pvc is the current standard used by most irrigation companies and will work fine for what ever your needs.

As for necessity for copper, there's a comunication hangup between you and gardener or gardener isn't fully informed with plumbing. What the gardener is suggesing is copper anywhere lines are exposed to fire in case there's another outbreak. Logic being that in case of wildfire,you manually turn sprinklers on to wet things down. In the event fire reaches your yard copper will withstand heat longer than pvc before melting and basicly killing pressure to remainder of sprinklers. Ok,so here's the best of both worlds. Use pvc for majority of lines and where line is exposed,use an adapter going from pvc to copper. It would also follow that sprinkler heads where fire is expected to reach first should be brass rather than plastic.

Hi, wildfire is a monster that hurts everything it comes near but always could have been far worse. The top of the canyon is much better than down the canyon. Your story is nearing a happier ending or it has as I just came across your post.

I have specialized in wildfire suppression landscapes for over 40 years and if your landscape & irrigation questions still need some help let me know and I'll share some thoughts with you. Email me direct at waterboyidaho@gmail.com or by page on Houzz at Aqua Conservation in Middleton, Idaho.

Happy to read your story was where it is at today. Have great days always and remember .... it's only rocks, dirt, some plants and water. Take care. TC Williams