Brass Fitting Litigation - PEX

[JAMES T. CALLERI]

Hi All:

I did a manufactured home today. The home was built in 2006. Has Pex Plumbing. Uncertain about the fittings. They appear to be something other then brass. Whats your thoughts?

Jim

[Leonard Inkster]

Originally Posted by jcalleri

Hi All:

I did a manufactured home today. The home was built in 2006. Has Pex Plumbing. Uncertain about the fittings. They appear to be something other then brass. Whats your thoughts?

Jim

Sorry taken so long to reply, looks like Red Brass or Bronze. (the later is made by Viega)

Red Brass has only 15% Zinc to Copper allow mix, whereas Yellow Brass has 35% Zn-Cu.

It is the Yellow brass fittings that have had the greatest failure problems, and generally in Hard water areas, or areas where the Water utilitiy put either Chlorine or Flourine in the water. Also high levels of Oxygen in the water accelerate the erosion of the Brass.

Problem dates back to 1850's and was a particular problem to the British Navy in the first world war. Disabled more ships than German U-Boats.