v2.0.0

Potable Water Piping Product Guidance

Use the red-to-green product guidance below to select safer product types by avoiding those in red and preferring yellow and green, which are safer for occupants, fenceline communities, and workers.

When choosing potable water pipes:

Prefer copper pipes installed without solders, fluxes, or other filler metals.
Avoid using copper pipes if your water supply typically has a low pH (<6.5).
If plastic pipes are selected, choose polypropylene (PP), high density polyethylene (HDPE), or polyethylene of raised temperature (PE-RT) over crosslinked polyethylene (PEX).
Avoid using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC).

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What is Informed Product Guidance?

Informed Product Guidance uses a simplified color spectrum (red to green) to rank different product types within a product category based on the chemicals used in their manufacturing and associated health hazards. Cost, performance, or full life cycle environmental impacts, such as those reviewed in a life cycle assessment (LCA), are not considered in this ranking.

How to Interpret the Guidance

Informed Product Guidance considers potential impacts on building occupants and workers involved in the manufacturing, installation, disposal, recycling, and reuse of building products. It also considers the burden on fenceline communities who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals released during the manufacturing or end of life processes.
Color rankings are relative within a particular category and are not comparable across other product categories. For example, a yellow-ranked floor does not necessarily present the same human health hazards as a yellow-ranked paint.
You can use the red-to-green ranking system to benchmark your current practice and take steps towards healthier options. Products ranked green are preferred whereas products ranked red are to be avoided. As a general rule, we encourage the use of product types that are yellow or green.

Color Ranking	Description
Green - Best in Class Light Green - Better	Prefer. Fewer chemicals of concern or less hazardous chemicals throughout the product lifecycle.
Yellow - Good	Use but still opportunity for improvement.
Orange - Reduce	Phase out or reduce amount used.
Light Red - Eliminate Red - Worst in Class	Avoid. Most chemicals of concern or chemicals with the highest hazards used throughout the product lifecycle.

About Versioning

Product guidance uses semantic versioning to better support projects in progress, and to be transparent about how our guidance is evolving as the market changes and our research uncovers more information. A single version number applies to all product guidance categories. Not all product categories are updated in each version. View our changelog for details.

Potable Water Piping Product Guidance

Copper (joined without solders, fluxes, or other filler metals)

Polypropylene (PP)

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Polyethylene of Raised Temperature (PE-RT)

Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX)

Copper (joined with solder, fluxes, or other filler metals)

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC)

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About Informed™ Product Guidance

What is Informed Product Guidance?

How to Interpret the Guidance

About Versioning

About Common Products

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