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Polybutylene (PB) Plumbing used for hot & cold supply piping in homes, also known as "Poly-B" has attracted considerable attention lately, most notably in B.C., Alberta and some U.S. States. Recent alarming media coverage has whipped many home owners into a state of panic.

Plastic pipe problems are like a "tempest in a teapot" said the president of the Alberta New Home Warranty Program. "The rate of incidents is insignificant - and our experience with it has been zero."

The Canadian Association of Home Inspectors, the Home Builders’ Association and the New Home Warranty Program, among other organizations, have all investigated and researched this issue. PB appears to be an excellent plumbing system with a relatively low incident rate of failures, most of which have been attributed to poor workmanship or improper choice of materials.

So why the sudden burst of media attention?
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Info packages have been sent to media sources and home owners, claiming experts have stated that such systems are failing. The lawyers who sent the packages have been soliciting home owners to join a potential class-action suit against the makers of PB tubing and associated fittings.

There have been very few documented cases of PB failures in Canada, and most authoritative sources indicate that the problems lie with the plastic "acetal" fittings, very few of which are encountered in Canada.

Chlorine levels above 2PPM may cause damage to PB tubing, however this is unlikely because this is a much higher than normal chlorine level, and would certainly elicit a flurry of complaints from residents.

Aluminum crimp rings have also been blamed, and these are also rare in Canada, where primarily copper fittings and crimp rings have been used. Many U.S. failures occurred in southern areas where plumbing was run in attics, which has not been practiced in Canada, and some plumbers took old brass fittings and used them for plastic... a likely mismatch.

In Alberta, where the level of concern is at its highest, the Labour Department reports the problem rate at less than a fraction of 1% of all installations. In fact, only two cases have been cited, and both of these were reportedly due to poor workmanship.

HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE:

Polybutylene (PB) piping used in Canada is grey in color, with blue lettering on it and a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) stamp. Some installations will have plastic fittings at the joints, where other will be connected with copper fittings and crimp rings.

C-PVC is a more rigid plastic piping with glued joints. It is white or creamy colored, with black or blue lettering, and a CSA stamp.

• Extensive investigation, including contacting the national research centres in Canada and the U.S. has triggered no alarm bells. Although the jury is still out on plastic plumbing, the issue appears to be blown out of proportion at this time.
• If homeowners are concerned about the type of plumbing in their homes, and would like to set their minds at ease, they should contact their plumber or builder.
• In the event that repairs or replacement are recommended, second and third opinions should be obtained.
• A prudent home owner may also want to contact their insurance carrier to determine if there are any limitations to coverage, based on the type of plumbing in the house.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND LIMITATIONS TO USAGE:

• Do not use plastic piping in a continuously circulating hot water plumbing loop.
• Do not use where water temperatures could exceed 180 degrees F.
• Do not use in an application where the plastic pipe will be exposed to direct sunlight.
• Do not allow pipe to be left exposed to direct sunlight for more than 30 days during or before construction.
• Do not use acetal (plastic) fittings.
• Water heater connections should be made with metal (copper) connectors at least 18" long.
• Pipe must be kept at least 6 inches from hot water tank or furnace flue pipes.
• Polybutylene piping is not suitable for swimming pool piping systems, or where more than 2ppm of chlorine (free residual) will be routinely encountered.

CBC Marketplace Files: Leaky Plastic Pipes - TV Program aired February 9, 1999
Read about plastic pipe failures, chronology of events, class actions suits,
confidential documents, opposing arguments and more:
http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/home/pipes/index.html

Alberta Municipal Affairs: Fact Sheet - January 11, 2002
Alberta Municipal Affairs is aware of approximately four (4) Poly-B failures in Alberta over the last 20 years.
All were related to improper installation procedures rather than the materials.
http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/ss/gas/polyb.pdf

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