HOW WAS THE LCI CONDUCTED?
Franklin Associates compared data for 1,000 lineal feet of pressurized, ¾-inch CTS (copper tube size) hot and cold water distribution (HCWD) piping made from a variety of plastics and metals. For purposes of the study, ¾-inch pipe was selected to represent an intermediate size of pipe commonly used for both residential and commercial projects where the majority of the pipe used is ½-inch to 1-inch pipe. The study included analysis of various types of copper piping, including K, L, and M, to cover a variety of applications where plumbing pipe would be installed, including both above- and below-grade applications and geographic locations where more aggressive water conditions are common. The LCI focused on energy, solid wastes, and chemical emissions in terms of global warming potential. The analysis included all processing stages from raw material extraction through pipe fabrication, as well as the transportation of materials from the manufacturer to the customer. The manufacture and di
