Terms &
Definitions
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
ACETAL: A type
of plastic used in the manufacture of fittings for PB plumbing
systems.
ADAPTER FITTING: A fitting
used where PB pipe connects to a plumbing fixture, such as the
connection to faucets and toilet tanks and other types of pipe.
These are not insert fittings.
CLASS MEMBER:
All persons and entities that (1) own real property or structures
in the United States in which there was installed between January
1, 1978 and July 31, 1995, polybutylene plumbing with acetal insert
or metal insert fittings or a polybutylene yard service line;
(2) own or previously owned such real property or structures and
have already incurred any cost or expense, by reason of leakage
from, or from failure, repair, or removal of, all or any portion
of such polybutylene plumbing or yard service line which was installed
between January 1, 1978 and July 31, 1995; or (3) will own such
real property or structures during the term of entitlement to
relief under the Settlement Agreement. Class Member does
not include purchasers under a contract for deed or other tenants
who are not owners of such real property or structures. Class
members must own property at a time during which a qualified leak
or yard system leak could occur.
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COMPRESSION FITTING:
A fitting which attaches one or more components of the plumbing
system using nuts which screw onto a threaded body. Compression
fittings allow components to be assembled by screwing the pieces
together without special tools. These are commonly used to make
repairs to the PB plumbing system. Leaks involving compression
fittings are not covered.
CONSUMER PLUMBING RECOVERY CENTER (CPRC):
The claims resolution facility established and approved by the
Court to administer relief provided for under the terms of the
Settlement Agreement.
CPVC: Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride.
A plastic plumbing material similar to PVC, but rated for use
in hot water systems.
CRIMP RING: A metal ring used
with insert fittings that slides over the PB pipe and is crimped
using a crimp tool in order to seal the connection between the
pipe and the fitting. Crimp rings may be either aluminum or copper.
DATE OF PB
PLUMBING INSTALLATION: The respective date that a PB Plumbing
System or PB Yard Service Line was installed.
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FITTING: The
component in a plumbing system that connects two or more pieces
of pipe together.
FUSION FITTING: A non-insert
fitting. The pipe slides into the fitting and then is fused with
the pipe using a heat process. Very unlikely that this would be
used for a repair. Leaks involving a fusion fitting are not covered.
HEAT RECOVERY
SYSTEMS: Systems designed to pump potable water into pipe
coils placed in the exhaust of an air conditioner compressor/heat
exchange unit. The heat that is removed from the property is taken
by the refrigerant to the unit where a fan blows it out into the
atmosphere. By placing water filled coils in the path of this
hot air, the normally discarded heat is used to heat water. This
water is returned to the property's water heater. The system is
fully integrated with the potable water system and is covered
under the Settlement if the system meets all other criteria, such
as plastic or metal insert fittings.
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HOT WATER HEATING SYSTEM:
This system, which is properly called a Hydronic Heating System,
is one which utilizes hot water to heat the living spaces within
a building. The heat source may be any of a variety of sources
including dedicated heaters or domestic potable hot water heaters.
There are basically two types of Hydronic Heat systems, Radiant
Heat Systems and Forced Air Heat Systems.
- Radiant Heat Systems are systems which
use heat exchange units throughout the living spaces. These
units heat the spaces by simply allowing the heat from water
flowing through them to radiant out into the spaces.
There are no fans involved, the water is caused to flow through
the system by a pump. There are several types of these, some
utilize radiators, some utilize baseboard heaters and some simply
have lengths of pipe coiled about in the walls, ceiling and
slabs of the building.
- Forced Air Systems are systems which
use fans to force air from the living spaces of a building
to flow through a heat exchange unit. Hot water is caused to
flow through the heat exchange. The air is heated by the water
and returns to the living spaces to start the cycle all over
again. Examples of these are Apollo and AquaTherm heating systems.
Any system or sub-system which uses water for the
purpose of distributing heat rather than for the traditional uses
of potable water (e.g. drinking, cooking, washing and bathing)
is not a covered system. The potable water system ends
at such point as may be identified by a valve which isolates the
heat system from the potable water system. That point may simply
be a Tee-off from the potable water.
INSERT FITTING:
Type of fitting, which is inserted into the pipe in order to connect
two or more pieces of pipe. After the fitting is inserted into
the pipe a crimp ring is placed over the pipe and fitting in order
to create a seal. Covered insert fittings are those fittings which
are composed of acetal or copper and have an insert connector
at every connection.
LEAK: Leak means
any verifiable failure in any component of a PB Plumbing System
leading to unwanted discharge of water exclusive of (1) a leak
in the first year of any applicable warranty period provided by
the unit's builder, contractor or manufacturer (2) a leak resulting
from abuse of such system or circumstances unrelated to ordinary
use of such system, including acts of nature (e.g. earthquake,
fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, etc.) (3) a leak that may be
repaired without cutting the wall in or at (a) a valve, or (b)
a riser (which is the connecting line from a shut-off valve to
a fixture) or an adapter to a fixture and (4) a leak in an ice-maker
line.
When the source of the water leak is not easily found, a leak detection specialist may be needed.
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LEAK EXPENSES: The reasonable
and necessary unreimbursed costs for repairing qualified leaks
(including repair of access damage) in the PB plumbing system
and any physical damage to such claimant's tangible property directly
resulting from a qualifying leak.
MANIFOLD: A
device for distributing plumbing lines from a central location
into a number of different directions in order to reach various
fixtures or various portions of the home. Manufactured manifold
systems are typically installed without fittings. Such systems
are not covered unless they contain acetal-plastic or metal insert
fittings.
MIXED FITTING SYSTEM: A system
with both plastic and metal insert fittings as original installation.
A system that has been repaired by installing metal fittings to
replace original plastic fittings is not a Mixed System.
MOBILE HOME: Manufactured housing
constructed according to Federal Manufactured Home Construction
and Safety Standards (HUD Title 6). Mobile property constructed
with an undercarriage for wheels. A mobile home may later be affixed
to a foundation making a more permanent installation. Not to be
confused with a modular home.
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MODULAR HOME: Manufactured
housing designed for assembly on the home site and built in accordance
with a "Specification Code" administered by each state, generally
following the national Uniform Building Code (UBC). These structures
are transported to a location with the intent to remain affixed
to that location indefinitely.
MULTI-UNIT PROPERTY: Any dwelling
or complex of dwellings with five or more units and/or a commercial
property.
PB PLUMBING
SYSTEM: That portion of any potable water distribution system
with an Installation Date between January 1, 1978 and July 31,
1995, which is within a structure and is composed of Polybutylene
Pipe with acetal or metal insert fittings (or any combination
thereof). PB Plumbing System does not include PB Yard Service
Line.
PB YARD SERVICE LINE: That
portion of any potable water distribution system with an Installation
Date between January 1, 1978 and July 31, 1995, which extends
from the water company cutoff valve or a water source to the transition
to the inside plumbing system in or at the structure (excluding
the meter) and which is composed of Polybutylene Pipe with or
without metal or acetal fittings.
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PB YARD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT:
The replacement of a PB Yard Service Line with a PVC or other
equivalent non-polybutylene yard service system that conforms
to all applicable codes and standards and repair of the premises
to return the premises, as nearly as practicable and reasonable,
to the condition existing prior to the Qualifying Yard Service
Leak.
PB2110M: Polybutylene pipe labeled
PB2110m is not covered by the Settlement.
POLYBUTYLENE (PB) PIPE: Potable
water pipe or tubing made from polybutylene resin manufactured
and/or sold by Shell Oil Company.
P0LYETHYLENE: Derived from
a polymer developed in the 1950's. This pipe is a rigid typically
black product used in both sewer and water lines. In 1997 the
pipe was also produced blue with black interior or black with
a blue stripe. This pipe is typically labeled with either HDPE
or MDPE. It is not covered under this Settlement.
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POLYSULFONE FITTING: A type
of plastic insert fitting, typically black in color, manufactured
by Vanguard. Found mainly in newer manufactured homes. System
composed of and/or leaks occurring in these fittings are not covered.
POTABLE: The potable water system
is the portion of the plumbing system that carries water to fixtures
such as faucets. Potable water is used for drinking, cooking,
bathing, and washing.
PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride. A plastic
plumbing material, typically white or black, used primarily for
yard service pipe, outdoor irrigation systems or interior drain,
waste and vent systems.
REPAIR: To fix
only the leaking fitting or leaking section of pipe that has experienced
or is experiencing a failure. Not a complete removal and/or replacement
of the PB water system.
REPLUMB (Repipe): The replacement
of an interior PB plumbing system in a specific "Unit" with Type
M copper, CPVC or other equivalent non-polybutylene plumbing system
that conforms to all applicable codes and standards, and repair
of access damage to return the "Unit", as nearly as practicable,
to the condition existing prior to the Replumb.
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RISER: A small diameter PB supply
tube with a molded end used to connect from a valve to a fixture,
typically under sinks and at commodes.
SHUTOFF VALVE:
This valve is close to the house or inside the house and shuts
the water off to the interior water lines. This is not the meter
valve.
SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTY:
A property that is ordinarily expected to be occupied by a single
family, irrespective of the relationship, if any, between or among
the actual occupants. Commonly referred to as site built homes.
For more information see the UNIT definition for a Type I Unit.
SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEMS:
Systems designed to heat water for the potable water system. These
are not designed to heat living spaces. These are usually installed
as an auxiliary system that works in conjunction with a standard
water heater.
TRANSITION
P0INT: The point at which the main service or distribution
line connects to the interior plumbing system either inside the
property or outside the property. Transition points vary depending
on type of property.
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UNIT: A Unit means
any real property or structure, or part thereof, situated in the
United States with a PB Plumbing System or PB Yard Service Line.
A Type I Unit is a single family site-built or modular residence,
a single family dwelling unit in a duplex, triplex or quadruplex
dwelling, a single-family unit in a condominium, a single family
townhouse unit in a townhouse development, an apartment in an
apartment building or complex, and each part of a commercial or
other structure (e.g., a public or governmental structure, office
building, store, shopping center, retail mall, factory, workshop,
warehouse, garage, library, auditorium, museum, hospital, club,
or public or private school, college or university) occupied by
a single tenant or tenant group. When a structure other than a
single family dwelling includes a common area with plumbing service,
such as a common area restroom, laundry room, recreation room,
clubhouse or communal kitchen, or plumbing servicing more than
one unit, each such discrete area or plumbing system shall be
considered to constitute an individual Unit separate and distinct
from the other individual Units in the structure. A Type II unit
shall mean a mobile home. Unit does not include boats, recreational
vehicles, travel trailers, or other motorized vehicles or vehicles
intended for regular use on public roads, nor shall it include
any aspect of any municipal or other water service system upstream
from the water company cutoff valve.
VALVE: A device
used for turning the water supply on and off. Often referred to
as "stops." The mechanical failures of such valves are not covered.
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