When piping penetrates through a fire wall, the gap around the pipe must be sealed with fire caulk. When the penetration is not a fire-wall, generally an acoustical caulk is used to help sound penetration through the wall. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of different caulks that are used, and many
Repairing Frozen CPVC Pipes
Following the great Texas freeze disaster of 2021, most buildings suffered freeze damage to the water piping systems leading to a shortage of qualified plumbers to do the repairs. The plumber shortage caused people to seek to repair their piping systems themselves. A CASE STUDY
Water Damage From Frozen Pipes Leads to Mold
Most water pipes, including copper, steel, CPVC, and PVC will break if exposed to freezing temperatures. PEX is the only commonly used water pipe that will survive being frozen without breaking. Property losses and damage from the breaks can be huge. Repairing the pipes and drying out your home is
What is Environmental Stress Cracking and How do I Stop it?
Rigid plastics parts get their strength by the entanglement of the long polymer chain molecules that make up the plastic. Over time, the long polymer chains gradually disentangle from each other during the use of the plastic part causing the plastic part to become weaker and weaker. A CASE STUDY
Plastic Failure and Cleaning Products
Most people assume that the surfaces of plastic parts and medical devices can be cleaned/disinfected using normal cleaning products. However, many cleaners contain aggressive chemicals that can cause catastrophic failure of plastic parts. A CASE STUDY
Water Filter Failure Causes Water Damage
Water filters are pressurized containers that are molded using plastic. Pressure surges inside of water filters, caused by valves suddenly turning on and off, can cause water filters to crack and leak if they are not properly designed and manufactured. When water filters fail when no one is around
Retail Plastic Bag Failure
Plastic bags have become the standard for many retailers, however, defective design or manufacturing can lead to bag failure, and can cause personal injury or property damage. Additionally, improper bag loading or bagging training can also lead to bag failure. Plastic Expert Group specializes in
CPVC Plastic Pipe Failure
Plastic pipe failure can be catastrophic and leads to millions of dollars of property damage every year. These failures have a number of causes, including: + improper selection of materials+ manufacturing or fabrication defects+ poor part design A Case Study Problem: CPVC pipe failure leading to