January 11, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ORLANDO— Here's a fact you may not be aware of: Without copper wiring and plumbing, many of the appliances and building systems that residential builders install for their clients simply wouldn't work.Take the gas fireplace, an amenity whose popularity has grown in recent years and can now be found throughout the house - in the kitchen, master suite, basement, and even outside. Builders looking for a cost-effective, easy-to-install fuel gas delivery system have trusted flexible copper tubing for more than 40 years.
"Unlike rigid 'black' steel pipe, flexible copper tubing is easily maneuvered through confined spaces and requires few, if any, joints," says Andrew G. Kireta Jr., national program manager of Building Construction for the Copper Development Association.
"And unlike corrugated stainless steel tubing, or CSST, flexible copper tubing is far less expensive, easier to work with and readily available at most plumbing supply houses."
Telecommunications and Electrical Wiring
Electrical wiring and communications wiring are also essential to keeping life running smoothly for millions of Americans. Consumers rely on Category-type wiring (which contains four pairs of copper wires twisted together into one bundle) to provide everything from faster Internet surfing and file downloads, to better security of personal information stored on their computers.
"New homes now require even more copper wiring to distribute video, audio and Internet services to multiple computers located throughout the house," says Ken Geremia, CDA's communications manager.
"This 'networking' of a family's home computers is a sought-after amenity for savvy, tech-oriented homebuyers. Builders need to jump on the high-bandwidth bandwagon, if they want to remain competitive," adds Geremia.
Just as builders try to anticipate the latest home trends, it is equally important for them to rely on time-tested building materials like copper plumbing tube for home water distribution, which meets or exceeds residential building codes in all 50 states.
Many homeowners insist on copper plumbing for their homes because they know copper is durable, and it requires no maintenance. In fact, a copper plumbing system can last for the lifetime of a home.
Also, new tools, fittings and systems like no-flame, solderless pipe-joining methods offer builders and plumbing contractors the benefit of simplified and cost-effective copper plumbing installations.
For more information on all of the copper building systems described here, visit the Copper Development Association's website, www.copper.org.
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