From Lead to PVC: A Brief History of Plumbing Materials
If you’ve ever wondered what materials have been used in plumbing over the years, then you’re in for a treat. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the history of plumbing materials, from lead to PVC. From ancient water storage systems to modern day innovations, we’ll cover it all!
1. Introduction
The plumbing industry has come a long way since the prehistoric era, when settlers bored out logs and used them as rudimentary water pipes. By the time of the Indus Valley Civilization, standardization of pipes had been developed, paving the way for better plumbing systems. Then, in 1838 and 1872, French physicist Henri Victor Regnault and German chemist Eugen Baumann discovered PVC, which eventually became one of the most popular materials for pipes and fittings. PVC grew in popularity during the 1800s and early 1900s, and was eventually introduced into the sanitary sewer market in the 1950s and 1960s. This period also saw a dramatic advancement in PVC pipe and fittings technology due to the development of an NSF voluntary PVC pipe certification testing program. However, during World War II, material shortages forced the plumbing industry to turn to other materials such as CPVC which is still widely used today.
2. Prehistoric Plumbing: Early Settlers and Bored-out Logs
Prehistoric plumbing dates back to the early settlers who knew nothing of lead or iron pipe. Instead, they used wood, which was plentiful in the area, to build their piping systems. This style of piping is known as stave style, which was created by pressing beveled boards together with steel banding. Alternatively, log style was made by hollowing out logs and inserting pipes through them. This early form of plumbing was also used in the Indus Valley Civilization and Ancient Greece and Rome. However, it wasn’t until Henri Victor Regnault and Eugen Baumann discovered PVC that modern plumbing began to take shape.
3. The Indus Valley Civilization and Standardized Pipes
The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the earliest known civilizations to use standardized pipes. They used asphalt to prevent leakages in their earthen plumbing pipes, which had broad flanges. Archeologists have discovered evidence of these systems in northern India and Pakistan, which date back to 3500 BCE. These systems were the first effective pipes used in the Roman era and were a crowning achievement of the Indus Valley Civilization. The Egyptians also developed early piping systems with copper tools, while settlers in North America used bored-out logs for their water pipes. This early plumbing technology paved the way for the later development of PVC pipe, which has become the industry standard today.
4. Henri Victor Regnault and Eugen Baumann Discover PVC
In 1838, French physicist Henri Victor Regnault and 1872, German chemist Eugen Baumann both discovered polyvinyl chloride (PVC) when they were working to find a new material for use in plumbing. Regnault and Baumann were driven by their interest in science and the need to find a better material for plumbing than the lead pipes which had been used in the past. This was an important discovery as it provided a durable, lightweight and cost-effective alternative to the lead pipes which had been used since ancient times. The discovery of PVC opened up possibilities for plumbing that had never before been imagined and allowed the industry to progress significantly in the years that followed.
5. PVC Grows in Popularity in the 1800s and Early 1900s
PVC grew in popularity as a piping material throughout the 1800s and early 1900s. This was due to its chemical resistance, lack of corrosion and relative ease of installation compared to other materials such as wood and lead. As a result, it became a popular choice for water supply lines and waste water piping. The Indus Valley Civilization used standardized PVC pipes for plumbing, and it was further developed by scientists such as Henri Victor Regnault and Eugen Baumann. However, PVC was not widely used for infrastructure construction until the 1950s and 1960s when dramatic advances in technology made it a more viable option.
6. PVC Enter the Market and Lead Declines in Popularity
In the late 1960s, PVC entered the market, and lead began to decline in popularity. The 1950s and 1960s were decades of dramatic advances for PVC pipe and fittings technology, and encouraged by the results obtained from primitive pre-war PVC, the materials used in plumbing shifted to PVC as a durable and low-cost alternative. The price of PVC was driven by key cost and economic factors, as well as supply and demand fundamentals beyond the monthly market fluctuations. CPVC became the pipe of choice due to its strength and resistance to heat, making it an ideal choice for many applications. Though lead had been used for centuries, it was now becoming outdated in favor of this new and improved material.
7. The 1950s and 1960s: Dramatic Advances in PVC Technology
The 1950s and 1960s marked a period of dramatic advances for PVC pipe and fittings technology. Encouraged by the results obtained from primitive pre-war PVC, five companies in particular began testing out revolutionary uses for ‘vinyl’ PVC that would eventually lead to mass production. With the introduction of oil as a raw material, manufacturing advances in PVC production allowed for mass production, coinciding with its increasing popularity in the North American pipe market. This popularity led to a decline in lead pipes, as well as other materials that were used in underground construction before the introduction of PVC. As the technology advanced, CPVC became the preferred pipe of choice due to its chemical resistance, lack of corrosion, and low cost. Thus, with the advancements in PVC technology during the 1950s and 1960s, plumbing systems around the world were revolutionized and made more efficient.
8. Material Shortage During World War II Forces Plumbing Industry to Turn to New Materials
During World War II, a material shortage forced the plumbing industry to come up with new materials to use. Copper became the common material for water services in the US, while galvanized screw piping gained popularity for use in the home. Prior to this, lead pipes had been used for drinking water, but by the 1920s many cities had begun to phase out their use due to the health risks associated with lead poisoning. The introduction of PVC in the late 1960s further diminished the popularity of lead piping and galvanized steel screw piping. PVC pipes were found to be chemically resistant, making them suitable for both drinking water supply piping and waste water piping. As a result, CPVC became the pipe of choice in many homes and businesses after World War II.
9. CPVC Becomes the Pipe of Choice
In the 1950s and 1960s, PVC pipe and fittings technology underwent dramatic advances, and by 1968 it had become clear that CPVC pipes and fittings could meet the demands of residential plumbing. As a result of its superior performance and lower maintenance sustainability, CPVC quickly became the pipe of choice for a variety of uses, including water transmission, sanitary sewers, electrical lines, and more. The added chlorine in CPVC increases its heat tolerance over PVC, but also changes the strength of the material. While both materials are strong, both have their own pros and cons when it comes to plumbing applications. CPVC has become an important engineering thermoplastic due to its durability and flexibility in various temperature ranges.
10. Conclusion
In conclusion, plumbing materials have come a long way since early settlers bore out logs for pipes. From baked clay and straw to lead and then PVC, the history of plumbing materials is an interesting one. Lead was the favored material for centuries, but as its toxicity was better understood, it slowly declined in popularity. This led to the introduction of PVC to the market in 1926. PVC quickly grew in popularity throughout the 1900s and with dramatic advances in technology during the 1950s and 1960s, it has become the pipe of choice for many plumbers. Material shortages during World War II forced the plumbing industry to consider other options, such as CPVC, but PVC remains the most popular option due to its durability and affordability.
