I am installing new Moen valves in a shower and a bathtub/shower in an old house. I have 14" access panels installed on the back side of both. I really don't want to shoot fire toward the fiberglass shower or plastic tub structure for soldering. Is there a pvc or pex solution?
You could have used a shark bite. lots of plumbers hate them, but it's more because it makes a job that requires some skill very easy. they also have a 25 year warranty.
Are you a commercial plumber? I ask because it just occurred to me how different plumbing must be here in FL because everything is PVC (residential anyway). Or are you in an old house with copper plumbing?
every state is usually a little different because of different weather conditions. like on the west coast you have to use flex water and gas lines at water heaters where i believe in places like Illinois (not 100 percent on that) they're illegal, but there is an international code which is the basis for all state and local codes. Everything has to meet the IPC but state and local ad additional restrictions as long as they dont circumvent the IPC. Also, what your probably seeing is pex. they dont really use cpvc for freshwater lines anymore, only sewer. copper is usually found in older houses or new construction where people are willing to pay extra for it, but it's hella expensive and people will go into your crawl space and steal it. also, its not uncommon to see copper in places in a house where the pipe has to be rigid, such as showers and stub outs where your faucet connects to under your sink and then have pex behind the wall on the long runs.
I'm not a plumber by trade, but I have renovated six houses since I retired from the military in 2006. I currently live in an old house I'm renovating. I've been doing a lot of renovations of different houses over the years and usually transition from copper to PEX in all of them. It's easier to use than copper. As McLovin states below, cpvc isn't really used anymore. PVC is used for outdoor sprinkler systems here in Florida.