ATTENTION - PUBLIC NOTICE

December 2007

I am a homeowner who lives in Port Dover ON, Municipality of Norfolk.

I would like to bring to the attention of the new homeowners in Silver Lakes Estates and Inglewood Estates about the plastic piping you have for potable (drinking) water. This is PEX type piping which the people who handle the plumbing code in the Ministry of Housing say, must be installed to the Manufacturer's Installation Instructions.

Your plumbing,May or May Not Have Been Installed as to the Manufacturer's Installation Instructions


1. What you have to look out for is improper connection between piping and fittings. Improper attachment between fittings and piping may lead to premature failure.

2. Pressure on plastic fitting from piping that has not been stabilised before it is bent. This could cause undue stress on the plastic fitting and may cause premature failure of the fitting, which then water damage can occur.

3. Piping which is open to sunlight, whether direct, or indirect ...this causes damage to the piping chemical structure. You may have red pipes (hot water) running into blue pipes(cold water), or blue into red. This is a safety hazard according to the Building Code people at the Ministry of Housing.

4. Your external hose bibs may, or may not have been secured, so that you cannot turn the fitting, or accidentally pull the fitting off the pipe.

5. Your piping may, or may not have been secured every 32" with the proper clamp according to the Manufacturers Installation Instructions

Below is the IPEX web site for installation instructions.


You have to register to access the IPEX Tech site


Reference: IPEX site:

PlumbBetter PEX - Installation Guide:

http://www.ipexinc.com/Content/Common/downloadPDF.asp?ID=%7B6D1CE9CA%2DF132%2D4026%2D8BA0% 2D4B738C99005C%7D


Here is an recent update for installation as of 27/10/2007:

http://www.ipexinc.com/Content/Common/downloadPDF.asp?ID=%7B87C1590D%2D76F9%2D4D6A%2DBB57% 2DA9BE8FF5E70B%7D


I brought this to the attention of the senior building inspector, and his deputy of Norfolk county. The senior building inspector flatly told me, he is the one who has final authority in this jurisdiction, and what he sees .... passes the building code under Section 7 (plumbing) of the Ontario Building Code. This is after he told me they knew nothing about PEX type plumbing.

Last year, I had a factory sales representative from IPEX, who manufactured my piping (IPEX PlumbBetter) which is installed in my home, and she noted that she had never seen such a sloppy job, and it was not according to IPEX's Installation Instructions.

I am not saying your plumbing installation is not correct, or it does not meet the building code ...but if it does not meet the Manufacturer's Installation Instruction, you may have premature plumbing failure later on ...and who do you turn to then.

If you have any questions, or wish to see the e-mails from the Building Code Official at the Ministry of Housing ...

I am sure we can get the problem corrected if the building code officials in the county would follow the code.You sometimes wonder who they are working for.

Good info. From buying my new home I've learn you can only trust yourself. Buyer beware.