How to Guide

103
INSTALLATION PROCEDURES
CTS CPVC Under-Slab
Installations
FlowGuard Gold
®
andReUze
®
CPVC is suitable for under-
slab installations when approved by prevailing plumbing and
building codes.
When performing under-slab installations, it is important
that the pipe be evenly supported. Charlotte Pipe recommends
pressure testing with water prior to backfilling and pouring
the slab. Backfill should be clean earth, sand, gravel or other
approved material, which must not contain stones, boulders
or other materials that may damage or break the piping. The
pipe should be protected from damage by tools and equipment
used to finish the concrete. Because CPVC does not react to
concrete or stucco and is inert to acidic soil conditions, it does
not need to be sleeved. NOTE: Some code jurisdictions require
sleeving at slab penetrations. Verify code requirements prior
to installation.
Do not bend FlowGuard Gold
®
andReUze
®
1/2”and3/4”pipe
inaradiustighterthan18”;1”pipeshouldnotbebentina
radiustighterthan24”.
Check applicable plumbing and building codes before making
under-slab installations.
In-Slab Installations
CPVC is not suitable for in-slab radiant heating systems.
CPVC piping can be installed embedded in a concrete slab,
because CPVC does not react to concrete or stucco and it is
inert to acidic soil conditions.
ABS and PVC Under-Slab
Installations
Although PVC or ABS is unaffected by direct contact with
or burial in concrete, care must be taken to properly support
any piping system when pouring concrete so that the weight of
the concrete does not affect the pipe system and that any heat
generated by curing concrete does not exceed the capability
of the system.
Some codes require sleeving or protection of piping at slab
penetrations.Whilenotnecessaryduetoanycorrosionissues,
always follow applicable code requirements on any installation.
Testing and Inspection
Once the roughing-in is completed on a plastic piping system,
it is important to test and inspect all piping for leaks.
Concealed work should remain uncovered until the required
testismadeandapproved.Whentesting,thesystemshould
be properly restrained at all bends, changes of direction, and
the end of runs.
There are various types of procedures used for testing
installed plastic systems. However, a water or hydrostatic
In any test, proper safety procedures and equipment
should be used, including personal protective equipment
such as protective eyewear and clothing. Installers
should always consider local conditions, codes and
regulations, manufacturer's installation instructions, and
architects'/engineers' specifications in any installation.
test is a technically superior test method for inspecting
a completed plastic piping system installation and is the
testing procedure recommended by Charlotte Pipe. It is
also the most recommended test in most plumbing code
standards. The purpose of the test is to locate any leaks at
the joints and correct them prior to putting the system into
operation. Since it is important to be able to visually inspect
the joints, a water test should be conducted prior to closing
in the piping or backfilling of underground piping.
Testing DWV System
Water Test
The system should be properly restrained at all bends,
changes of direction, and the end of runs. To isolate each
floor or section being tested, test plugs are inserted through
test tees in the stack. All other openings should be plugged
or capped with test plugs or test caps.
WhentestingFoamCorepipe,alwaysuseexternalcapsto
eliminate the possibility of leakage through the foam core
layer of the pipe.
Fill the system to be tested with water at the highest point.
As water fills a vertical pipe it creates hydrostatic pressure.
The pressure increases as the height of the water in the
vertical pipe increases. Charlotte Pipe recommends testing
at 10 feet of hydrostatic pressure (4.3 pounds per square
inch.) Filling the system slowly should allow any air in the
system to escape as the water rises in the vertical pipe. All
entrapped air in the system should be expelled prior to the
beginning of the test. Failure to remove entrapped air may
give faulty test results.
Once the stack is lled to “ten feet of head,” a visual
inspection of the section being tested should be made to
check for leaks. If a leak is found, the joint must be cut
out and a new section installed. Once the system has been