John Biggers of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry testifies on plastic piping
He opposes plastic piping in tall buildings, cites fire safety concerns, and says height restrictions are common nationwide.
That's tough to follow there.
Chair Riley, thank you so much for allowing me to be here today.
My name is John Biggers.
I am president of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company.
During my 37 years at Charlotte Pipe, I've covered New York City for 20 years.
And I'm intimately familiar with the plumbing systems in New York City.
Matter of fact, we might be able to help the lady with her TNP valve before this is over with.
We'll have a conversation with her.
Since 1901, Charlotte Pipe has been a family-owned American manufacturer of high-quality pipe and fittings.
We're one of the nation's largest manufacturers of cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings, and we have extensive experience with both materials and an unwavering commitment to safety.
I've traveled New York City today to express our opposition to the block-by-block proposal to expand the use of plastic pipe in buildings taller than five stories.
These and similar restrictions exist nationwide due to the longstanding safety concerns.
With more of a century of experience in manufacturing cast iron and plastic piping, Charlotte Pipe is in a unique position to speak on the risks of expanding plastic piping in large residential buildings.
Fire safety is the primary concern.
In buildings taller than five stories, evacuating residents can take more time, making fire protection especially critical.
Plastic piping can melt, burn, and generate harmful gases during a fire.
As you heard earlier, these systems rely completely on fire-stopping devices between wall and floor penetrations.
Once concealed, these devices can be difficult to inspect, maintain, creating additional concerns for building safety.
As well, these fire stopping manufacturers do
do not warranty the performance of these products.
for the life of their buildings.
So I think it's important for the council to understand that height restrictions, they're not uncommon in the U.S.
Lots of states have height restrictions, and we would urge the council to not expand the existing height restrictions in New York City.
Thank you.