Irving, Texas — The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI), through its building and construction division, releases a new advisory regarding certain crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing products sold in Canada and the U.S.
This advisory states that, “Based on PPI’s review, these PEX tubing products may not comply with required industry standards and are not third-party certified to mandatory industry standards, despite implied claims regarding the suitability of these products for critical applications.”
Major model codes require PEX tubing products for plumbing and mechanical applications to be marked in accordance with industry standards such as ASTM F876 and CSA B137.5 and to be third-party certified.
PPI adds that, “The use of non-compliant, non-certified tubing in demanding plumbing and mechanical applications can lead to premature failure, property damage, and potential legal liability throughout the supply chain.”
According to PPI, “Non-compliant and non-certified PEX tubing is marked with various trade names and has been offered for sale via several distribution channels, including popular online retailers. The tubing is marked with industry standards ASTM F8761 and CSA B137.52, indicating compliance with these critical standards. However, these products are not listed and labelled by third-party certification agencies to verify compliance with the mandatory industry standards.”
Specifically, non-compliant and non-certified PEX tubing is being marketed and sold for applications such as potable water and hydronic heating systems.
Through its advisory, PPI recommends that only PEX tubing which is properly third-party certified and clearly marked with the third-party certification agency logo or logos (i.e., listed and labelled) should be specified, purchased, and installed.
It also advises that PEX tubing lacking third-party certification markings should be treated as non-compliant and unsuitable for use in code-regulated applications.