When Gravity Wins: Support Requirements for Suspended Plumbing Systems
If supports for suspended plumbing systems are not designed and installed appropriately, failure can follow, even when they meet code.
Why Pipe Material Decisions Now Carry Risk
growing body of claims data, forensic investigations, and case law shows that When plumbing systems fail, the consequences extend far beyond repair costs. Architects, engineers, manufacturers, owners, and insurers are all paying closer attention.
Investigating Plumbing Failures
Plumbing failures account for a notable share of claims. Insurers often use forensid engineers to help find parties responsible for the failure…
Plumbing Sustainability Scorecard, Part 1: Leaching
Leaching stands at a critical intersection of health, materials science, & sustainability. It must be a central consideration in selecting plumbing materials. This scorecard ranks common pipe types on the amount, toxicity, & regulatory uncertainty of chemicals leached into drinking water.
Field-Tested Truths
Piping managers across the U.S. shared their professional observations based on what did and did not work for their systems over the course of years and decades of use.
When Plastic Pipes & Chemical Clash: Risks
Promoted as cost-effective and easy to install, plastic pipes are often used without considering the environments in which they’re installed. Research shows chemical incompatibility poses serious risks to plastic piping systems
Leaching of Microplastics & Chemicals from PEX Pipes
PEX and other plastic piping systems leach plastic particles & chemicals, posing significant concerns for drinking water quality. Until we have more studies and better oversight, architects and others must weigh risks to occupants.
Report: Sprinkler System Piping
This research-based report gives an overview of system components, design considerations, and material options for fire-sprinkler systems.
Research Shows Risks of Plastic Pipes in Fires
Recent fire testing from the Copper Sustainability Partnership (CuSP) reinforces our findings that combustible plastic plumbing materials pose significant risks in fire conditions.
Article Chastises Plastic Pipe Industry for “Blatant Misrepresentation”
A recent article published by Poly Pipe News examines how plastic-pipe manufacturers manipulated industry perceptions of safety and reliability through “blatant misrepresentation.”