Problems with polybutylene pipes?

[PaulSyd]

There's been an issue with poly pipes (Pro-fit brand) in WA. Loads of leaks occurring, the main house builder in WA says it is a problem with the product, the manufacturer blames installation - over-bending, insufficient room for movement. I'm wondering why we haven't heard of this anywhere else except WA and is this stuff safe? Is poly pipe only used in WA or are their codes different? Detailed he-said-she-said in the files attached.

 

[Chuck]

This is a mainly UK site so you are unlikely to get a lot of advice specific to WA.

In the UK, the homeowner (or their insurer) would have a claim against the person who supplied and installed the pipe, in your case the builder. The builder can make their own claim against the pipe manufacturer if they think that faulty pipe was responsible but the homeowner is not a party to that action.

If this is a problem specific to a relatively small region, it's possible that the water supply has exceeded the pressure limits on one or more occasions, e.g. due to a fault at a pumping station, and this has harmed the pipe. The pipe manufacturer's technical department will be able to tell if this is the cause by inspecting the failed section.

If the manufacturer's technical department has inspected a samples of failed pipe and have said in writing that it's due to incorrect installation then, in my experience, they're going to be correct. The builder would need to commission their own lab report to prove otherwise.

 

[gmartine]

We have an Oz member called Oz-plumber who may have more specific knowledge and may be along or you could DM him.