By Healthcare Facilities Today

Lindon, UT - Aquatherm and the company’s California distributor, Mega Western Sales, recently announced that polypropylene pipe is officially included in the 2014 California Plumbing Code as part of the new California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) codes that took effect January 1, 2014.

In the new California Plumbing Code (CPC), polypropylene (PP) pipe material listed for building potable water supply and distribution, the referenced standard(s) for piping and fittings are ASTM F 2389 and CSA B137.11.

Additionally, in 605.12 the CPC states, “PP pipe and fittings shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions and shall comply with Section 605.12.1 through 605.12.3.” These sections include: 605.12.1 which discusses heat-fusion joints, 605.12.2 which discusses mechanical and compression sleeve joints, and 605.12.2 which discusses threaded joints. For information about these code changes, please visit the Commission’s website: www.bsc.ca.gov.

With efforts to improve sustainability and safety, Aquatherm is an obvious choice, and Mega Western is an ideal sales organization to further educate the market on the benefits of this product. Since 1970, the sales company has served the wholesale plumbing and building product industry with a reputation for quality, innovation, value and service.

Several Mega Western team members are dedicated to promoting Aquatherm, which is made from engineered PP-R (polypropylene-random), a strong, inert and environmentally friendly thermoplastic.  It has a long history of use in high purity water applications, and is ideally suited for potable water. 

Aquatherm Chief Technology Officer Jim Paschal explained that Aquatherm PP-R piping has been used successfully for years in many jurisdictions within California as an alternate material.  “This revision will allow engineers, specifiers, and plumbers to take advantage of the many benefits Aquatherm PP-R offers over more traditional materials such as copper and steel without the need for submitting it as an alternate or requiring special local approval.”

All Aquatherm polypropylene-random (PP-R) pipe systems are connected via heat fusion, which connects the pipe and fitting at the molecular level, providing a virtually leak-proof and long-lasting joint. Additionally, Aquatherm is safe, extremely durable, non-leaching, and corrosion-resistant.