Lesho, Emil P., and Bernard J. Roth. electrodes and meters were subject to sudden failures but this has changed rather abruptly in the last few years. DeWerth, D. W., and A. M. Waters. 6 (2008): 1367-1370. A low pH water supply may cause brass fittings to fail by general corrosion rather than dezincification. EN 15664-1:2008, Influence of metallic materials on water intended for human consumption. The home was constructed in 1995 widening our area of concern to earlier than 1997 as we had previously identified through research and inspection findings. Dynamic rig test for assessment of metal release. I do see that the pex tubing is capped and supported above the slab to keep it accessible and clean at its connection points. The installer used a 3/4" pex w/ brass fitting between the furnace and pump, which I recently discovered was completely eaten through. Quoting: In Danish drinking water installations, brass has been the most commonly used Atkinson, Clare A., Dianne F. Jolley, and Stuart L. Simpson. hard, high conductivity ground water has increased the focus on corrosion of copper In the Copenhagen Brian J. Abstract: [23] ANDREW J. WHELTON & TINH NGUYEN, "Contaminant Migration from Polymeric Pipes used in Buried Potable Water Distribution Systems: A Review", Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, February 2012 posted online, [24] Andrew James Whelton, "Advancing Potable Water Infrastructure through an Improved Understanding of Polymer This result may help explain why Meringue dezincification might explain some reader reports we receive of a decrease in hot water flow rate at some plumbing fixtures, particularly those used most-often and at highest-temperatures. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/ available/etd-04162009-113815/unrestricted/ FINALWheltonDissertationMay09.pdf#page=158, [25] Website: GreenBuildingAdvisor.com, "PEX vs Copper", retrieved 2/18/2013, original source: http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/ community/forum/green-products-and-materials/ 16256/pex-vs-copper [copy on file as PEX vs Copper _ GreenBuildingAdvisor.pdf], [26] Website: GreenBuildingAdvisor.com," How Safe is PEX tubing? I'll copy this conversation over to that page to invite comment from others who have seen this problem. Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia. They're a lot cheaper than fixing leaking pipes. In IJCAI, pp. [Table construction & excerpting shown below are adapted from the author's original text - Ed. [21] Jia Tang, Daniel L. Gallagher, and Andrea M. Dietrich. Products Liability Litigation, United States Court of Appeals Watch out: Danish researchers Andersen et als. (Aug 19, 2014 & atain 12 March 2015) an anonymous home inspector Anon: A search of InspectApedia for "Dezincification" will find this and other related articles on the topic. Pipe Oxidation, PolymerContaminant Interactions, and Consumer Perception of Taste", Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the See CHLORINE TESTS, WATER for an explanation of methods to test the chlorine level in waterand/orSee WATER DISINFECTANT QUANTITY. Research by Kimborough (2007), Kumar (2007) and Zhang (2009) as well as other researchers warns that water chemistry combined with the properties of brass, copper, and lead and zinc-containing alloys can lead to trouble. In The PH levels in the regional public water supply have been found to be in elevated levels. BC448383, NOTICE OF PENDENCY AND PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION Camper, H. Baribeau, and M. Edwards. Orthophosphate at But The author points out a consideration important for inspectors testing the water supply: don't just test for high chlorine. 9 (2007): 1428-1437. "Corrosive effects of condensate." percentage of lead in the alloy to water. Surface and Bulk Properties of HDPE and PEX Potable Water Pipe", in Advancing Potable Water Infrastructure through an Improved Understanding of Polymer phosphate, pH and pipe corrosion." Note I have photos etc. The FWR report we cite. 6 (1994): 945-948. Ward, K. M., and R. S. Balaban. 12 (December 1992): 1040-1046. It's worrisome that dezincification of PEX fittings continues as an ongoing issue. When putting pex in concrete do you need to pressurize the system before you pour the concrete? In the U.K. and the rest of the E.C., see. This tapered red PEX fitting seal ring is provided by PlumbMaster. It's worrisome to hear that even in 2015 dezincification of brass fittings used with PEX piping is a continuing issue. Desai, Rahul A., and Dean G. Assimos. 5 (2000): 799-802. Part 3 (1996): 475-490. "Is pH paper an acceptable, low-cost alternative to the blood gas analyzer for determining pleural fluid pH?." We do not see Kitec issues as there has been very limited usage in the region. "Chart presentation of recent work on indicators." Our water is supplied from Lake Erie and you may be well aware of the water issues we have experienced since about 2008 with green algae blooms and the efforts to treat the drinking water. DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY and all others similarly situated, VERDEJO V. VANGUARD PIPING SYSTEMS, INC., Case No. CHEST Journal 112, no. - Foundation for Water Research (2003). DZR or dezincification resistant fittings should be used to avoid future leaks and supply piping clogs due to dezincification, and are likely to be specified as the repair where water chemistry has already lead to brass fitting leaks or clogs. ASTM International, 1988. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We discuss this concern at LEAD LEACHING WARNINGS. The problems occur where the water supply has high conductivity - or as their paper cites, high alkalinity. Some "brass" fittings sold worldwide, including plumbing fittings, may also contain lead, tin, and zinc and would more properly be called "gunmetals". Meringue dezincification(shown below) is a special case of corrosion of brass plumbing fittings that occurs in high pH water (above 8.2 or basic water), leaving corroded material as a white deposit (probably salts) that clogs brass fittings and reduces water flow rates. Water Resources Research 23, no. (August 2007): 70-76. at LEAK TYPES, WATER SUPPLY or DRAIN PIPES. "Trace Metal Contamination From Brass Fittings." there is a complex interplay between water chemistry and metallurgical Marine chemistry 44, no. NOTE: because Wikipedia entries are fluid and can be amended in real time, we cite the retrieval date of Wikipedia citations and we do not assert that the information found there is necessarily authoritative. He ranked the following water supplies from highest to lowest. Paige, J. I., and B. S. Covino. dezincification or lead leaching from brass alloys. if interested in continuing this discussion. 2010. This article series discusses the properties of Pex Tubing or Piping, Cross-Linked Polyethylene (PEX). We are experiencing quite a lot of PEX brass fitting dezincification in Analytical Chemistry 21, no. Water with a low pH means that the water is "acidic" to use a term familiar to many people. 5 (1949): 631-631. We discuss the uses of PEX tubing for water supply & in heating applications and we describe several different types of PEX tubing connector systems used including PEX crimp fittings, PEX compression fittings, PEX expander fittings, PEX Press-Fit connectors, and PEX Shark-Bite fittings and connectors. A major Civil Engineering composition that determines lead leaching to water. Magnetic resonance in medicine 44, no. We also include a field report of leaks at PEX connectors due to damaged PEX connector seal inserts in fittings used to connect the tubing to other metal plumbing fittings such as a shower control. [22] Andrew J. Whelton, Andrea M. Dietrich, and Daniel L. Gallagher. Qitec, Inc., perhaps misnamed by the writer: see Kitec (IPEC) discussed beginning at, NIBCO INC. 581-584. My 10 year old (+or -) gas furnace has a condensate pump. In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of However simple pH testing by litmus paper or by instrument is widely used by water test services as well as those building inspectors who perform basic investigation services. Abstract: While more than 100 years of research has focused on removing acute and chronic health, [18] Chemax, "Cross-Linked Polyethylene Tubing and Water Contamination", retrieved 2/17/2013, original source: http://www.chemaxx.com/polytube1.htm [copy on file as [Water Contamination chemical investigation.pdf], [19] Ingun Skjevrak, Anne Due, Karl Olav Gjerstad, Hallgeir Herikstad "Volatile organic components migrating from plastic pipes (HDPE, PEX and PVC) into drinking water", Water Research Volume 37, Issue 8, April 2003, Pages 19121920, [20] Andrew J. Whelton, Ph.D., M.ASCE; Andrea M. Dietrich, Ph.D., Aff.ASCE; and Daniel L. Gallagher, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, Contaminant Diffusion, Solubility, and Material Property Differences between HDPE and PEX Potable Water Pipes. J. Environ. Zhang (2009) observed that water that is low in pH (such as in Rhode Island in the U.S.) is likely to cause brass fittings to fail by general corrosion rather than meringue dezincification. We have seen Zurn - Qest and Nibco as the primary brands of leaky brass fittings in this application. "Latest advances in the understanding of acid dewpoint corrosion: corrosion and stress corrosion cracking in combustion gas condensates." [Click to enlarge any image]. But the research in this field relating dezincification to water chemistry is both diagnostic and prescriptive. Water Research 18, no. ASTM B 828-02 "Standard Practice for Making Joints by Soldering of Copper to Copper Alloy Tube and Fitting.". "Determination of pH using water protons and chemical exchange dependent saturation transfer (CEST)." Biochemical Journal 5, no. PEX BRASS CONNECTOR LEAKS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. Initially, dosing 40 mg/L of silicate also inhibited lead 1516 Middlebury Street Civil Engineering, April 2, 2009 "Materials Performance for Residential High Efficiency Condensing Furnaces." significance of changes in pH level, for instance, differ slightly Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention 4, no. Asbjrn Andersen, Frank Fontenay, Lisbeth Rischel Hilbert, "Corrosion of brass in drinking water with high alkalinity", FORCE Technology, Denmark, Paper no. The significance of Zhang's observation is that we might find PEX brass fittings or other brass piping or fittings failing and leaking "prematurely" on water supplies that are of low pH regardless of the chlorine level, or exacerbated if the water supply is low in pH and chlorine is being added at high levels. - Zhang, Yaofu. Above & below are identification photographs of a NIBCO brass PEX elbow removed from a domestic water heater piping installation. This leak was due to a damaged UPONOR (Wirsbo) PEX tubing seal that inserts into the fitting end that connects to the shower control. (DZR) brass of the type CuZn36Pb2As being the dominating alloy. FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT, No. Zhang (2009) ranked water supplies in different areas of the United States according to the propensity of the water supply to encourage leaching of zinc, copper, and lead leaching over a 100-day test period. The Foundation for Water Research (FWR) points out that high pH water (water that is basic or has a pH above 8.2) causes corroded ingredients of a brass fitting to precipitate out of the water supply and to settle in the fitting itself. galvanised steel to stainless steel and plastic. See WELL DISINFECTANT pH ADJUSTMENT for a discussion of the relationship between chlorine and water pH. experiment. I ask because you'll see there was a well-known brass connector corrosion, leak failure problem a while back - see details Journal of Endourology 22, no. In the E.U., a 2013 EC directive restricts the allowable level of lead in drinking water to 15 mcg/L (micrograms per litre). While I can't cite an authoritative reference, certainly I've never seen a system pressurized before installation. alloys and, as a consequence, recommendations have changed. See LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE. Online publication date: 1-Jul-2011. Samuels, E. R., and J. C. Meranger. Miller, W. K., R. Shipley, R. Parrington, and D. Dennies. M. Ebner, Kupfer-Zink-Legierungen, Korrosionsphnomene und Mglichheiten Ohio and Michigan, with increasing issues with PEX brass fitting corrosion anywhere from 1997 through 2013 construction. - Kahn (1985), while Thomas (discussing measurement of soil acidity) points out that, As recently as two decades ago, the use of the small, handheld portable pH meters then available Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. U.S. Patent Application 13/302,374, filed November 22, 2011. For investigators of dezincification who are including water testing in their inspection procedure, we suggest that In addition to testing for the chlorine level, investigators should test the water pH. Neill, K. M., K. T. Rice, and H. L. Ahern. Radiant Heating & Cooling Systems". metals from kitchen faucets." Science 300, no. 11-MD-2247 ADM/JJK Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly. Hindin, Barry, and Arun K. Agrawal. "Field methods for sampling and analysis of environmental samples for unstable and selected stable constituents." Also see "Leaks-When-On Devils" discussed. In Metals and Related Substances in Drinking Water: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference, Meteau, p. 216. 26 October 2018 NIBCO PEX Class Action Lawsuit [PDF] opened, petaining to owners or occupants of NIBCO PEX plumbed buildings betweeen 1 January 2005 and the date of the class action suit; (A closure date is not yet evident - Ed.). 11 (November 1988): 47-56, Zhang, Y., A. Griffin, M. Rahman, A. Dezincification also weakens the remaining fitting, increasing the risk that the fitting or other brass parts such as the stem of a water control valve might break. Korrosion i VVS Installationer, Statens Byggeforskningsinstitut, 2009. at. Kahn, Gary, Steve Nowlan, and John McDermott. - Anderson et. The photo below illustrates a tapered red PEX fitting sealing ring sold as a replacement to repair leaky PEX fitting seals. Neutral pH water is water with a pH in the range of 7.6 to 8.2. Environmental Science and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University [7] PB Technology Center (information about PB Pipes) Tel: 800-338-7732, also see the 1990 PB Pipe recommendations published by the Polybutylene Product Line Committee of the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association. 1.4 mg/L decreases lead leaching, but the inhibitive effects are very sensitive to some lead leaching cases were related with dezincification in practice. Andrea M. Dietrich, Chair Chemosphere 69, no. (June 2008): 4280-4284, PlumbMaster, 2951 Highway 501 East, Conway S.C. 29526 USA. Pipe Oxidation, PolymerContaminant Interactions, and Consumer Perception of Taste, Andrew James Whelton doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000147. 1 (Janurary 1984): 75-80, Schock, M. R., and C. H. Neff. [Photographs of de-zincification in PEX piping connectors & fittings are reprinted herein with permission of contributors who requested anonymity, 12 Sept 2014 - Ed.]. ], Original source: Zhang, Yaofu. I think condensate neutralizers should be required by code (if they're not) and installed as a matter of course. EN 15664-2: 2010, Influence of metallic materials on water intended for human consumption, part 2. Polybutylene Plumbing Failures: Spencer Class settlement. "In pursuit of the perfect pipe." number of severe water damage caused by corrosion of DZR brass in areas with However, today, an increasing Below you can observe the considerable deposit of minerals / corrosion material built-up inside the body of this brass PEX Tee fitting. Thank you for the helpful field failure report of severe corrosion at a brass PEX connecting tee handling gas furnace condensate; I'll be sure to keep your photo and report with that topic whose link I'll give here; Can you see if there is a brand or identification mark of any kind on that correded brass Tee? [16] Bonnie Ransom Stern & Gustavo Lagos, "Are There Health Risks from the Migration of Chemical Substances from Plastic Pipes into Drinking Water? Volume 14, Issue 4, 2008, Abstract: [17] Andrew J. Whelton, Andrea M. Dietrich, Daniel L. Gallagher, "Chapter 6 Impact of Chlorinated Water Exposure on Chemical Diffusivity and Solubility, There is no one manufacturer whose fittings we see issues with. When you receive them, note the build up of the "meringue" corrosion inside the tubing that extends from the fitting. inspectapedia.com/plumbing/PEX_Brass_Fitting_Leaks_De_Zincification.php. Heart & lung: the journal of critical care 22, no. Even before building occupants observe the effects of corroded leaky PEX brass pipe fittings they may report a symptom of reduced water flow rate and they may notice that effect first at the hot water side of plumbing fixtures. leaching, but the inhibitive effect of silicate diminished after 100 days of IWA Publishing, 2012. (The shower control is new, the original one having been replaced). NaCl solution." Dan, I have a few additional photos of PEX fittings showing an interesting perspective. corrosion cracking, NKM15 2010. Water Science & Technology: Water Supply 1, no. Both litmus paper and pH meters can be used to perform this test and have been in wide use for a over 100 years since Sorensen (1909) first proposed this test. Below the reader holds the original UPONOR TuffPEX fitting seal - a yellow ring intended to seal the fitting to the female threaded connection of, in this case, a shower control water inlet line. Website: https://www.plumbmaster.com/wolverinebrass/ Tel: 1-800-523-5130, SharkBite Plumbing Solutions, SharkBite USA Journal of American Water Works Association 99, no. "Dezincification and brass lead leaching in premise plumbing systems: effects of alloy, physical conditions and water chemistry." Please use my email found at our CONTACT link to send me whatever photos, reports, documents you can for publishing here both to inform other readers and to solicit additional field reports, research & advice regarding contemporary or ongoing PEX pipe connector & fitting corrosion, leaks or failures. area and other areas with similar water quality, it is now recommended to use fittings 2300 Defoor Hills Rd. Blacksburg, Virginia. Kahn points out that, The EMERGENCY (2010). Critical care medicine 22, no. Dezincification(shown below) refers to the loss of zinc from a brass plumbing fitting by dissolution, ultimately leading to leaks or broken fittings. if interested in continuing this discussion. We address pex tubing & fitting failures and leaks reported for some U.S. states: field photographs & reports of brass connector leaks, corrosion, blockages possibly ascribed to dezincification of brass connectors used with PEX plumbing systems. Zinc does not seem to play a significant role in mitigating either You may have missed it, but the article above reports ongoing leak concerns, most likely where water chemistry is an important factor. reason is believed to be that the preferred pipe material has changed from hot-dip At above left we observe multiple perforation & corrosion deterioration of this brass PEX pipe tee and yellow / green stains that suggest that the corrosion has advanced to the point of active water leakage (yellow arrow). Pex dezincification research citations. Gleick, Peter H. "The development and testing of a water balance model for climate impact assessment: modeling the Sacramento basin." - http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-12182009-203827/unrestricted/Zhang_Y_T_2009.pdf, Zhang, Y, A. Griffin, and M. Edwards. material for fittings such as stop valves and control valves; dezincification resistant Environmental Science and Technology 42, no. Box 1167 DZR brass has At above right we can observe water dripping from this still more severely-corroded brass PEX pipe tee (yellow arrow). The shredded PEX fitting yellow sealing ring is probably due to over-tightening at original installation but might also be caused by subsequent re-tightening of the connector in an effort to stop a leak that could be from the seal OR could be from mistaking a leak due to de-zincification in the brass fitting itself for a loose fitting. 2019/11/08 InspectApedia.com reader S.C. reports by his own video having found leaks at PEX connectors used to connect Uponor TuffPEX tubing to a brass shower control. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. Atlanta, GA 30318 Updates on Pex fitting de-zincification problems reported from the field. 12 "Stress-corrosion cracking." [13] Zurn PEX Plumbing Design and Application Guide (PDF) - web search 12/23/2010, original source. Daniel L. Gallagher The following is excerpted from Zhang (2009): Lead and zinc leaching from a range of brasses were negatively correlated. Apologies for the delay. Above right, brass tee corrosion appearing both on the Tee-fitting body (red arrow) and around the end of the PEX tubing (green arrow) on water piping in a 2009 home. [3] Zhang noted that Rhode Island water has a low pH, allowing copper to dissolve together with zinc. Thank you. A Review", Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal Z 22 (1909): 352-356. (1993). Kumar, S., T. S. N. Sankara Narayanan, A. Manimaran, and M. S. Kumar. F. Fontenay, A. Andersen, S. Klingaard, failure of new brass components in Watch out: some of the water conditions, particularly high levels of chlorine, that appear to play an important role in meringue dezincification of brass fittings on PEX piping systems may result in unsafe levels of lead as well as high levels of copper in the building water supply. water types, and previous experience has been good. http://www.zurn.com/operations/pexrh/pdfs/installation/PEXDesApplGuide.pdf, HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION COURSES (Canada), HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION: HOME STUDY COURSES, European Council Directive 98/93/EC, 3 November 1998, Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption. A single pH test of a water supply can be taken only as a reasonable estimate of the water's chemistry at the time the test was taken. The environmental geochemistry of mineral deposits. 4 (1992): 349-355. states that in this neutral pH range there will be no build up of a corroded material deposit (no meringue dezincification) and that " it takes in the region of 15 years for the walls of the fittings to become penetrated. "Effect of overlying water pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity and sediment disturbances on metal release and sequestration from metal contaminated marine sediments." The red arrow points to blackened corrosion at the fitting's insert into the connector to the shower control. Note I have photos etc. 2 (1993): 131-142. PhD diss., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2009. This effect leads to clogging: reduced water flow through the system, and is referred to throughout contemporary brass fitting failure literature as "meringue dezincification". mechanism behind this observation is not clear yet and needs future studies. Phillips, R. John. expectancy in the hard, high conductivity water types found in Denmark. When different water and the same alloy are considered, lead leaching was Kimbrough, D. E. "Brass corrosion as a source of lead and copper in traditional and Methods of soil analysis. Dickson, Andrew G. "The measurement of sea water pH." Walpole, George Stanley. Thank you. Adding 200 ppb of zinc slightly increased the lead concentrations in 6 (March 2009): 1890-1895, Zhang, Yaofu. "Comparison of two methods of measuring gastric pH." While the pH of most water supply systems is probably rather consistent over time, environmental, weather, or other variables might cause pH values to vary in private water supply systems and possibly even in municipal water supplies. Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca, Click to Show or Hide Citations & References, DEFINITION of DEZINCIFICATION, BRASS, GUNMETAL, DE-ZINCIFICATION vs WATER SUPPLY PROPENSITY, CORROSION OF BUILDING ASSETSPROBLEMS AND PREVENTION, CONQUERING CORROSION [in gas furnaces and vent systems], Kitek PLASTIC PIPE LEAKS, CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, KIMBERLY COLE, et al, on behalf of themselves PhD diss., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2009. From minor almost nonexistent corrosion on the brass fitting exterior to active leakage from fitting failure due to leaching out of the zinc. Higher chloride and lower alkalinity increase lead leaching. We thus invite further comment from others. found to increase with higher zinc leaching. Above left: perforation corrosion visible on two brass Tee-connectors installed on PEX water supply piping observed in a midwestern U.S. home constructed in 2009 (orange arrows). als (2015). Overall, "MORE: an intelligent knowledge acquisition tool." [14] Zurn Pex Plumbing said:We are experiencing quite a lot of PEX brass fitting dezincification in the NW OH, SE MI region. Biochem. Rossum, J. R. "Conductance method for checking accuracy of water analyses."