PEX Tubing Added to California Plumbing Code

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the California Building
Standards Commission (CBSC) certified the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on
crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing, and unanimously adopted regulations
approving PEX water-distribution systems into the California Plumbing Code.

The new regulations take effect Aug. 1, 2009. Until then, local
jurisdictions can adopt a code to use PEX in new and remodel construction
before statewide adoption.

"Today’s decision represents a victory for the trade and for the consumer
in California," says Rich Houle, associate product manager, commercial, for
Uponor, Inc. Uponor is a leading supplier of PEX-based plumbing, fire safety
and radiant heating and cooling systems for the residential and commercial
building markets across North America and Europe.

"Contractors and consumers finally have access to an environmentally
superior product," continues Houle, "that will provide a durable solution to
the state’s aggressive water conditions, while meeting California’s high
standards for drinking-water quality."

Uponor has been actively pursuing the adoption of PEX tubing in the
California Plumbing Code since 2000. Three years of litigation resulted in a
decision by the CBSC to conduct a full EIR on PEX tubing and its impact on air
quality, water quality and performance. In addition, the report evaluates PEX
tubing installation, use and disposability, as well as manufacturing processes
in the areas of waste, recycling, energy consumption and natural resources.

Conducted from October 2007 through December 2008, the EIR states that the
adoption of PEX tubing into the California Plumbing Code with proposed
regulations would be "an environmentally superior action with respect to
public health and hazards, water quality and air quality."

Currently, 180 municipalities and counties within California have approved
the use of PEX tubing as an alternate material to copper and other materials
used for plumbing piping. Millions of feet of PEX tubing are in use in water
distribution systems in residential and commercial applications throughout the
state. Under the new state plumbing code, the following agencies will adopt
regulations for the use of PEX tubing in the types of construction under their
jurisdictions:

— Housing and Community Development — residential construction, hotels,
motels, etc.

— Division of State Architect-Structural Safety — state-owned buildings,
universities, etc.

— Building Standards Commission — commercial construction not
state-owned (retail)

— Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development — hospitals,
health care facilities, etc.

For more information on the PEX EIR, contact: Rich Houle, Uponor Associate
Commercial Product Manager, at 1.612.940.7800 or Rich.Houle@uponor-usa.com; or

For more information about Uponor, visit http://www.uponor-usa.com

For editorial assistance, contact John O’Reilly c/o LNC Communications LLC
at (815) 469-9100; e-mail: John@LNCmail.com

Hi-res versions of photography to accompany this release are available for
immediate download in .tif format by using this link:
http://www.LNCmail.com/pr09/up0928/eir.html

SOURCE Uponor, Inc.