Which pipe material cannot be used on the exterior of a building or underground?

Which pipe material cannot be used on the exterior of a building or underground?

• A. Aluminum
• B. PVC
• C. Copper
• D. Steel

Answer: (A)

The material being tested is not suitable for exterior or buried piping because it doesn’t hold up well in moist, soil environments and with long-term underground or outdoor exposure. Aluminum will corrode more readily when in contact with moisture, soil chemicals, and other metals common in plumbing systems, and codes typically do not approve it for underground or exterior potable-water piping. In contrast, common exterior or underground options like PVC resist moisture and soil chemistry, copper resists corrosion in potable water and can be buried with proper protection, and steel (with coatings) provides the required strength for buried or outdoor installations. So aluminum is the one that cannot be used in those conditions.

The material being tested is not suitable for exterior or buried piping because it doesn’t hold up well in moist, soil environments and with long-term underground or outdoor exposure. Aluminum will corrode more readily when in contact with moisture, soil chemicals, and other metals common in plumbing systems, and codes typically do not approve it for underground or exterior potable-water piping.

In contrast, common exterior or underground options like PVC resist moisture and soil chemistry, copper resists corrosion in potable water and can be buried with proper protection, and steel (with coatings) provides the required strength for buried or outdoor installations. So aluminum is the one that cannot be used in those conditions.