Plumbing/Piping/Tubing Failures

This chapter explains the differences between the plumbing terms of “tubing,” “piping,” and “hosing.” It is not uncommon for a forensic engineer/scientist to encounter plumbing failures involving tubing, piping, or hosing. Most new forensic engineers or scientists have not been formally trained on plumbing systems and nomenclature unless they worked earlier in the trades, construction, or grew up in rural areas. Plumbing components consist of “tubing,” “piping,” or “hosing” along with associated fittings, valves, control items, and other components. Piping is defined as tubular vessels used in pipeline and piping systems commonly transporting fluids and solids. Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) products were first developed in - 1965 and introduced commercially in the United States and Canada in - 1980. PEX gained popularity over traditional piping/tubing due to its flexibility, ease of installation, no risk of fire during installation from joining, greater water pressures at fixtures due to fewer sharp turns necessary, and due to being less likely to burst from freezing.