1 AIA LU|HSW

“Material Considerations for Plumbing Systems”

This session will describe how the characteristics of materials used for drinking water and wastewater systems impact the health, safety, and sustainability of buildings.

Presentation material drawn from the Plumbing Specification Guide for architects.

Prerequisite Knowledge:
Basic knowledge of building plumbing

Learning Objective 1:
Assess strengths and weaknesses of common materials used for drinking water and wastewater systems, including cast iron, (C)PVC, copper, HDPE, PEX, & steel, in contrast with failed piping materials such as lead and polybutylene plastic.

Learning Objective 2:
Describe sustainability issues and relative product lifecycles of piping materials starting from production, through use, and after demolition

Learning Objective 3:
Give examples of fire risks and firestopping considerations that impact the health and safety of occupants and first responders.

Learning Objective 4:
Understand how material characteristics relate to other important health and safety factors such as leaching, permeation, and water age.