The problems in the USA with Polybutylene (PB) were generally
installation,
not PB related. As the major UK manufacturer of Polybutylene plumbing
systems Hepworth Plumbing Products take a great interest in this matter,
and
in over 25 years of manufacturing and selling Hep2O & Acorn, we have not
seen any of the problems experienced in the USA.

Phew, that's OK then! I never did like the look of those horrible US crimp
connections, which they still seem to use on PEX.

Independent assessment concluded that such failures were related to
metal fittings and incorrect installations rather than pipe performance.

Are compression joints (i.e. metal fittings) OK for long term use, too?

Christian.