PVC

PVC

  • Oft has heavy metal stabilizers.

CPVC

  • PVC + (flexible - plasticizers added, chlorinated) without lead stabilizer
  • Less biofilm potential compared to copper and polyproylene
  • (VE whitepaper): IM

Negatives

  • it is brittle and it can’t withstand very high temperatures like copper can

Vendors

  • Ashirvad - no mention of being lead-free online.
    • Their head of “Marketing: Demand Generation” said over phone that their raw material does not use Lead.
    • FlowGuard CPVC water pipe is approved for potable water applications and holds an NSF 61 Annex G certification. NSF/ANSI 61 verifies the weighted average lead content within the piping material and that can be extracted out of the material is less than 0.25%.
  • Finolex cpvc claims to be lead free here.

uPVC

  • Oft used in windows.
  • PVC without plasticizers - hard, rigid.

Pipe Vendors

  • Supreme Alpha gold - lead free.
  • Astral UPVC lead free. UV stabilized, but paint recommended. Claims 50 years life expectancy. sheet

Negatives

  • References: RB11.
  • National Building Federation reportiii gives uPVC windows a life expectancy of 20-25 years, one reportiv states that up to 40% of units are failing within 5 years.
  • If uPVC windows are not cleaned regularly they quickly get permanently discoloured through dirt retention; it’s then impossible to restore them to a nearly new condition.

Health effects

  • As uPVC degrades from ultraviolet rays from the sun, it emits toxic gases, such as vinyl chloride, some of which enters the home, and eventually becomes brittle and powdery.
  • uPVC window frames continue to release mercury whilst in use & after they are disposed of.
  • Because PVC catalyses its own decomposition, metal stabilisers are added to vinyl for construction and other extended-life applications. Common PVC additives are lead, cadmium, and organotins – all highly toxic.

Environment

  • PVC is one of the most environmentally hazardous consumer materials ever produced.
  • PVC is the only major plastic that contains chlorine – the by-products are far more toxic, more persistent in the environment, and more likely to build up in the food supply & people’s bodies than similar chlorine-free chemicals.
  • Chlorine production is one of the world’s most energy-intensive industrial processes, taking huge amounts of energy – about 1% of the world’s total electricity outputxi. Chlorine production for PVC uses an equivalent to the yearly output of eight medium-sized nuclear power plants.
    • Chlorine production causes mercury pollution which causes severe reproductive, developmental, and neurological impacts at low doses.
  • The production of PVC is one of the main sources of dioxin.

Tarpaulin

Heavy-duty tarps are typically made from polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride. Last 2 to 5 years. Degrade and tatter with sunlight.

Plastic ad boards

  • Degrade with even indirect sunlight - not affected by water.