California Plumbing Code – PEX (Part 1)

PEX. Cross-linked polyethylene.
PEX-AL-PEX. Cross-linked polyethylene-aluminum-cross-linked polyethylene.

All new installations of PEX pipe shall be flushed twice over a period of at least one week in the way that the pipe system shall be first flushed for at least 10 minutes and then filled and allowed to stand for no less than 1 week. If the system is used earlier than one week after the fill date, the water must be allowed to run for at least two minutes prior to use for human consumption.

The building official shall require that the contractor provide written certification that they will comply with the flushing procedures and shall not give final permit approval of any PEX plumbing installation unless they find that the material has been installed in compliance with the requirements of the code, to flush and tag the system. If contractor or subcontractor found to have failed to comply with the PEX flushing requirements shall be subject to the penalties in Health and Safety Code.

Water Heater Connectors. Flexible metallic water heater connectors or reinforced flexible water heater connectors connecting water heating to the piping system shall be in accordance with the applicable standard. Copper or stainless steel flexible connectors shall not exceed 24 inches (610 mm). PEX, PEX-AL-PEX, PE-AL-PE, or PE-RT tubing shall not be installed within the first 18 inches (457 mm) of piping connected to a water heater.

PEX Plastic Tubing and Joints. PEX plastic tubing and fitting joining methods shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions and shall comply with Section 1.1 and Section 1.2. All PEX pipe installed in California must provides at least 30-day UV protection.

Fittings

Installation and use of PEX tubing shall be in accordance with manufacturer’s standards. PEX piping shall not be used for any application that would result in noncompliance with any provisions of the California Building Standards Code.

PEX-AL-PEX Plastic Tubing and Joints

PEX-AL-PEX is not adopted for use in potable water supply and distribution systems.

Mechanical Joints

Crimp joints for crimp insert fittings shall be joined to PEX-AL-PEX pipe by the compression of a crimp ring around the outer circumference of the pipe, forcing the pipe material into annular spaces formed by ribs on the fitting.
[BSC] PEX-AL-PEX is not adopted for use in potable water supply and distribution systems.

Compression Joints

[BSC] PEX-AL-PEX is not adopted for use in potable water supply and distribution systems.

Installation standard for composite pex-al-pex hot and pe-al-pe cold water distribution systems

This standard shall govern the installation of composite piping in potable hot and cold water distribution systems within and under buildings and shall apply only to PEX-AL-PEX and PE-AL-PE piping meeting the requirements of ASTM F 1281 and ASTM F 1282 and fittings meeting the requirements of ASTM F 1974.
Note: The following sections of the Uniform Plumbing Code shall apply to composite PEX-AL-PEX and PE-AL-PE tubing.

309.0 Workmanship
312.0 Protection of Piping, Materials, and Structures
Chapter 6 Water Supply and Distribution
605.0 Joints and Connections
605.17.2 Plastic Pipe to Other Materials
Chapter 2* Definitions.
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
IAPMO International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical
Officials
PEX-AL-PEX Crosslinked Polyethylene-Aluminum-Crosslinked
Polyethylene
PE-AL-PE Polyethylene Aluminum-Polyethylene
UPC Uniform Plumbing Code as published by IAPMO

* The first three numbers refer to the corresponding section of the UPC.
2.0 Product Requirements.
2.1 Materials and Fittings.
2.1.1 Materials. Materials shall comply with the following requirements:

Materials / ASTM Standard
Crosslinked Polyethylene-Aluminum-Crosslinked
Polyethylene (PEX-AL-PEX) F 1281
Polyethylene-Aluminum-Polyethylene (PE-AL-PE) F 1282
Metal Insert Fittings for PEX-AL-PEX and
PE-AL-PE composite pipe F 1974