Introducing the quick repair fitting for qline underground water pipe. May result in leaks and water damage to the home 2. Buyers and sellers should beware kitech plumbing zoocasa life. Mar 06, 2015 kitec plumbing in your home will cost you. The piping was designed to be corrosion resistant but it was found to degrade at an accelerated rate. Kitec is an aluminium and polyethylene composite that combines the best features of both materials to form a pipe that is light, strong and does not support corrosion. These kitec replacement fittings can be used on hot and cold water lines which allows plumbers or homeowners the opportunity to convert to a variety of plumbing products or change. The most frequent cases of this happening are when galvanized pipe and copper are connected.
Corrosion can result in leaks and other problems with your plumbing system. Classification and depth sizing is provided for all metal loss defects from 5 mm 0. Kitec, plumbbetter, ipex aqua, warmrite, kitec xpa, ambiocomfort, xpa, kerr controls or plomberie amelioree. Corrosion and cracking present problems for every industry that relies on pipelines to transport liquid and gas products. The brass fittings were produced from 1995 until 2005, when ipex issued a recall on the. Aluminum shines brightly through, a recipe for almost immediate corrosion. The inside layer of pex would wear away and expose the aluminum. All kitec dimensions are based on internal pipe size. By combining the two materials, kitec pipe avoids the unaccepted thermal expansion and deformation of plastic pipe. This paper will discuss the various corrosion mechanisms that occur at pipe supports if they are not adequately protected. Chemical resistance of cpvc chlorinated poly vinyl chloride to common products. Veratek is looking for us and canadian distributors. Corrosionpedia corrosion prevention for buried pipelines.
The leaks were caused by bimetallic corrosion that would be brought on by expansion and contraction of the tubing rubbing against the brass fitting. Due to the problems with its tendency to corrode rather rapidly, kitec plumbing is no longer being manufactured. Corrosion the corrosion of materials is often a life limiting process that affects almost all materials. Why buyers and sellers should beware kitec plumbing. Kitec plumbing was installed in thousands of homes, and now we know it. Kitec composite piping system can safely be used for 6 kgcm 2 pressure at 80 o c working. Pipe materials affected by corrosion include metal and nonmetal pipes, pipe joints, welds and surface coatings. Pipeline corrosion inspection integrity management. Kitec is a brand of water supply pipe and brass fitting which was manufactured by canadian pipe manufacturer ipex.
Leaks, corrosion, and blockages occurring at the metal fittings used with kitex tubing ultimately led to litigation and a class action settlement. We offer custom nonstandard pipe including large and small o. This technical bulletin will consider four methods of protecting carbon steel pipe supports components from corrosion. Kitec is a specific brand of pex tubing that was subject of a class action settlement with an enddate for filing claims of 31 march 2012. The deadline for making a claim under the kitec system regulation. The kitec plumbing system, produced by ipex, was installed in. Kitec transition fittings kitec plumbing repair veratek. The software is based on extensive laboratory data from joint industry programs jips.
Click here for the exact details on who can file a claim. The aluminum prevents oxygen moving through the pipe walls. Oct 27, 2006 kitec pipes and fittings may fail prematurely causing leaks and water damage to your property. We offer corrosion resistant alloy seamless and welded pipe in full lengths and cuttolength pieces, depending upon your needs. Kitec was originally marketed as a corrosionresistant alternative to fittings made. Corrosion at pipe supports causes and solutions paper. Ultrasonic pipe testing can provide solid, irrefutable evidence of a suspected corrosion problem, or document that a piping system has fulfilled its useful service life and is in need of replacement. Depending on the degree of these factors a new piping system can show signs. The pipe is called kitec, a onceubiquitous material thats since been taken. Kitec plumbing consists of flexible aluminum pipe between an inner and outer layer of plastic pipe pex pipe with brass fittings. Electrochemical corrosion software modeling corrosion and. Kitec is a brand of plastic piping used in hot and cold water supplies to plumbing fixtures, and in heating systems with boilers. By combining the two materials along with adhesive layers, kitec pipe avoids the unaccepted thermal expansion and deformation of plastic pipe. Kitec plumbing repair veratek selfcrimp fittings kitec.
Oxygen can lead to corrosion of boilers, for example. The olga corrosion module predicts corrosion rate along a pipeline based on variation in temperature, pressure, flow velocity, and flow regime. Is there a class action lawsuit against kitec piping. I have only ever seen kitec installed on one dw system ever in these parts. Kitec is a brand of water supply pipe and brass fitting which was. Veratek self crimp fittings now has the sizing along with field testing that incorporates the same proven performance that the kitec repair fittings have come to establish, built into this new fitting. Kitec leakage problems in concealed kitec plumbing lines. Though uniform corrosion is an idealized form of corrosion and causes less damage than the other forms of corrosion, it is more appropriate to understand this form of corrosion. Polyethylene encasement is the only method of supplemental corrosion protection for ductile iron pipe that is standardized by the american water works association, which has rejected a standard for the use of bonded coatings on ductile iron pipe.
Kitec pipes and fittings may fail prematurely causing leaks and water damage to your property. Concept of kitec pipe kitec is an aluminium and polyethylene composite that combines the best features of both materials to form a pipe that is light, strong and does not support corrosion. Testing the water tackling corrosion in pipework unseen corrosion in pipework can have a huge effect on the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. An example of pipeline corrosion is metal rusting in the presence of moisture and oxygen, which results in the formation of oxide of the metal, such as iron. I have been on several systems where the hydronics had to be re pipe before sale of a house. Most condominium mechanical engineers believe that based on the industry experience with kitec piping, premature failure may occur in the future. Where the fittings are visible look for the words kitec or ktc on them. One alleged issue is with fittings that contain high levels of zinc, resulting in corrosion and weakness over time. Marketed as a cheaper and easytoinstall alternative to copper piping, kitec was sold between 1995 and 2007 for potable water, infloor, and hotwater baseboard heating systems.
Kitec is an aluminum and polyethylene composite that combines the best features of both. Oct 14, 2004 many years of 1 mpy corrosion coupon results may, in reality, prove to be substantially higher. I have been on several systems where the hydronics had to be repipe before sale of a house. These vary based on specific needs, access restrictions, and environmental. We quickly and easily isolate water leaks in your las vegas home. The settlement applies to persons in the united states or canada whose home or other building contains kitec plumbing products, as well as any person entitled to claim on behalf of such persons. This presents the problem of uncertainty for property owners, which can bring stress and worry about safety, structural stability, disclosure requirements, and property values. Corrosion also can occur in nonmetals, such as ceramics or polymers. Materials to form a pipe that is light, strongand does not support corrosion.
Sep 24, 2018 pipe materials affected by corrosion include metal and nonmetal pipes, pipe joints, welds and surface coatings. Corrosion at pipe supports is one of the leading causes of topside process piping failure. Many years of 1 mpy corrosion coupon results may, in reality, prove to be substantially higher. The corrosion module also allows you to design effective corrosion protection systems. Painting has an advantage when appearance and choice of color are important. Types of uniform, pitting, galvanic, crevice, concentration cell and graphitic corrosion. Corrosion of metal pipes nuflow technology pipe relining. Kitec recall kitec had a recall in 2005 because of leaks at the fittings. There are different forms of corrosion of which below are commonly referred corrosion forms with ways to identify corrosion and preventive measures. Irod, a proven method of prevention with a long record of successful application will be presented.
Kitec composite pipes are having pressure rating of. It often has a thin layer of aluminum embedded between the inner and outer pex walls. Polyethylene encasement was first used experimentally in severely corrosive conditions in 1951 in. Deficiencies corrosion and sealing problems in the united states led to the. Feb 16, 2011 a question for the heating and plumbing techs. Honeywells corrosion prediction solutions support accurate, quantifiable corrosion prediction and material selection decisions. This includes the simulation of impressed cathodic current protection iccp, sacrificial anodes, and anodic protection, where anodic current is impressed on corroding material to enforce passivation. Most often, kitec plumbing is bright orange for hot water pipes and bright blue cold.
Figure 3 shows an example of preferential grooving corrosion on a pipe weld seam. An overview of the water research foundation research traci case, water research foundation, february 2009. Uniform corrosion occurs at uniform rate over most of the surfaces throughout the pipe lengths pitting is the case of extreme localization of corrosion reaction due to hostile local environment erosion and cavitation corrosion mainly occurs on inside surface, due to contaminants as well as collapsing of vapor bubbles on the pipe wall, due to. All barb dimensions are based on internal hose size. The wholesaler i go to said that the kitec product has been discontinued and that they couldnt get it anymore. Benefits of ultrasonic testing in determining pipe corrosion. If your basement is finished, take a look near the hot water tank or.
If you have not heard about kitec yet, you probably will sooner than later. In a piping system there are a number of factors working alone or in combination that can effect the rate of corrosion occurring in pipe. The flow regime supports prediction of oil or water wetting of the pipe wall. The pipe is usually marked with one of the following brand names. Kitec was marketed as a corrosionresistant alternative to copper pipes and fittings, but was recalled around 2005 due to a tendency to corrode at an accelerated rate. Kitec plumbing in your home will cost you the star. Pex crosslinked polyethylene piping is a general term for a type of plastic piping used in water supply, heating, and other applications. Electrochemical corrosion software modeling corrosion.
Kitec plumbing system products liability litigation. Kitec pipe corrosion and property damage big class action. The reason i ask is i needed a few more fittings to finish some heating loops in my house. The impact corrosion can have on a structure over time can be downright catastrophic. Microbialinfluenced corrosion on steel also, although flushing with water is usually necessary to clean the inner surfaces of debris, repeated flushing should be avoided because each flush introduces yet more oxygen into the system. Ultrasonic corrosion inspection detection of corrosion features with a diameter of 5 mm 0. Veratek selfcrimp fittings are produced in four separate end conversions along with four kitec pipe sizes of 12.
At least one expert evaluation has found that kitec pipes have a manufacturing defect that can cause corrosion in the pipes. Detection of defects and corrosion under pipe supports. Everything you need to know about kitec plumbing in your home, including how to join the kitec class action lawsuit. In addition to leaks at fittings, and carson 2015 raised a question of the possibility that the aluminum core of kitex tubing might have had a role in the corrosion of the tubing fittings. Kitec pipes provides complete impermeability and at the same time offers all the advantages associated with plastic pipes such as corrosion resistance, and ease in installation. Composite pipe with aluminium barrier layer is the best option as an alternative to other plastic pipes to reduce the gas permeation. Steel pipe corrosion caused by high do levels and figure 2.
See faq more more information regarding sizing learn more add to compare. Insurance companies wont offer home insurance to anyone with the pipe in the home any more. Aug 26, 2006 kitec recall kitec had a recall in 2005 because of leaks at the fittings. Copper piping corrosion usually goes undetected until small leaks begin to form resulting in mold buildup, drywall damage, and more. It was supposed to be a corrosion resistant alternative to copper plumbing but, ironically, it was.
Kitec plumbing common issues, recalls and more square one. As corrosion removes material from a structure, it may compromise its structural integrity. It is expensive, both in terms of the potential tremendous economic costs that can arise from unexpected failures, environmental damage and so forth, but also the high cost of maintenance and repair associated with the life extension of plant equipment and service. Testing the water tackling corrosion in pipework cibse. And i have witness many leaks on the pipe and fittings.
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