American made copper pipe vs Chinese made...

[Soggy Bottom Boy]

Given their track record for unscrupulous manufacturing processes, are there any concerns about Chinese manufactured copper pipe possibly having significantly higher lead content than the NSF/ANSI Standard 61 deems safe for piping in plumbing systems for potable water? Short of having access to a Mass Spectrometer, is there any way to test copper pipe for lead content?

.......just wondering.

[rubber duck]

Can you even get American made pipe anymore?

Mass spectrometers aren't that expensive used, honesty if I knew how to use one I would buy one because that's the only way your going to know. So short of a mass spectrometer you can't tell. Also just because that pipe comes from an American company doesn't mean the copper wasn't refined/ recycled in China.

Yes there is always some concern with good from China but what can you do? Anymore there's nothing more American then a made in China label.

[Soggy Bottom Boy]

I believe that Cerro Flow Products manufactures it's tubing and pipe products within the good ol' USofA. I'm not certain of that, and am in the process of verifying whether or not that is so.

Also just because that pipe comes from an American company doesn't mean the copper wasn't refined/ recycled in China.

On that subject, I would rather trust an American company's testing, certification, and manufacturing protocols, than that of some offshore manufacturer.

[rubber duck]

Let us know what you find out, I'd rather buy American made pipe then Chinese if it's really made in America.

[bentstick]

Most of the copper I have bought,traded,or received, has had a made in Canada stamp!

[Soggy Bottom Boy]

Well, here's an update on what I have been able to find out about Cerro Flow Products and the copper tubing that they produce:

There is a town in the midwest state of Missouri, by the name of Mexico. ....Mexico, Missouri! Weird huh?!

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Some selected quotes from their website:

"Mexico, Missouri - one of the only North American plants able to continuously cast billets for the production of copper tube. This highly advanced, IS0 9001:2000 certified casting facility produces 99.99% pure copper billets for use in the manufacture of our plumbing and engineered tube."

Shelbina, Missouri - ISO 9001:2000 certified production facility for CerroSpec and CerroGroove tube. The facility uses cold rolling pilger mills to create a consistent, seamless thin-wall copper tube manufactured to tight tolerances. In addition, our SuperClean tube-annealing furnace sets the industry standard for clean and consistently tempered copper tube.

Cedar City, Utah - this highly advanced mini-mill facility features a proprietary manufacturing technology that ensures dimensionally consistent plumbing tube. The plant not only produces the highest quality copper tube, but also brings tube production closer to our customers to ensure the best service and lowest delivered cost.

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So, it would seem that Cerro Flow Products copper tubing is Produced entirely in the USA. Good enough for me!
I have not received a reply to an e-mail that I sent them in regards to where their raw ore comes from though.

It seems to be readily available as well. The Home Depot in my area stocks their product in the smaller sizes, up to 1-1/2"[1.5"] I believe.

I think that I will use their tubing for my builds. The CerroGroove tubing looks interesting, haven't checked on the price of it yet.

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