This report explores issues building professionals must address when specifying piping materials for plenum spaces, including fire safety, air quality, mechanical durability, sustainability, & long-term financial /legal considerations… more
This report reviews issues related to firestopping assemblies for various plastic piping materials including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), polyethylene (PE), & crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) plastic, as well as non-combustible piping materials such as copper, iron, & steel… more
Based on the findings from our Plumbing Specification Guide, this AIA course explains how the characteristics of materials used for drinking water, wastewater, and fire-suppression systems impact the health, safety, and sustainability of buildings. eligible for HSW credit. … more
Engineers and architects use plastic pipe for many critical systems – including drain, waste, and vent (DWV), water distribution, fire suppression sprinklers, and other applications – across a wide variety of building types. These systems are installed throughout structures, making it essential to understand how they will perform during fire incidents. This report examines fire safety aspects of plastic piping materials, including one of the most commonly used, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), through a review of relevant research… more
Part 2 of our recap of the presentation & discussions at the BSS conference. We focus on fire safety issues like combustibility, toxic releases, & firestopping. … more
Contractors, engineers, & manufacturers raised great questions after our presentation to the invite-only BSS Conference at Wembley Stadium in London. We focused on two important issues that don’t always get the focus they deserve: sustainability & fire safety… more
The study concludes that thermally damaged drinking water pipes can be sources of VOC leaching. … more
Historic wildfires raging from California to Colorado are weakening watersheds and setting the stage for deadly mudslides and flooding and, in some places, threatening to poison critical water supplies… more
This work outlines factors that influence wildfire-induced drinking water quality threats based on the findings from the Tubbs Fire (2017) and Camp Fire (2018) and explores scientific and policy issues. … more
The relationship between piping systems, wildfires, and water quality has largely been silent throughout history. Only in the past decade, have concerns been raised on how certain piping materials contaminate water supplies when melted. … more