Poly B pipe with red oxygen barrier

[Phil L]

My nephew is looking to buy a 28 year old house and we found that the radiant heat pipes are red on the outside with inner core being grey. The realtor's inspectors keep claiming it's Pex. On the pipe it says Vanguard Plastics on it with a CSA 137.8 label which points to it being poly B. Has anyone seen this pipe or something similar used before and do you know whether there have been problems with it.

 

[Weekend Handyman]

Hi: I am NOT a plumber. However, I was able to google B137-8. It brings me to the following page on the Canadian Standards Association's website. https://www.scc.ca/en/standardsdb/standards/25575. I think it supports what your are saying.

I think a company called CB Supply made Vanguard (or bought the company). You could give them a call for a definitive answer.

I would be hesitant to trust a "Realtor's Inspector", as there is an obvious conflict of interest there.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Weekend Handyman]

Here is a picture of some pipe in my house that I know to be PB. It would seem to have the same code.

Also, this website https://www.squareone.ca/resource-centres/getting-to-know-your-home/poly-b-plumbing. Indicates that code is PB.

 

[Jaak]

My nephew is looking to buy a 28 year old house and we found that the radiant heat pipes are red on the outside with inner core being grey. The realtor's inspectors keep claiming it's Pex. On the pipe it says Vanguard Plastics on it with a CSA 137.8 label which points to it being poly B. Has anyone seen this pipe or something similar used before and do you know whether there have been problems with it.View attachment 73684

Yes, it's Poly B with an oxygen barrier to help block Oxygen from entering the closed system water loops. This reduces corrosion within the pumping system (steel/iron pumps, air separators, etc.)

 

[Fitter30]

Poly-B Plumbing | Common Issues, Maintenance and More | Square One

Square One provides information on Poly-B (polybutylene) plumbing. Learn some common issues, maintenance tips, and what to do if something goes wrong.

www.squareone.ca

Lots of info on the web all not very good