The use of plastic plumbing systems is growing in the residential housing market. Availability, ease of handling and installation, and economics are playing a part in the transition from the conventional materials of copper, steel and cast iron to plastics. These same factors are also playing an important role in the introduction of plastics into the multiple-occupancy building.

The use of plastic pipe in the DWV plumbing systems of multiple-occupancy buildings raises two important questions in regard to its involvement in fire. Will the plastic pipe serve to spread fire to other dwelling units when it might otherwise be contained? Will there be a serious life hazard introduced due to the smoke and toxic gases generated by the burning of the pipe? To help answer these questions, the National Bureau of Standards, with the support of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, established a research and test program.

This report is part of the collection of scanned historical documents available to the public.