Post by jeff on Jan 28, 2016 3:53:10 GMT
In consideration of long-term health and safety, plumbing is certainly an appropriate topic. With 'greener' building methods being on the rise, oddly enough plastics are being used more and more. Steel obviously has a horrid history, and copper is toxic to mine, then soldering becomes an issue, since soldering flux is corrosive to copper, and turbulence can raise copper and lead levels in the water, just flowing through the pipes. Popular PEX produces toxic fumes when burned, has been outright banned in California, and is non-recyclable...! PVC has been used a long time, but gets brittle with age. Polypropylene looks to be the new standard, for water supply.
Unlike other plastcs, polypropylene is heat-welded, rather than using solvent cement. It has a 30 year history, in Europe, so long-term issues seem to be negligible.
The main issue with PP is going to be mastering its' use, especially welding it.
IMHO, all plumbing and wiring on gulfsteads and seasteads should be installed in straight-runs (no breaks/connections) inside chases/ducts/conduits, for protection. Anywhere a line needs to be tapped, I would say put a T in the main conduit and bring the end out, then run the next length back in, so that all connections, electrical and plumbing, are accessible, just like the modern electrical wiring in a house is run point-to-point, breaker-box to switch, then switch to device; or switch to outlet, and another run to the next outlet, and so on.
Unlike other plastcs, polypropylene is heat-welded, rather than using solvent cement. It has a 30 year history, in Europe, so long-term issues seem to be negligible.
The main issue with PP is going to be mastering its' use, especially welding it.
IMHO, all plumbing and wiring on gulfsteads and seasteads should be installed in straight-runs (no breaks/connections) inside chases/ducts/conduits, for protection. Anywhere a line needs to be tapped, I would say put a T in the main conduit and bring the end out, then run the next length back in, so that all connections, electrical and plumbing, are accessible, just like the modern electrical wiring in a house is run point-to-point, breaker-box to switch, then switch to device; or switch to outlet, and another run to the next outlet, and so on.