Stress rupture of lead-free soldered joints used to assemble copper plumbing systems

A cooperative program on stress rupture behavior of lead-free soldered joints was initiated several years ago between the National institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Copper Development Association (CDA). It was created because the conservative code-assigned joint strength properties of soldered wrought and cast copper and copper alloy fittings prohibited the broader use of copper plumbing tube in building construction. Further, there was a challenge to the use of the only remaining code-approved solder because of a health concern.