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In Macomb MI plumbing, the major technological developments have been power pipe cutting, bending, and threading machines which, taken together, permit large savings in labor time over hand methods. A large number of contractors reported that during the 1930′s, the use of these machines had been limited in varying degrees, with the most common restriction requiring the use of hand methods on pipe of small diameter (a large amount of which is used in residential plumbing). During the 1940′s, however, a strong trend toward liberalization occurred, so outright prohibition of the use of power tools was very rarely found.

This situation existed despite the fact that actual contract provisions continued to require that hand operations be done on certain kinds of pipe. The retention of these provisions despite their non-enforcement was admittedly a “protective” device which the unions wished to utilize if a sharp drop in employment occurred.

Macomb MI plumbing has also been affected by the trend toward newer materials. Over the past twenty-five years, lead pipe, which required a very time-consuming and expensive hand wiping of joints, has become a rarity. At the present time, cast iron and steel are used widely, and copper has become increasingly employed in recent years. Although copper pipe is more expensive than the others, it saves considerably on labor time because of its lighter weight and greater ease in cutting, bending, and jointing.

Macomb MI plumbing unions and contractors are subjected too much criticism in many localities on the grounds that they were responsible for preventing the use of some of the newer and cheaper materials through the inclusion of unnecessarily high standards in the building codes. It is virtually impossible, however, to evaluate these allegations by any reasonably objective standard.

Plumbing codes are lengthy, technical documents setting forth regulations about which there is apparently much room for legitimate differences of opinion. A comparison of the regulations in various cities indicated a great diversity in material standards, with some provisions alleged to be unduly restrictive in one city commonly found in others where they were considered quite reasonable.