Is pex "plastic"?

[Sifu]

The title pretty much covers it, is pex piping considered plastic piping?

 

[steveray]

Yes....it is not metal....polyethelene...is pronounced "plastic" in my dictionary.....

 

[Sifu]

Then should it be tested with air?

 

[ICE]

Then should it be tested with air?

INSTALLATION STANDARD

FOR

COMPOSITE PEX-AL-PEX HOT AND

PE-AL-PE COLDWATER-DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

IAPMO IS 28-2005

B. Testing. Upon completion of a section or of the

entire hot and cold water supply system it shall be

tested and proved tight under a water pressure or

air test not less than the working pressure under

which it is to be used. The water used for tests

shall be obtained from a potable source. The system

shall withstand the test without leaking for a

period of not less than fifteen (15) minutes.

 

[steveray]

Depending on how strict you want to be....No......freezing temps up here, usually air is accepted NOT encouraged......The water supply system will be tested with water...at the final....

 

[Sifu]

Code says plastic pipe can't be tested with air, also says pex is plastic. So putting 2 and 2 together, you can't test pex with air. However I looked up three mfr's of pex tubing, all say testing with air is acceptable. Every once in a while I like to challenge the norm so I decided to look into this and get opinions. I was and still am of the opinion that pex can be tested with air, even though the code indicates the contrary. Any other opinions?

 

[north star]

~ * ~

The manufacturer's instructions has precedence over the codes!

* ~ *

 

[mtlogcabin]

The prohibition of testing plastic pipe with air has been in the code before pex was invented. As you have found out the manufacturers permit testing with air and that is all that I needed to allow it.

 

[Mac]

Pex is plastic. The "AL" in ICE's post is aluminum, meaning the PEX-AL-PEX has an aluminum core, coated inside and outside with the PEX plastic.

We are also seeing plastic only supply pipes, whcih everyone calls pex, connected with a crimping tool & ring.