The Copper Development Association launched its latest video in its “Do it Proper With Copper” series: “Soldering of No-Lead Copper Alloy Fittings, Valves and Components.” The educational video serves as a valuable resource for plumbers, contractors and technicians installing or working with new copper alloys.
 
The federal Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act, which went into effect Jan. 4, limits the amount of lead that can be contained in plumbing components that come into contact with drinking water. CDA has developed a new seven-minute video demonstrating how to properly solder copper tube and fittings to the newer, no-lead, brass and bronze copper alloys.

“Many component manufacturers are now using new, no-lead copper alloys that use bismuth, silicon or other elements in place of lead to make their components,” said CDA Vice President Andrew Kireta Jr. “Even though these components may look the same as the older metals they are replacing, they can be a bit more difficult to solder. That’s why it’s important that we revisit these soldering techniques.”

The “Soldering of No-Lead Copper Alloy Fittings, Valves and Components” video not only demonstrates the proper soldering techniques for new alloys, but offers an explanation as to why they must be treated differently from the old ones.
 
“The answer lies in the metallurgy, or physical properties of the alloy,” CDA Project Manager Dale Powell states in the video. “Some of the new alloys, especially those containing silicon, have much lower thermal conductivity than their earlier counterparts, or than the copper parts that they are being joined with.”

For more information about copper and copper alloys, visit www.copper.org.