CPVC pipe failures 4

[MGXFP]

All:

I've been contacted by a customer who is concerned about CPVC pipe failure. A note was mentioned about its use or non use in Florida.

Has there been a rash of CPVC failures in the US?

I've searched the interwebs and can only find websites offering expert witnesses regarding plastic failure. I've looked for NFPA or another official resource and can't find anything addressing it. I'm none too sure a problem exists.

Has anyone here experience with CPVC failure not caused as an installation error or aware of any endemic problems with CPVC? We've only used it in its listed capacity and the only problems we've had are from dry joints.

 

[rconner]

I had seen some other discussions online concerning the pipe of this incident, that in seeming authoritative fashion (as if they knew?) identified same as "cpvc". At least one of these essentially defended the choice of the pipe material, as it was somehow approved (they noted) by at least some California codes just a handfull of years ago.
I'm not sure it would have really made any practical difference in this particular case what kind of "plastic" it is/was, if you indeed know this was some other kind of "plastic", please let us know(and maybe DA or AG would also be interested?) Everyone have a good weekend.

 

[cdafd]

Rc

Not sure if I am following you

Cvpc has been approved in many settings for sprinkler use for years

If you are talking about the mansion fire where the ff died, it sounds like the pipe was physically damaged, maybe by something falling on it, pipe broke and put Wieght on the sheet rock ceiling causing the structure to fail

 

[rconner]

I don't know what actually happened, but at least all early reports I saw, like that at link I provided, said plastic pipe was "melted" or "burned" through by the fire/heat.

 

[cdafd]

rc
now that you said that you might be right, have not read the stuff in a long time, but believe it was in a non protected area, which is legal.

not sure if you read that the owner had a non code complying fireplace installed

 

[cdafd]

from the link above:::



Prosecutors allege that Becker, a German national, built an 18-foot "fire trough" through the home despite being warned of the dangers it may cause. It was described as an oversize indoor fire pit. ...

They said the attic was equipped with plastic pipes for fire sprinklers. The fire melted the pipes, flooding the attic and filling the insulation with water. The weight of the insulation appears to have caused a large section of the ceiling to collapse, injuring Allen and five other firefighters, officials said.

once again cvpc pipe has been in use for many years in fire sprinkler systems