Technical Report Documents 40 Years of PEX Use in North America

The Plastics Pipe Institute has published a new technical report – TR-56 – that describes the history of crosslinked polyethylene tubing in North America. Detailed are its start in Europe, the development of industry standards, adoption into codes and the widespread acceptance into North American plumbing and mechanical markets.

Now available on the PPI website, PPI TR-56 “History of Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing in North America and the Evolution of ASTM Standard Specification F876 from 1984 – 2024” focuses on the development and evolution of this ASTM Standard and lists revisions made in each new edition during the past 40 years.

The North American PEX industry is thriving in both residential and commercial construction, with PEX being the dominant material used in residential hot- and cold-water plumbing and in hydronic radiant heating/cooling systems. According to PPI estimates, more than 30 billion feet of PEX tubing has been shipped into Canada, USA and Mexico during this period of exceptional growth. This is due mainly to the product’s ease of installation, reliable joining systems and outstanding durability.