The Settlement involves a one hundred and twenty five million U.S. and under other names (below) in areas of Canada, the risk of plumbing leaks due to corrosion (dezincification) at these brass-to-PEX connectors & fittings continues in homes where they have not been replaced.Ī settlement agreement resolving class action claims has been completed: We did not find research describing that mechanism but there is extensive research on the role of dezincification in brass fitting leakage or blockage.īecause Kitec PEX fittings were used widely across the U.S. 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. Leaks, corrosion, and blockages occurring at the metal fittings used with Kitex tubing ultimately led to litigation and a class action settlement. Aluminum was described by Siegenthaler as a nearly-perfect oxygen barrier. While we could not find in research an explicit citation naming Kitec's use of aluminum, Bowman (1993) and Siegenthaler (1996) point out that polyolefin plastics used in PEX and similar products allow gases, such as oxygen, to diffuse through the material. Kitec, also in some sources spelled Kyetec is a brand of brass plumbing fitting that was recalled in 2005 by its manufacturer, IPEX, due to its tendency to quickly corrode. The Kitec piping system included both the flexible tubing collection of brass plumbing fittings & connectors intended for use with PEX type plastic piping. Flexible outer and inner layers 62 and 64 in the illustration are made of resilient and flexible non-metallic portions coating the exterior and interior of a thin-walled flexible metallic pipe-66. Meacham's figure above, edited for clarity by InspectApedia, shows a cross-section of the three concentric sections of Kitec tubing. which is flexible and coilable, showing it's thin walled core pipe . Fittings are commercially available for use with this composite tubing. The result is a tubing that does not rust, corrode or tuberculate. Layers of polyethylene are then applied with an adhesive to form a bond with the aluminium tubing. ![]() To produce this tubing, an aluminium strip is formed, overlapped and then ultrasonically welded. Kitec CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT INFORMATION.Kitek® PLASTIC PIPE LEAKS, CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT.Kitec PEX plastic piping was / is a composite tubing produced by IPEX and consisting of an aluminum tubing laminated between two layers of polyethylene or PEX of various compositions described by several U.S. Kitec® PEX Plastic Pipe Fitting Leaks, Identification, & Class Action Settlement Details We also provide an ARTICLE INDEX for this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need. This series article describes the causes of damaged or leaky buried plastic water pipe & resulting poor water pressure, poor water flow, or water leaks in water piping between a well or municipal water service main & the building. ![]() Leaks in the piping system ultimately led to class action litigation and a settlement. ![]() Kitex® tubing was sold in Canada and the United States (and possibly other countries) for a wide range of applications including pressurized potable water piping and heating water piping for radiant heat floor systems. Leaks in Kitec aluminum-PEX plastic water supply piping: We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest.
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