PVC cold supply piping

[Benjamin Thompson]

Inspecting a mid 1980's house tomorrow that has white PVC cor the cold piping, CPVC for the hot. Is this not allowed, was it always not allowed? Besides DIY issues, what are the potential problems (breakage, etc.), should the house be re-plumbed if there are no apparent problems?
As always, Thanks.

[Ron Hasil]

Here in Illinois we are allowed to use PVC on cold water supply only. But most counties, towns, and cities will not allow it. Best to check with you local plumbing inspector to see if it is allowed in that town.

[Jeffrey L. Mathis]

If you're state licensure board is like North Carolina, don't say it was against code unless you can site code chapter and verse.
JLMathis

[Ron Hasil]

If you're state licensure board is like North Carolina, don't say it was against code unless you can site code chapter and verse.
JLMathis

Hope this helps:





TITLE 77: PUBLIC HEALTH
CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
SUBCHAPTER r: WATER AND SEWAGE
PART 890 ILLINOIS PLUMBING CODE
SECTION 890.APPENDIX A PLUMBING MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, USE RESTRICTIONS AND APPLICABLE STANDARDS







Section 890.APPENDIX A Plumbing Materials, Equipment, Use Restrictions and Applicable Standards


Section 890.TABLE A Approved Materials and Standards

All materials must meet at least one of the approved standards listed.




Approved Materials for Water Service Pipe




1)


Acrylonitrite Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Pipe2
ASTM D 1527-1996a




ASTM D 2282-1996a

Joints
ASTM D 2235-1996a

Solvent Cement1
ASTM D 2235-1996a




2)
Brass Pipe2
ASTM B 43-1998




3)
Cast Iron (ductile iron)2
ASTM A 377-1984

Water Pipe
CSA B70-1997




4)
Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) Pipe2
ASTM D 2846-1997M


ASTM F 441-1997


ASTM F 442-1997



CSA B137.6-1999 in B137

Joints
ASTM D 2846-1997M


CSA B137.6-1999 in B137

Solvent Cement (Orange)1
ASTM F 493-1997


CSA B137.6-1999 in B137




5)
Copper/Copper Alloy Pipe2, 3
ASTM B 42-1996


ASTM B 302-1998




6)
Copper/Copper Alloy Tubing2,3
ASTM B 88-1996




7)
Galvanized Steel Pipe2
ASTM A 53-1998


ASTM A 120-1984




8)
Poly Butylene (PB) Pipe/Tubing2
ASTM D 2662-1996a


ASTM D 2666-1996a


ASTM D 3309-1997a


CSA B137.7-1999 in B137


CSA B137.8-1999 in B137




9)
Polyethylene (PE) Pipe2
ASTM D 2239-1996a




10)
Polyethylene (PE) Tubing2
ASTM D 2737-1996a



CSA B137.1-1999 in B137




11)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe2
ASTM D 1785-1996b


ASTM D 2241-1996b


ASTM D 2672-1996a



CSA B137.3-1999 in B137





Joints
ASTM D 2855-1996



CSA B137.2-1999 in B137



CSA B137.3-1999 in B137





Primer
ASTM F 656-1996a

Solvent Cement1
ASTM D 2564-1996a


CSA B137.3-1999 in B137




12)
Welded Copper Water Tube2
ASTM B 447 WK, WL, and WM-1997




13)
Solder
ASTM B 32-1996





Agency Note:

1Solvent cement must be handled in accordance with ASTM F 402-1988.

2Water service pipe must meet the appropriate NSF standard for potable water.

3Type K or L copper may be installed underground.





Approved Materials for Water Distribution Pipe




1)


Brass Pipe2
ASTM B 43-1998





2)
Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride2 (CPVC) Pipe/Tubing
ASTM D 2846-1997

ASTM F 441-19973


ASTM F 442-19973



CSA B137.6-1999 in B137

Joints
ASTM D 2846-1997M



CSA B137.6-1999 in B137

Solvent Cement (Orange)1
ASTM F 493-1997


CSA B137.6-1999 in B137



3)
Copper/Copper Alloy Pipe2
ASTM B 42-1996


ASTM B 302-1998



4)
Copper/Copper Alloy Tubing2
ASTM B 88-1996



5)
Cross Linked Polyethylene2
ASTM F 876-2000


ASTM F 877-2000



CSA B137.5-1999 in B137




6)
Galvanized Steel Pipe2
ASTM A 53-1998


ASTM A 120-1984



7)
Poly Butylene (PB) Pipe/Tubing2
ASTM D 3309-1997a



CSA B137.7-1999 in B137

CSA B137.8-1999 in B137


8)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe2, 3
ASTM D 1785-1996b





ASTM D 2241-1996b


ASTM D 2672-1996a


CSA B137.3-1999 in B137

Joints
ASTM D 2855-1996


CSA B137.2-1999 in B137


CSA B137.3-1999 in B137

Primer
ASTM F 656-1996a

Solvent Cement1
ASTM D 2564-1996a


CSA B137.3-1999 in B137



9)
Welded Copper Water Tube2
ASTM B 447 WK, WL, and WM-1997



10)
Solder
ASTM B 32-1996




Agency Notes:



1Solvent cement must be handled in accordance with ASTM F 402-1988.

2Water distribution pipe must meet the appropriate NSF standard for potable water.

3Use for cold or tempered water only

As for what Cities, townships, and counties they are allowed to make the code stricter but nothing less than the the Illinois Plumbing code.

[Garry Sorrells]

Inspecting a mid 1980's house tomorrow that has white PVC cor the cold piping, CPVC for the hot. Is this not allowed, was it always not allowed? Besides DIY issues, what are the potential problems (breakage, etc.), should the house be re-plumbed if there are no apparent problems?
As always, Thanks.

Out of curiosity, did you attempt to contact the local building permits office?

[jamie wilks]

I was just curious, Ron has supplied an abundance of material from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health.
Does the Illinois Dept. of Public Health administer, interpret and enforce the building codes in Illinois?

[Benjamin Thompson]

Out of curiosity, did you attempt to contact the local building permits office?

Not applicable, the City was under the County building department at that time and there were basically no rules enforced. Build whatever you want!!

[Ron Hasil]

Not applicable, the City was under the County building department at that time and there were basically no rules enforced. Build whatever you want!!

I hear home owners say that all the time to me, and I hate to say it they are full of BS. If you are building in Incorporated areas where the county is in charge, they have county building , pluming and other inspectors. And if the county does not have any I can tell you the state does.

All states have or follow a plumbing code and the homes need to be built to code.

[Garry Sorrells]

Not applicable, the City was under the County building department at that time and there were basically no rules enforced. Build whatever you want!!


The key is where you say "... there were basically no rules enforced ..." being enforced or not being enforced does not mean that rules did not exist. Enforcement is a different subject. Rules at time of construction is the question and the answer.

The use of PVC and CPC in practice revolves around the use of chlorination in the water, the temp that the material will be subjected to and the pressure the material will be subject to. When the use of CPC for all supply lines was required just mane it easy easier to inspect and upgraded the cold lines to a higher specification (no harm no foul). The big basic issue is about expansion of the pipe and joints under heat.