Plastic pipework

Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride pipe for underground water mains

Plastic pipework is used for the conveyance of drinking water, waste water, chemicals, heating fluid and cooling fluids, foodstuffs, ultra-pure liquids, slurries, gases, compressed air and vacuum system applications.

Standards

Plastic pipe systems fulfil a wide variety of service requirements. Product standards for plastics pipe systems are prepared within the standards committee known as CEN/TC155. These requirements are precisely described in a complete set of European Product Standards for each application alongside their specific characteristics.

For example:

Conveyance of drinking water: Hygienic requirements

Conveyance of gas: Highest Safety requirements

Plastic pipes for radiant heating and floor heating: Temperature resistance over decades

Sewer applications: High chemical resistance.

Plastic pipes are perfectly capable of fulfilling the specific requirement for each application. They do so with a high level of performance over a long lifetime and with reliability and safety.

The key factor for success is achieved by maintaining consistently high quality levels. For plastic pipe products, these levels are closely defined by the different standards.

Two key aspects are fundamentally important for the excellent performance of plastic pipes: flexibility and long lifetime.[1]

Materials used

Material characteristics

ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)

ABS is used for the conveyance of potable water, slurries and chemicals. Most commonly used for DWV (drain-waste-vent) applications. It has a wide temperature range, from -40 °C to +60 °C.

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) is a thermoplastic material and was originally developed in the early 1950s for use in oil fields and the chemical industry. The variability of the material and its relative cost effectiveness has made it a very popular engineering plastic. It can be tailored to a range of applications by modifying the ratio of the individual chemical components.

They are therefore used mainly in industrial applications where high impact strength and rigidity are essential.

This material is also used in non-pressure piping systems for soil and waste.[2]

UPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) and CPVC (post chlorinated polyvinyl chloride)

UPVC has excellent chemical resistance across its operating temperature range, with a broad band of operating pressures. Due to its long-term strength characteristics, high stiffness and cost effectiveness, UPVC systems account for a large proportion of plastic piping installations.

CPVC is resistant to many acids, bases, salts, paraffinic hydrocarbons, halogens and alcohols. It is not resistant to solvents, aromatics and some chlorinated hydrocarbons. It can carry higher temperature liquids than pvc.

PB-1 (polybutylene)

PB-1 is used in pressure piping systems for hot and cold potable water, pre-insulated district heating networks, and surface heating and cooling systems. Key properties are weldability, temperature resistance, flexibility and high hydrostatic pressure resistance. One standard type, PB 125, has a minimum required strength (MRS) of 12.5 MPa. It also has low noise transmission, low linear thermal expansion, no corrosion and calcification.

PB-1 piping systems are no longer sold in North America. Market share in Europe and Asia is small but steadily growing. In some markets, e.g. Kuwait, UK, Korea and Spain, PB-1 has a strong position.[3]

PP (polypropylene)

Polypropylene is suitable for use with foodstuffs, potable and ultra pure waters, as well as within the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

PP is a thermoplastic polymer made from polypropylene. It was first invented in the 1950s and has been used for pipes since the 1970s. Due to the high impact resistance combined with good stiffness and excellent chemical resistance makes this material very suitable for sewer applications. A good performance at operating temperature range from up to 60 °C (continuous) makes this material suitable for in-house discharge systems Soil&Waste. A special PP grade with high temperature behaviour up to 90 °C (short-term) makes that material a good choice for in-house warm water supply[4]

PE (polyethylene)

Polyethylene has been successfully used for the safe conveyance of potable and waste water, hazardous waste, and compressed gases for many years. Two variants are HDPE (high-density polyethylene)[5] and the more heat resistant PEX (cross-linked polyethylene).

PE has been used for pipes since the early 1950s. PE pipe is made by extrusion in a variety of sizes dimensions. It is lightweight, flexible and easy to weld. Its smooth interior finish ensures excellent flow characteristics. Continuous development of the material has therefore enhanced its performance leading to rapidly increasing usage by major water and gas utility companies throughout the world.

The pipes are also used in lining and trench-less technologies, the so-called no-dig applications where the pipes are installed without digging trenches without any disruption above ground. Here the pipes may be used to line old pipe systems to reduce leakage and improve water quality. These ingenious solutions are therefore helping engineers to rehabilitate antiquated pipe systems. Excavation is minimal and the process is carried out quickly below ground.

Also for PE pipe material, several studies demonstrated the long track record with expected lifetime of more than 50 years.

Cross-linked polyethylene is commonly referred to as PEX. It is a thermoplastic material that can be made in three different ways depending how the cross-linking of the polymer chains is being made.

PEX was developed in the 1950s. It has been used for pipes in Europe since the early 1970s and has been gaining rapid popularity over the last few decades.

Often supplied in coils, it is very flexible and can therefore be led around structures without fittings. Its strength at temperatures ranging from below freezing up to almost boiling makes it an ideal pipe material for hot and cold water installations, radiator and under floor heating, de-icing and ceiling cooling applications[6]

PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride)

PVDF has excellent chemical resistance which means that it is widely used in the chemical industry as a piping system for aggressive liquids.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

PVC Pipes are not allowed for inside water supply lines in the USA for homes from 2006 to present date. Code IRC P2904.5 PVC Not listed. Studies show toxic chemicals leach out from the PVC into the water supply. PVC is allowed for waste lines in homes.


Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC is a thermoplastic material derived from common salt and fossil fuels. The pipe material has the longest track record of all plastic materials. The first PVC pipes were made in the 1930s. During the 1950s, they were used to replace corroded metal pipes and thus bring fresh drinking water to a growing urban population.

Further pressure and non-pressure applications in the field of sewers, soil and waste, gas (low pressure) and cable protection soon followed. The material's contribution to public health, hygiene and well-being has therefore been significant.

Based on the standard PVC material, three other variants are in use.

Another variant called OPVC represents an important landmark in the history of plastic pipe technology. This molecular-oriented bi-axial high performance version combines very high strength with extra impact resistance.

A ductile variant is the MPVC, PVC modified with acrylics or chlorinated PE. This very ductile material with high fracture resistance is used in high demanding applications where resistance against cracking and stress corrosion is important. In several studies the long track record of PVC pipes has been investigated. Recent investigations at the German KRV and the Dutch TNO have confirmed that PVC water pressure pipes, when installed correctly have a useful life span of over 100 years.[7]

PE RT

Polyethylene of Raised Temperature Resistance or PE-RT expands the traditional properties of polyethylene. Enhanced strength at high temperatures are thus made possible through special molecular design and manufacturing process control.

Its resistance to low or high temperatures makes PE-RT ideal for a broad range of hot and cold water pipe applications

Characteristics

Long Life Time of plastic piping systems

Plastic pipes have been successfully used in service for over 50 years. The predicted lifetime of plastic piping systems exceeds 100 years. Several industry studies have demonstrated this prognosis.

Plastic pipe materials have always been classified on the basis of long-term pressure testing. The measured failure times as a function of the stresses in the pipe wall has been demonstrated in the so-called Regression Curves.

An extrapolation based on measured failure times has been calculated to reach 50 years. The predicted failure stress at 50 years was taken as a basis for the classification. This value is called MRS, Minimum Required Stress, at 50 years.[8]

Flexibility

Plastic Pipes are classified by their ring stiffness. The preferred stiffness classes as described in several product standards are: SN2, SN4, SN8 and SN16, where SN is Nominal Stiffness (kN/m2). Stiffness of pipes is important if they are to withstand external loadings during installation. The higher the figure, the stiffer the pipe!

After correct installation, pipe deflection remains very limited but it will continue to some extent for a while. In relation to the soil in which it is embedded, the plastic pipe behaves in a 'flexible' way. This means that further deflection in time depends of the settlement of the soil around the pipe.

Basically, the pipe follows the soil movement or settlement of the backfill, as technicians call it. This means that good installation of pipes will result in good soil settlement. Further deflection will remain limited.

For flexible pipes, the soil loading is distributed and supported by the surrounding soil. Stresses and strains caused by the deflection of the pipe will occur within the pipe wall. However, the induced stresses will never exceed the allowed limit values.

The thermoplastic behavior of the pipe material is such that the induced stresses are relaxing to a very low level. It has to be noted that induced strains are far below the allowable levels.

This flexible behaviour means that the pipe will not fail. It will exhibit only more deflection while keeping its function without breaking.

However, rigid pipes by their very nature are not flexible and will not follow ground movements. They will bear all the ground loadings, whatever the soil settlement. This means that when a rigid pipe is subject to excessive loading, it will reach the limit for stress values more quickly and break.

It can therefore be concluded that the flexibility of plastic pipes is such that it offers an extra dimension of safety. Buried Pipes need flexibility[9]

Components of plastic pressure pipe systems

Pipes, fittings, valves, and accessories make up a plastic pressure pipe system. The range of pipe diameters for each pipe system does vary. However, the size ranges from 12 to 400 mm (0.472 to 15.748 in) and 3⁄8 to 16 in (9.53 to 406.40 mm). Pipes are extruded and are generally available in: 3 m (9.84 ft), 4 m (13.12 ft), 5 m (16.40 ft), and 6 m (19.69 ft) straight lengths and 25 m (82.02 ft), 50 m (164.04 ft), 100 m (328.08 ft), and 200 m (656.17 ft) coils for LDPE and HDPE.

Pipe fittings are moulded and come in many sizes: tee 90° equal (straight and reducing), tee 45°, cross equal, elbow 90° (straight and reducing), elbow 45°, short radius bend 90° socket/coupler (straight and reducing), union, end caps, reducing bush, and stub, full face, and blanking flanges. Valves are moulded and also come in many types: ball valves (also multiport valve), butterfly valves, spring-, ball-, and swing-check non-return valves, diaphragm valves, knife gate valve, globe valves and pressure relief/reduction valves. Accessories are solvents, cleaners, glues, clips, backing rings, and gaskets.

See also

References

  1. ↑ TEPPFA, The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association. "Why use Plastic Pipe Systems".
  2. ↑ TEPPFA, The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association. "Fast Guide to Materials".
  3. ↑ TEPPFA, The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association. "Fast Guide to materials".
  4. ↑ TEPPFA, The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association. "Fast guide to materials".
  5. ↑ "HDPE" (PDF). Plastics Pipe Institute. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
  6. ↑ TEPPFA, The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association. "Fast guide to materials".
  7. ↑ TEPPFA, The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association. "Fast guide to materials".
  8. ↑ TEPPFA, The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association. "Why use plastic pipe systems".
  9. ↑ TEPPFA, The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association. "Why use Plastic pipe systems".
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