CPVC Solvent Cement
This information reflects our best understanding of product composition in 2022.
Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipe joints and segments are commonly joined using solvent cements conforming to ASTM F493. The solvent cements are applied to the inside of the pipe fitting and to the exterior of the pipe end before...
Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipe joints and segments are commonly joined using solvent cements conforming to ASTM F493. The solvent cements are applied to the inside of the pipe fitting and to the exterior of the pipe end before inserting the pipe into the fitting. They contain CPVC plastic resin dissolved in organic solvents. When the cement is applied, it softens the surfaces of the pipe and the fitting, allowing the pipe to chemically fuse together with the fitting as the solvent evaporates out of the seam. Some local codes require that a primer be applied prior to application of the solvent cement. See the PVC and CPVC Pipe Primer Common Product for further details and hazards associated with these products.
ASTM F493 specifies three different types of solvent cements in order of increasing viscosity: regular bodied, medium bodied, and heavy bodied. As pipe diameters increase, higher viscosity cements are required. This Common Product covers regular bodied to medium bodied CPVC solvent cements that may be used on CPVC service lines delivering potable water. These solvent cements may be used on pressure pipes up to 2” and 6” in diameter respectively. For potable water applications solvent cements must be certified to ANSI/NSF Standard 61, which establishes maximum levels of certain chemicals with known health hazards that are allowed to leach into water for materials that come into contact with drinking water. It does not address the impacts of chemicals with no known health hazards or the combined impacts of multiple chemical exposures.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in solvent cements are typically limited to 490 g/L (400 g/L starting in 2023) or less to meet South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1168 VOC limits for CPVC welding cements. Rule 1168 is designed to limit the amount of VOCs that contribute to photochemical smog formation that can be present in products. Because this rule specifically addresses chemicals that contribute to smog formation, some VOCs like acetone, found to be common in CPVC solvent cements, are exempt from regulatory VOC content calculations. An additional concern with CPVC solvent cements is the presence of the solvent tetrahydrofuran (THF), a carcinogen. While found to be common, at least one manufacturer now offers a product line that is free of THF.