We’ve had a great response to our Plastic Under Fire campaign, and we appreciate everyone engaging with the information and asking questions. It’s clear a lot of people are thinking about fire safety, and that’s exactly what we wanted. However, some common misconceptions have cropped up, so let’s address them head-on, using data and a bit of common sense.
“If your house is already burning down, who cares what happens to the pipes?”
That’s a comment we’ve seen a few times, and at first glance, it might seem to make sense. But it misses a few crucial points. A house fire is a complex and terrifying event and every element that contributes to its intensity and speed matters.
First, consider the first responders. Firefighters are putting their lives on the line to save people and property. The toxic fumes released by burning plastic pipes create an incredibly hazardous environment, increasing their risk of health problems, both short-term and long-term. These brave men and women deserve the safest possible conditions, and reducing the amount of burning plastic in a building contributes to that.
Second, there’s the issue of smoke. It’s not just the flames that are dangerous in a fire; the smoke can be just as deadly. The tests conducted as part of our campaign have shown that plastic pipes produce significantly more smoke than copper. CSST pipes, for instance, produced 761 times more smoke than copper within the first four minutes of burning. That dense smoke reduces visibility, making it harder for people to evacuate safely, and it can also disorient first responders, slowing down their rescue efforts and putting their lives at risk.
And third, the type of materials that pipes are made from will ultimately decide how fast the fire spreads. Particularly in high-rise buildings, the use of plastic pipes could be fatal. Fires can spread rapidly through the building’s risers, the vertical shafts that run between floors and can enable a small fire to quickly engulf multiple stories, especially where plastic pipes are in place. Plastic’s higher smoke density would fill these pipes quickly and create the perfect environment for the spread of fire.
“In the real world, these pipes would have water in, and the water would put out the fire once the pipes melt.”
This is another common misconception. While it’s true that water can help extinguish a fire, relying on melting plastic pipes to release water is a dangerous gamble.
Think about it, the pipes would have to melt first. That means they would already be releasing toxic fumes and contributing to the spread of the fire before the water is released. And there’s no guarantee that the water released would be enough to put out the fire, or even slow it down significantly. If the fire is already well-established, the small amount of water released from melting pipes would likely be insignificant and evaporate immediately. It may even speed up fire spread in areas that are further away from the fire.
In addition, during our tests, the plastic fires could not be put out with water alone. It took the use of sand to smother the flame to ultimately put the fire out. So even with water leaking from the pipes, the flames will still continue to grow.
“There’s carpets, wood, etc. Having copper won’t save your house.”
It’s true that there are many combustible materials in a typical home, and copper pipes alone won’t prevent a fire. However, that doesn’t mean that choosing safer materials is pointless.
By choosing non-combustible materials like copper pipes, you’re reducing the amount of fuel available to the fire, slowing its spread and giving people more time to escape. It’s about creating a safer overall environment, not relying on a single material to magically prevent a fire.
Our aim with the Plastic Under Fire campaign isn’t to scare people, it’s about raising awareness of the potential risks associated with plastic pipes and encouraging people to make informed decisions about the materials they use in their homes.
For more information on the advantages of copper pipes and the dangers of plastic pipes in a fire, be sure to visit our Plastic Under Fire page.
The Choice is Yours
Ultimately, the choice of what materials you use in your home is yours. We are simply here to provide the data so that you can make a decision that works for you and your family. But it doesn’t just end at your home, these issues affect where you work and where your child might be studying.
You should also consider the environment when thinking about which pipes you would like to use. You can find out information and statistics about this on our website here.
At the end of the day, we hope that you are more informed about the materials that are used in your house and think about the damage that plastic can do.
