One of the characteristics of PEX tubing that makes it attractive for many applications is its spool-ability, which results in lower shipping costs. Reeves Journal Photo.

It almost passed unnoticed. After all, pipe material approvals aren’t the kind of things you’ll see Anderson Cooper and his merry band of Hollerin’ Heads spewing their opinions about. But the Jan. 22 unanimous approval of PEX piping systems for use in hospitals, clinics, and residential and commercial construction throughout the state by the California Building Standards Commission is kind of a big deal.
   California is the last state in the union to approve the much wider use of PEX, also known as cross-linked polyethylene tubing, although it’s been available for use as an alternate material in various jurisdictions of the Golden State for years. PEX proponents cite many benefits of the material, including the need for less storage space, that it requires the use of fewer fittings because PEX can turn 90-degree corners without needing elbow fittings and that it doesn’t require soldering, among others. 
   “By including PEX in the code, the state of California is officially sanctioning its use. This will allow us to open new markets and promote continued growth in those areas where PEX already has a proven track record,” said Randy Doering, general manager for PEX Piping Systems at NIBCO Inc., who added the material has been used in other western states for years: “PEX is well known and has been used successfully in these other states. Its use has been approved in these states for quite some time.” 
   The Commission’s approval took place following certification of an Environmental Impact Report on the use of PEX, indicating that it meets the rigorous standards of the California Environmental Quality Act. PEX will be officially added to the CPC when the new code is formally adopted on Aug. 1, 2009. In the meantime, cities, counties and other local jurisdictions may approve the use of PEX, effective immediately. 
   The 296-page EIR approved by the CBSC concluded the use of PEX as outlined was an “environmentally superior alternative,” meaning the inclusion of PEX in the California Plumbing Code was a “greener” alternative to leaving PEX out of the code. The report took more than two years to produce and was prepared by the California Department of General Services working with EDAW, a leading planning and environmental design firm headquartered in San Francisco.
   “One of great ironies of the environmental review PEX went through is best reflected in a question one CBSC member asked state officials during the approval process,” said Richard Church, executive director of the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association in Glen Ellyn, Ill., “He wanted to know if non-plastic materials had ever been subjected to the same public health and safety analysis PEX had just gone through. Amazingly the answer is ‘no.’ No other non-plastic building or plumbing material has ever been subjected to—or passed—such scrutiny. 
   During the EIR process, PEX was evaluated for leaching, which is the potential for chemical constituents of the pipe to be released into drinking water. California regulations and statutes set specific limits on the levels of chemicals in drinking water based on public health effects, and PEX was successfully evaluated against all these levels, unlike non-plastic pipe now approved in the California Plumbing Code.
   The CBSC approved the use of PEX with only a couple of minor catches. The first is that PEX installed underground has to be protected in an “approved” sleeve. The other relates to the use of PEX in continuously recirculating hot water systems. In that situation, PEX is required to meet elements of the NSF test procedure, P171, or a standard at least as restrictive.