piping - which should I use?

We moved this discussion to its own article found at PLASTIC vs. COPPER PIPES in BUILDINGS

PB Pipe: Polybutylene Pipe Failures, Claims, Litigation, Contact Information

This discussion is now at PB piping failures, claims, and litigation. -DF

Plumb-PEX Plumbing System Class Action Settlement - PEX piping leaks

This topic is now found at PLUMB-PEX SETTLEMENT discussed as a section of PLASTIC PIPE LEAK CAUSES


...

Continue reading  at ABS PLASTIC PIPE or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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PLASTIC PIPING ABS CPVC PB PEX PPR PVC at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


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