The Plastic Piping Education Foundation (PPEF) was founded in 1987 by the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association to develop and advance the knowledge of the field of manufacture and installation for plastic pipe and fittings and related fields

The Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association shares your concerns for the conservation and protection of natural resources. The association’s Sustainable Piping Systems Committee was established to coordinate activities among PPFA Product Line Committees to achieve sustainability goals.

Consider the advantages of plastic piping. If you are looking for reliable, safe, cost-effective, energy conscious building materials, plastic piping should be part of your next set of job specifications.

Here are more reasons to use plastic piping:

Safe & reliable
Starting with its own clean, low-energy manufacturing process through delivery, installation and long-term durability, plastic piping materials deliver the qualities you expect from 21st century products.

Durable
Plastic piping has out performed metal piping for decades. Known for impermeability, plastic piping is not degraded by aggressive underground water and soil, nor by contaminants or acidity in waste or sewage passing through it. In fact, there is very little change in the physical characteristics of installed plastic piping over dozens of years. Examinations of pipe samples show no measurable degradation after 30 years or more of service.

Safely delivers water, waste or chemicals
Plastic piping is an effective weapon in the war against disease. Because plastic piping is not subject to pin holes and subtle corrosion, it safely contains and delivers water, waste, or chemicals without contamination by or of surrounding materials. In fact, plastic piping is the ideal choice to convey chemicals for water treatment and in other processing installations. The choice of a particular plastic depends on the specific materials to be conveyed.

Easy to install & accepted by building codes nationwide
The installation of plastic piping saves energy. Plastic pipe and fittings weigh less and install faster than metal piping. The savings add up in lower freight charges, less manpower, simpler hoisting and rigging equipment, etc. The result is a more profitable bottom line or more resources for other aspects of the project.

Assembly uses gasketing or other mechanical means or solvent cement. The traditional lead pot and torch are not required. This saves time, resources and reduces workplace hazards.

Plumbing and building codes govern the use of construction products and their methods of installation. All major codes accept plastic piping.

Third party certified to meet health and safety standards
Plastic piping products designed to deliver potable water are certified to meet the requirements of ANSI/NSF Standard 61. In essence, every material from the well or other water source to the faucet is covered by this standard which addresses relevant health issues and protects the user from unwanted and dangerous contaminants.

Clean, low-energy manufacturing
The energy efficient, clean nature of plastic pipe and fittings manufacturing also conserves resources. In fact, the manufacture of plastic pressure piping used in the building, construction, and transportation industries required 56,497 trillion fewer BTUs than iron and concrete/aggregate alternatives.*

Because plastic pipe and fittings are dramatically lower in weight than metal piping, they save energy in transportation, a significant cost factor in today’s construction planning.

* Based on a 1991 study by Franklin Associates titled: "Comparative Energy Evaluation of Plastic Products and their Alternatives for the Building and Construction and Transportation Industries".

The advantages are clear... shouldn’t you be considering plastic piping?

Click here to read further on:
PPFA Policy on Sustainable Building

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