PEX in Calfiornia

[mark handler]

mania...err uhh handler, i hear it is hot in so cal today! don't leave your plastic water bottle in the car with the windows up. it is a known fact that cancer causing chemicals are created in just these conditions. i think i read it in the enquirer:mrgreen:

I cant get the water out of the car right now, I need to cook my lunch in a plastic container

And yes It's triple digits with high humidity

 

[Alias]

Sue, living la vida loca The Plumbing supply house is about 12 miles from me and there are more than twenty places between them and me to get PEX pipe and fittings

Another thing Conarb gets wrong is that the choice to use PEX is not the Architects. It is usually the Owner or Engineer that makes that decision.

But then again, be carful of advice you get on the internet.

I need to get some water, in plastic bottles.....

Mark -

Here, it's the plumbers that want to use it. Guess this might be because we don't have any unions? Or maybe it doesn't burst like copper with a freeze? I sent letters to the 4 licensed plumbers informing them of the decision and got phone calls from two with questions. I told them not to worry and it will be decided on a case by case basis only.

Maybe I'll add a blurb in the city ordinance about allowing PEX under CPC 108.7.

Sue, bottled water, we don't need no stinkin' bottled water, tap is tasty

 

[mark handler]

PEX plastic plumbing pipe may remain authorized for use if your local jurisdiction has adopted an ordinance or regulation approving its use (see Health and Safety Code sections 17923, 17958 and 18941.5). Also, PEX may be authorized for use by local jurisdictions pursuant to Health and Safety Code sections 17591(e) [Alternate Materials and Construction Methods], or California Plumbing Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24,

Part 5, sections 108.7 [Alternate Materials, Designs, Tests and Methods of Construction] or 301.2 [Alternate Materials and Methods of Construction Equivalency].

Don't forget the Lead solder in all the pre 1990 buildings and water coolers....

 

[Mule]

Press Release on PEX

Press release on PEX is here.

Press Release

 

[Alias]

Looks like we have a final draft EIR. Here is the link:

http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/bsc/pex/2010/Final-EIR/SR-FINAL-EIR-PEX-08-09-10.pdf

Maybe we will get to use PEX statewide.................. I allow it on a case by case basis now. With the wild temperature variations here, it makes sense with the expansion and contraction issues with the pipes.

Sue, in sunny CA

Sue,

 

[pwood]

got an email from a salesman that said pex was approved for use by the building standards commission on august 17th. i have not received any official notification from the bsc so still in plastic pipe limbo. it is getting to be a real pita to figure which permits and applications were issued when pex was approved and then not approved and then reapproved? you gotta love the bsc and the left coast.

 

[Alias]

got an email from a salesman that said pex was approved for use by the building standards commission on august 17th. i have not received any official notification from the bsc so still in plastic pipe limbo. it is getting to be a real pita to figure which permits and applications were issued when pex was approved and then not approved and then reapproved? you gotta love the bsc and the left coast.

I sent the plumbing contractors a notice in July about the suspension. Do I get to send them an 'it's okey dokey' notice now? Dunno, like you said pwood, is it approved or not?

PEX is perfect for cold weather climes.

Sue, in sunny CA

 

[pwood]

I sent the plumbing contractors a notice in July about the suspension. Do I get to send them an 'it's okey dokey' notice now? Dunno, like you said pwood, is it approved or not? PEX is perfect for cold weather climes.

Sue, in sunny CA

sue,

i had a plumber use it in a new house when it was code approved and he had installed it in a crawl space.at underfloor inspection i told him he needed to insulate the pex and he said it was not necessary because it would not bust. i told him it would freeze and the homeowner would be calling him to thaw out his pipes! how does a torch work for thawing out pex? some people will hook a welder up to the pipes to thaw them out, how's that work with pex? :mrgreen:

 

[Alias]

sue,i had a plumber use it in a new house when it was code approved and he had installed it in a crawl space.at underfloor inspection i told him he needed to insulate the pex and he said it was not necessary because it would not bust. i told him it would freeze and the homeowner would be calling him to thaw out his pipes! how does a torch work for thawing out pex? some people will hook a welder up to the pipes to thaw them out, how's that work with pex? :mrgreen:

verrryyyyy carefully! :mrgreen:

Seriously, what has been installed here has been in attics or crawlspaces is blanketed by the insulation or in the wall.

Sue

 

[mark handler]

http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/bsc/pex/2010/Final-EIR/IB_10-01-PEX.pdf

TO: INTERESTED PARTIES

SUBJECT: STATE PEX EXCLUSION REMOVED from the

California Plumbing Code (CPC) EFFECTIVE

AUGUST 18, 2010

This information bulletin is being issued to highlight an action taken by the

California Building Standards Commission (commission) on August 16, 2010,

concerning cross-linked polyethylene flexible plastic pipe, commonly referred to

as “PEX.” The action taken removed the state’s amendment that excluded the

use PEX for water piping systems from the 2007 California Plumbing Code

(California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 5), and to amend the 2010

California Plumbing Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 5). The

regulations include mitigation measures identified in the Commission’s Second

Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report (SRDEIR) and additional conditions

and restrictions on the use of PEX. The Commission's action allows the

statewide use of PEX in hospitals, clinics, schools, residences and commercial

structures. The effective date of this action is August 18, 2010 for the 2007

CPC and January 1, 2011 for the 2010 CPC. You can view the SRDEIR on the

Commission’s website: http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/bsc/pex/2010/Final-

EIR/SR-FINAL-EIR-PEX-08-09-10.pdf

Background

In January 2009, the Commission adopted “PEX regulations” that allowed the

statewide use of PEX Tubing by removing the CPC’s exclusion of PEX. The

PEX regulations have been the subject of litigation. During the litigation, the

court ordered that the PEX regulations must be “vacate[d] and set aside …”

pending the Commission’s preparation and certification of the SRDEIR. The

Commission complied with the court’s order by repealing the previous action

taken by the Commission in January 2009. The repeal became effective on July

1, 2010.

The Commission prepared and certified the SRDEIR which supports the adoption

of PEX regulations and constitutes full compliance with the California

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The California Building Standards

Commission adopted and approved new PEX regulations and amended other

regulations that allow the statewide use of PEX Tubing. The parties involved

have reached a tentative settlement agreement that reflects the mitigation

measures identified in the SRDEIR and additional conditions and restrictions on

the use of PEX that address concerns raised after the release of the SRDEIR.

The Commission action implements the terms of the settlement agreement.

Availability

The documents reflecting the changes are available on the Commission’s

website at http://www.bsc.ca.gov/pex.htm . Publication of the changes to the

California Plumbing Code will be available from the publisher at www.iapmo.org,

depository libraries around the state, and bookstores carrying technical

publications.

In addition to the above, California Building Standards Law requires that each

local jurisdiction, including charter cities, obtain and maintain with all revisions on

a current basis, at least one copy of the building standards and other regulations

relating to buildings published in Titles 8, 19, 20, 24 and 25 of the California

Code of Regulations. The law mandates that these codes are to be maintained

in the office of the building official responsible for administration and enforcement

of California Building Standards Law.

The law allows local jurisdictions to make modifications to Title 24 for reasons of

local conditions, namely climate, topography, and/or geology. This provision may

have an impact on the use of PEX in any particular local jurisdiction.

 

[mark handler]

PEX tubing is back in the California Plumbing Code.

PEX is back in the California Plumbing Code. The California Building Standards Commission has removed the state’s exclusion of PEX tubing from the code.

The action removes the state’s amendment that excluded the use of PEX for water piping systems from the 2007 CPC and amends the 2010 CPC. The regulations include mitigation measures identified in the commission’s Second Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report (SRDEIR) and additional conditions and restrictions on the use of PEX.

The commission’s action allows the use of PEX in all occupancies, including commercial, residential and institutional building construction, rehabilitation and repair under the jurisdiction of the CBSC and responsible agencies in all areas of California. The effective date of the action was Aug. 18 for the 2007 CPC and Jan. 1, 2011, for the 2010 CPC.

PEX became part of the California Plumbing Code in August 2009, following CBSC’s January 2009 certification of an Environmental Impact Report on PEX and the commission’s ensuing unanimous adoption of regulations approving PEX water distribution systems. However, CBSC was compelled to repeal the inclusion of PEX in the state code effective July 1, 2010, to comply with a court order. During the litigation, the court ordered that the PEX regulations must be “vacate(d) and set aside…” pending the commission’s preparation and certification of the SRDEIR. The commission complied with the court’s order by repealing the previous action taken by the commission in January 2009.

“The recent adoption of regulations related to the use of PEX represents a statewide regulatory change,” California Building Standards Commission Executive Director Dave Walls said. “We believe that we have developed responsible standards that incorporate the California Environmental Quality Act measures while integrating additional provisions that will not only satisfy the court’s ruling but all parties involved.”

The tentative settlement agreement reflects the mitigation measures identified in the SRDEIR and additional conditions and restrictions on the use of PEX that address concerns raised after the release of the SRDEIR. The commission action implements the terms of the settlement agreement.

California law allows local jurisdictions to make modifications to Title 24 (which includes PEX tubing) for reasons of local conditions, namely climate, topography and/or geology. This provision may have an impact on the use of PEX in any particular local jurisdiction.

“We are very excited about the reinstatement of PEX tubing into the California Plumbing Code,” said Rich Houle, associate product manager, commercial, for PEX manufacturer Uponor. “We have been involved with the process since the beginning and are pleased with the final outcome, culminating a decade of work.”

Mike Miazga

miazgam@bnpmedia.com

Mike Miazga is the senior editor of pme. He can be reached at 630/694-4362.

http://www.pmengineer.com/Articles/Industry_News/2010/08/25/California-PEX-Exclusion-Removed