Anthony Orlowski of McWane Plumbing Group testifies on plastic piping

My name is Anthony Orlowski.

I'm executive vice president of McWane Plumbing Group.

McWane is a leading U.S.

Manufacturer of plumbing and water infrastructure products, including cast iron pipe and fittings that are used in New York City.

I'm here today to express McWane's strong opposition to this plan's proposal to expand the use of plastic piping in buildings taller than five stories.

As this committee knows, building codes are established for the purpose of protecting the public, ultimately from health and safety hazards, but first and foremost from the bad decisions that otherwise might lead to them.

It is always a wrong decision to trade someone's safety for anything else, even if done with the best of intentions.

And no code should be changed that it results in worse health and safety outcomes.

Plastic piping is at its best inferior to cast iron and copper in health and safety performance.

That's at its best.

And while the high performance of cast iron and copper are inherent to the materials themselves, I'd like to remind the committee that the performance of plastic is dependent on the quality of the installation and its supporting systems.

Absent 100% inspection by a third party,

Someone installing plastic systems with the goal of cost reduction will be pressured to take shortcuts.

This takes inferior performance and reduces it to unacceptable.

New York City can advance affordable housing while maintaining the fire safety and public health standards that protect its residents.

All New Yorkers deserve plumbing systems that are safe, reliable, and built to last.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Thank you, Matthew.