Originally Posted By: waksell This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
What do you do if you see a copper main coming out of the ground, going to a shut off, & into house, but you know, { because you live across the stree & all houses in subdivision so far }, approximatly !2" - 24" below surface it converts to PVC? Report what you see? Dig it up? Give opinion?
Originally Posted By: rmoore This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Ditto on the why?
Unless your AHJ differs, PVC is approved for water service pipe, just not for distribution in the house. My report reads "The visible plumbing supply lines are...whatever". No need to guess or report about what you can't see. If you have very good reason to suspect something unseen may cause a problem then, of course, report it in the appropriate manner...but, I don't see that potential problem here.
-- Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: lkage This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
rmoore wrote:
No need to guess or report about what you can't see. If you have very good reason to suspect something unseen may cause a problem then, of course, report it in the appropriate manner...
Good advice. 
-- "I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him."
Galileo Galilei
Originally Posted By: rmoore This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
whandley wrote:
Isn't the last 10' to the structure required to be metal so as to maintain electrical grounding requirements, (Cold water bonding)? 
If you were using the metallic water service pipe as a grounding electrode, then yes but not for bonding. While it is one of the options, there is no requirement that the water piping serve as the grounding electrode.
-- Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: rmoore This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
phinsperger wrote:
Why? Isn't service PVC susceptible to high city chlorine levels?
Possibly, and local AHJs may forbid it's use, but all national plumbing codes (UPC, IRC, IPC) that I'm aware of allow it's use for buried service piping outside the home (and within 5 ft of entry - IPC). Of couse, it still has to be an approved type of PVC.
-- Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: dedwards This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Almost every house built here in NW Florida in the past 25 + years has
PVC supply lines from the meter to the house. Its cheap and does not corrode like copper, brass or galvanized will. To my knowledge city chlorine does not affect PVC (but it will do a number on Polybutylene). Some homes here use CPVC inside for the various branch supply lines if the water is acidic as it will work on copper quickly.
Originally Posted By: rmoore This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Just a thought…
I really don't know how chlorine affects PVC, but don't most hot-tubs use it for the circulation piping? It would seem that if chlorine was a real problem, these would be falling apart.
-- Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
The only thing I'd argue about is the paragraph...
Quote:
CODE STATUS
PVC piping is recognized as acceptable material for DWV, sewers, and potable water services and distribution in all model plumbing codes. These Codes normally identify acceptable products for specific uses based on the ASTM Standard designation. (my bold)
None of our usual residential codes allow its use for in-home distribution.
I notice that the PPFA is the Plastic Pipe and Ftiitings Association and I suspect that the main members are the manufacturers. Call me cynical, but I doubt that they would highlite problems. If websites had been around during the time of the Pinto, I wonder if Ford would have mentioned the exploding gas tanks? 
-- Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
