Escape of Water: The perils of plastic
03/22/2023
Zurich has worked with a leading forensic science firm, Hawkins, to provide insight into water leaks involving plastic pipes.
Escape of water claims increased to £368 million in Q4 2022, the highest for any quarter recorded by the ABI. A significant reason for such an increase in claims was the 56% rise in total domestic and commercial escape of water claims, likely due to the freezing weather across winter causing pipes to burst. In addition, the cost of repair continues to increase and impact the average claims costs.
What can’t be forgotten is the human impact with many people forced into alternative accommodation, or businesses forced to close, as premises are stripped-out, dried and repaired.
Over the years plastic has replaced the likes of copper as the main material for pipework. Many of the losses involving plastic pipes have involved push-fit systems, which means making connections is quicker than the welds and solders often needed for metal pipework for example, and pipes are easily removed so they can be repositioned as required. However, despite the apparent ease of installation that may be associated with the name of the system, correct installation and fitting is key, with only a minor error by the plumber risking thousands of pounds worth of damage and huge disruption to the likes of homeowners or businesses.
However, at Zurich we are seeing an increasing number of leaks relating to the plastic material itself reacting to the likes of solvents and mastic commonly used in the fit-out of buildings.
One claim involved almost £800,000 worth of damage caused by a solvent-related pipe leak, causing huge disruption to a college and it’s students. In that instance the building had only recently been completed. Another case saw eight separate leaks relating to the application of mastic to pipework, causing over £150,000 of damage to the structure.
What is the problem?
According to leading forensic science firm Hawkins:
- Using the incorrect compound to seal gaps around pipes where they pass through walls appears to be of growing concern throughout the industry.
- Plasticization of pipes occurs when chemicals are absorbed into the polymer, interacting with the molecular chains that make up the polymer. This can cause the polymer to lose its rigidity and soften. When this happens in CPVC, the polymer swells, resulting in a 'bubble' type appearance, which can eventually rupture.
- The cooling process during the manufacturing of plastic pipes such as CPVC produces a temperature gradient across the thickness of the pipe, generating stresses on the plastic which could break.
- Pipes used for both hot and cold water, or sprinklers in fire systems suffer stresses on the inside of the pipework which is caused by the pressure of the water.
Paul Redington, a Regional Major Loss Manager at Zurich says: “Plastic pipework is here to stay but Zurich and our forensic experts Hawkins are seeing an increasing number of escape of water losses involving its use. We are concerned that plastic push-fit systems for example require less skill and training to install, and if not fitted-properly can leak, causing significant loss and disruption.”
“People are being displaced from their homes, and businesses interrupted. However, we have also seen a rise in certain types of plastic reacting to other materials used in the construction and building fit-out process. It’s important that contractors are aware of the potential issues that could arise many months, or even years later. It is vital to ensure that any work is completed to the required standards, and that a proper quality-control system is out in place to check any work completed.”
