After months of negotiation between residential builders, the plumbers union, and the City of Philadelphia, the city’s plumbing code will be updated to allow for more use of plastic pipes in residential buildings, including some high-rise residential buildings.
Under Philadelphia’s current plumbing code, plastic piping can only be used in residential buildings of three stories or less, or in buildings with four or fewer dwelling units. The updated code will now allow the cheaper, plastic pipes in residential buildings of up to 75 feet in height, meaning five to six stories.
If a building includes a commercial use, like first floor retail, it would still require metal pipes in that area, but not the residential parts of the building.
