What is a plastic pipe? History of plastic pipe Types of plastic piping Why plastic pipe? Plastic pipe and fittings PVC (why PVC is so common) Cutting and joining of plastic pipe

1. By Abdulbasit
Opening
Hi,my name is abdulbasit
I am a mechanical pipeline engineer
I am here to talkabout plasticpiping
Here are the pointsI am goingto showyoutoday(show the firstslide)
Here are the three mainpointsIwill discuss:FirstIwill discuss whatisplasticpipe.Secondlytypesof
plastic,andthirdly pipe fittings Atthe end,I’ll be gladtoaddressanyquestionsyoumayhave”
HISTORY
History
The firstPVCpipeswere introducedinthe 1930’s for use insanitarydrainage systems.Polyethylene
was developedin1933 and one of its firstapplicationswascable protectionforradarinsulation
duringWW2.
The 1950’s saw the firstpressurisedplasticdrinkingwaterpipesinstalledinthe Netherlandsand
productionof the firstplasticvalve.Polyethylenewasusedtocreate ductingpipesforinsulation
followedbythe firstuse of the extrusionmethodinmanufacture of HDPEtocreate drainage pipesin
the UK.
Duringthe 1960’s rainwater pipes,gutteringanddownpipesusingplasticmaterialswere
introducedintothe housingdevelopmentmarket.PVCsoilsystemswere launchedandthe
introductionof ringsealsincreasedthe use of plasticsewerage pipes.Afterthe firstBritishStandard
was launchedforsoil systems,local authoritiesstartedtospecifyPVCsystems.
By 1970 plasticsinabove grounddrainage accountedfor50% marketshare,while plasticrainwater
systemsaccountedforover60% of newinstallations.The 1970’s alsosaw the introductionof plastic
pipesbeingusedinhighwaydrainage, the introductionof plasticcable ductsandthe introductionof
the firstyellowHDPEpressure pipe forgassupplyintroducedinconjunctionwithBritishGas.This
requireddevelopmentof ayellowpigmentedproduct.There wasrapidgrowthof Polyethylene used
by the waterand gas industriesandthe use of CPVCinhotand coldplumbingsystemswaslaunched.
The 1980’s saw the introductionof HDPEpressure pipesforwaterandthe use of blue pigmented
MDPE material forpotable waterforthe UK waterindustry.A change inthe manufacturing
techniquesof drainage pipesoccurredandtwinwall andmulti-wall pipeswerelaunched.The late
1980's saw the introductionof spirallywoundpipessignifyingamajoradvance intechnology
allowingbespoke pipestobe createdandcustomisedtoindividual requirements.Plasticsbeganto
increase theirpenetrationof newmarketsincludingcommercial buildingsandmulti-occupancy
buildingsupto20 storeys.Polybutylenewaschosenforthe manufacture of pushfitsystemsinhot
and coldwaterplumbing.Polybutylene pipewasintroducedin1982 where itsflexibility,speedof
installationandresistance toburstingwasideal forthe use incaravans.
In the 1990’s plasticplumbingpipeworkwasfirstusedinunderfloorheatingsystems. The flexibility
of plasticpipe systemsmanufacturedfromPBandPEXprovideseasyhandlingandinstallationfor
UnderfloorHeatingcircuits.Growthinthese systemsbenefitedthe use of flexiblesystemsinmain
H&C waterapplicationsaswell asUnderfloorHeating.Throughoutthe 1990’s plasticsmanufacturers
workedwithhousingdeveloperstoconvertbuildpractice fromtraditional coppertoplastic.As
productsbecame more widelyavailablethroughbuildersandplumbingmerchantsthe uptake of the
newplasticsystemsgrew.The benefitsof plasticplumbingsystemsare ideallysuitedtothe new

2. By Abdulbasit
buildmarket.Manyutilitiescompaniesintroducedandfavouredthe use of chemicallymodifiedPVC.
The use of HDPE rainwatersystemsofferedveryhighperformance of productsforhighrise and
commercial applicationsutilisingfusionweldjointing.
Duringthe early2000’s engineeredjoistsorI-beamswere introducedintothe New House Build
marketfor intermediate floorconstructions.I-beamjoistscannotbe notchedatthe top,whichis the
traditional route throughfloorsforcopperpipe.Therefore threadingflexibleplasticsystemsthrough
these joistsisamuch easierinstallationpractice onsite.Thischange inpractice stimulatedrapid
growthin use of plasticsinthe newhousingmarket.In2001, 7% of new domesticpropertieswere
builtusingplasticpipeworkforthe hotand coldplumbingsystemsandby2007, thishadincreased
to 90%. The plasticpipe industryheavilyinvestedinmakingplasticpipeworkproductssustainable
and reducingtheircarbonfootprint.Soil systemswithhighacousticperformance propertieswere
developedwhichincreasedtheirusage inmulti-occupancybuildingswhere noisefromsanitary
installationsneedstobe keptto a minimum.Polyethylenebecame amajormaterial of choice for
manygas and waterutilitiesworldwidefornew linesandrenovation.
In more recentyearsthe cost benefitsof usingaplasticsystemhave come tothe fore as traditional
metal raw material costshave escalated.The benefitof lowerandmore stable pricing,combined
withreducednumberof jointsonsite andreducedtime tojointcan deliveranoverall reductionin
installedcostof over30% for the installationof aradiator central heatingsystem.Plastic systems
alsohave no scrap value sodo not carry the same risk of theftas traditional coppersystems.Flexible
plasticplumbingsystemsare ideal forRMIapplicationsasthe pipe can be easilycabledaround
existingfixtures,floorboardsdonotneedremovingandfurniture donothave tobe moved.Plastic
systemsare therefore beingadoptedmore andmore fordayto day H&C plumbinguse.
PVC – The Most WidelyUsedMaterial
PolyvinylChloride orPVCisa thermoplasticmaterial derivedfromcommonsaltandfossil fuels.The
pipe material hasthe longesttrackrecordof all plasticmaterials.The firstPVCpipesweremade in
the 1930's. Duringthe 1950's, theywere usedtoreplace corrodedmetal pipesandthusbringfresh
drinkingwatertoa growingurban population.
Furtherpressure andnon-pressureapplicationsinthe fieldof sewers,soil andwaste,gas(low
pressure) andcable protectionsoonfollowed.The material'scontributiontopublichealth,hygiene
and well-beinghastherefore beensignificant.
Basedon the standardPVCmaterial,three othervariantsare inuse.
A highperformance variantcalledCPVCisusedspecificallyforindoorapplicationsinhotwater
supply.
AnothervariantcalledOPVCrepresentsanimportantlandmarkinthe historyof plasticpipe
technology.Thismolecular-orientedbi-axial highperformance versioncombinesveryhighstrength
withextraimpactresistance.
A ductile variantisthe MPVC,PVCmodifiedwithacrylicsorchlorinatedPE.Thisveryductile material
withhighfracture resistance isusedinhighdemandingapplicationswhereresistance against
cracking andstresscorrosionisimportant.

3. By Abdulbasit
In several studiesthe longtrackrecordof PVCpipeshasbeeninvestigated.Recentinvestigationsat
the German KRV and the Dutch TNOhave confirmedthatPVCwaterpressure pipes,wheninstalled
correctlyhave a useful life spanof over100 years.
PE – A Wide Varietyof Applications
Polyethylene orPEis a toughthermoplasticmaterial derivedfromfossil fuels.PEpipingisused fora
broad range of pressure applicationsincludingthe transportationof drinkingwaterandnatural gas,
irrigation,sewersanddrainage lines.
PE has beenusedforpipessince the early1950's. PE pipe ismade by extrusioninavarietyof sizes
dimensions.Itislightweight,flexible andeasytoweld.Itssmoothinteriorfinishensuresexcellent
flowcharacteristics.Continuousdevelopmentof the material hastherefore enhancedits
performance leadingtorapidlyincreasingusage bymajorwaterandgas utilitycompanies
throughoutthe world.
The pipesare also usedinliningandtrench-lesstechnologies,the so-calledno-digapplications
where the pipesare installedwithoutdiggingtrencheswithoutanydisruptionabove ground.Here
the pipesmaybe usedto line oldpipe systemstoreduce leakageandimprove waterquality.These
ingenioussolutionsare thereforehelpingengineerstorehabilitate antiquatedpipe systems.
Excavationisminimal andthe processiscarriedout quicklybelow ground.
AlsoforPE pipe material,severalstudiesdemonstratedthe longtrackrecordwithexpectedlifetime
of more than50 years.
PP – A Most Versatile Polymer
PPis a thermoplasticpolymermade frompolypropylene.Itwasfirstinventedinthe 1950's and has
beenused forpipessince the 1970's.
Due to the highimpactresistance combinedwithgoodstiffnessandexcellentchemicalresistance
makesthismaterial verysuitableforsewerapplications.A goodperformance atoperating
temperature range fromupto 60°C (continuous) makesthismaterial suitable forin-house discharge
systemsSoil&Waste.A special PPgrade withhightemperaturebehaviourupto90°C (short-term)
makesthat material agood choice forin-house warmwatersupply.
PEX – WhenThingsGet ReallyHot
Cross-linkedpolyethylene iscommonlyreferredtoas PEX.It isa thermoplasticmaterial thatcanbe
made inthree differentwaysdependinghow the cross-linkingof the polymerchainsisbeingmade.
PEX wasdevelopedinthe 1950's. It hasbeenusedforpipesinEurope since the early1970's andhas
beengainingrapidpopularityoverthe lastfew decades.
Oftensuppliedincoils,itisveryflexible andcantherefore be ledaroundstructureswithoutfittings.
Its strengthat temperaturesrangingfrombelow freezinguptoalmostboilingmakesitanideal pipe
material forhotand cold waterinstallations,radiatorandunderfloorheating,de-icingandceiling
coolingapplications.

4. By Abdulbasit
PB – Polybutylene –A High Temperature Material
A thermoplasticpolymermade frombutylene,whichisderivedfromfossil fuel (oil,gasandcoal).PB
was inventedduringthe 1950's andwidelyusedinthe 1980's and intothe 1990's.
PB combinesflexibilityandstrengthathightemperaturesandhasfoundgooduse inhot and cold
waterinstallation.
PE-RT – FlexibilityunderanyTemperature
Polyethylene of RaisedTemperature Resistance orPE-RTexpandsthe traditional propertiesof
polyethylene.Enhancedstrengthathightemperaturesare thusmade possible throughspecial
moleculardesignandmanufacturingprocesscontrol.
Its resistance toloworhightemperaturesmakesPE-RTideal forabroad range of hotand cold water
pipe applications.
PVDF
General /Chemical Grade PVDFPipe andFittings.General /chemical grade polyvinylidene fluoride
(PVDF) isa highmolecularweightfluorocarbonwithsuperiorabrasionresistance,dielectric
propertiesandmechanical strength.Itisavailable from1/2"to 16"
ABS – For Industrial PurposesMainly
Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) isathermoplasticmaterialandwasoriginallydevelopedinthe
early1950's foruse inoil fieldsandthe chemical industry.The variabilityof the material andits
relative costeffectivenesshasmade ita verypopularengineeringplastic.Itcanbe tailoredto a
range of applicationsbymodifyingthe ratioof the individual chemical components.
Theyare therefore usedmainlyinindustrial applicationswherehighimpactstrengthandrigidityare
essential.
Thismaterial isalsousedinnon-pressure pipingsystemsforsoil andwaste.
ECTFE (Ethylene ChloroTriFluoroEthylene)
was designedtoprovidechemical resistanceinheavydutycorrosionapplications.Itisa partially
fluorinatedpolymer(afluoropolymer)
Whyplastic pipingbecome so popular…?
Ans…
Low Cost
Plasticpipingisfarlessexpensivetopurchase thanmetal piping.Metal priceshave soaredinrecent
years,whichhasdramaticallydrivenupthe coststo produce galvanizedsteel orcopperpipes.PVC
and CPVCpipesare producedina factoryusinglow-costmaterials,andbecause they’re lightweight
and easyto transport,the cost ismuch lower.A re-pipe projectperformedwithPVCorCPVCpipe is
generallyfarlessexpensivethanacopperor steel re-pipe.
Long Lifespan
Metal pipesface an enemythatplasticpipesdonot:rust and corrosion.Overtime,metal pipeswill
weardownfrom the watertravelingthroughthem, creatingthinspotswhere leakscanoccur.These
leaksare what can cause damage to your home,includingyourdrywall,insulation,andeven
structure if the leakhappensinyourwalls.Plasticpipesdonothave thisrisk—theydon’tcorrode,

5. By Abdulbasit
rust,or developsediment build-upthatcanleadto bursting,andas a resulttheylastfar longerthan
metal pipes.
Ease of Installation&Repair
Installingplasticpipesisabreeze.Inmanycasesplumberssimplyneedaformof CPVCprimeror
plumbingcementandtheycaneasilyglue yourpipestogetherwitharidiculouslystrongbondinjust
a fewminutes.Thismakesinstallationtake farlesstime thanametal re-pipe,whichinvolveshaving
to seal andweldpipestogethertopreventleaks.Repairsare alsoabigdeal inmetal pipes,requiring
knowledge of solderingorwelding.Repairingaplasticpipe simplyinvolvescuttingoutthe damaged
portionandthenreplacingitusinga fewcouplers.The costislow and takesminimal time andskill.
EnergyEfficiency
Metal transfersheatfar betterthanplasticdoes,andthus metal pipesare more influencedby
external temperaturesthantheirPVCcounterparts.Youcanreduce thisheatlossin metal pipingby
installingpipeinsulation,butthisonlyaddstothe expense,andthe insulationonlylastsforabouta
decade or so before itneedstobe replaced.PVCpipesdon'tneedthisinsulation,asthey’re farless
susceptibletoheatlossor unwantedheatintrusion.PVCgenerallydoesnottransferheatwell atall,
so they’re naturallymore resistanttothe blisteringtemperaturesof summerorthe pipe-freezing
coldof winter.They’re alsofarlessprone tocondensationasaresult.
Sustainable
Whena plasticpipe systemhasreachedthe endof its lifespan,the pipesthemselvesare recyclable.
Metal pipesare createdfrom non-renewable earthmaterialsthatoftencannotbe re-purposedafter
theiruseful lifeisfinished.Asaresult,PVCpipe isthe farmore environmentally-friendlysolution.
Whyuse plastic pipe systems..?
 General
The story of Plasticsisa storyof success.Andthe basisof that successisa humandesire fora better
life.Plastics - more thananyothermaterial,have sparkedscientificcuriosity.Designingplasticswith
the right technical characteristicstodothe jobis a never-endingstory.Theyare incrediblyversatile.
Plasticsshape ourfuture.
 Appliance of Compliance
Plasticpipe systemsfulfil awide varietyof servicerequirements.These requirementsare precisely
describedinacomplete setof EuropeanProductStandardsforeach applicationalongside their
specificcharacteristics.
For example:
1. Conveyance of drinkingwater:Hygienicrequirements
2. Conveyance of gas:HighestSafetyrequirements
3. Plasticpipesforradiantheatingandfloorheating:Temperature resistance overdecades
4. Sewerapplications:Highchemical resistance
5. Plasticpipesare perfectlycapableof fulfillingthe specificrequirementforeachapplication.
Theydo so witha highlevel of performanceoveralonglifetime andwithreliabilityand
safety.
The keyfactor for successisachievedbymaintainingconsistentlyhighqualitylevels.Forplasticpipe
products,these levelsare closelydefinedbythe differentstandards.

6. By Abdulbasit
Two keyaspectsare fundamentallyimportantforthe excellentperformance of plasticpipes:
flexibilityandlonglifetime.
 Flexibility
PlasticPipesare classifiedbytheirringstiffness.The preferredstiffnessclassesasdescribedin
several productstandardsare:SN2, SN4,SN8 and SN16. The ringstiffnessof pipesisimportantif
theyare to withstandexternal loadingsduringinstallation.The higherthe figure,the stifferthe pipe!
Aftercorrect installation, pipedeflectionremainsverylimitedbutitwill continue tosome extentfor
a while.Inrelationtothe soil inwhichitisembedded,the plasticpipe behavesina'flexible' way.
Thismeansthat furtherdeflectionintime dependsof the settlementof the soil aroundthe pipe.
Basically,the pipe followsthe soilmovementorsettlementof the backfill,astechnicianscall it.This
meansthat goodinstallationof pipeswillresultingoodsoil settlement.Furtherdeflectionwill
remainlimited.
For flexiblepipes,the soil loadingisdistributedandsupportedbythe surroundingsoil.Stressesand
strainscausedby the deflectionof the pipe willoccurwithinthe pipe wall.However,the induced
stresseswill neverexceedthe allowedlimitvalues.
The thermoplasticbehaviourof the pipe material issuchthatthe inducedstressesare relaxingtoa
verylowlevel.Ithasto be notedthat inducedstrainsare farbelow the allowable levels.
Thisflexible behaviourmeansthatthe pipe will notfail.Itwill exhibitonlymore deflectionwhile
keepingitsfunctionwithoutbreaking.
However,rigidpipesbytheirverynature are notflexibleandwill notfollow groundmovements.
Theywill bearall the groundloadings,whateverthe soil settlement.Thismeansthatwhenarigid
pipe issubjecttoexcessiveloading,itwill reachthe limitforstressvaluesmore quicklyandbreak.
It can therefore be concludedthatthe flexibilityof plasticpipesissuchthatitoffersan extra
dimensionof safety.BuriedPipesneedflexibility.
 Long Life Time
Plasticpipeshave beensuccessfullyusedinservice forover50 years.The predictedlifetime of
plasticpipingsystemsexceeds100 years.Several industrystudieshave demonstratedthisprognosis.
Plasticpipe materialshave alwaysbeenclassifiedonthe basisof long-termpressuretesting.The
measuredfailure timesasafunctionof the stressesinthe pipe wall hasbeendemonstratedinthe
so-calledRegressionCurves.
An extrapolationbasedonmeasuredfailuretimeshasbeencalculatedtoreach50 years.The
predictedfailurestressat50 yearswastakenas a basisforthe classification.Thisvalueiscalled
MRS, MinimumRequiredStress, at50 years.
 SafetyFactor
From the qualifiedMRSvalue,asafetyfactoris appliedtoarrive ata designstressfromwhichthe
nominal pressure PN hasbeencalculated.Typical safetyfactorsare forPE 1,25 and forPVC2,0. The
qualifiednominalpressureof aplasticpipe therefore includesasafetyfactor,whichresultsinavery
safe designof the pipingsystem.

7. By Abdulbasit
The principle of howthisapproachworkscan be foundhere.
It istherefore emphasisedthatthisclassificationof plasticpipeshasnothingtodowiththe real
predictedlifetime of plasticpipes.Thiscanbe muchlonger.Several investigationshave recently
beenpublishedwhichshow thatPVCandPE pipeswill lastevenlongerthan100 years
Plastic pipe and fittings…
Plasticpipe maybe flexible orsemi-rigid.Itisavailablein100 foot coilsor10 and20 footlengths,
3/8 inchto 16 inchesindiameter.
Fittingsare eitherclamped,screwed,orgluedon.
Plasticpipe gradesare schedule 40,pressure pipe,andnon-code pipe.
Schedule 40 isplasticpipe manufacturedtothe same standardshapesandsizesassteel pipe with
fittingstobe usedforDWV and some waterlines.
Pressure-ratedpipe hasthe maximumpressure markedonitandisusedfor waterlines.
Non-code pipe islightweightpipeusedforseptictankleachfieldsandoutside drainage pipe
--Glue-onfittings,includingplugs,caps,elbows,streetells,couplings,reducers,drainflanges,Y
(wyes),andsanitarytees,are gluedtothe outside of plasticpipe.
--Screw-onfittingsare generallygluedtothe pipe onone side andscrewedontoa fittingfromthe
otherside.
--Screw-onfittingsusuallyhave acompressionringtohelpmake the seal.
Compressionfittings,sometimescalledgripfittings,withcompressionringsare oftenused withsink
draintraps.
--Clamp-infittingsare couplings,tees,andelbowsthatare made withridges.
Theyare slidintothe pipe andclampsare tightenedwithascrewdriverorsocketsetto make the
seal.
How is plastic pipe measured,marked, cut, and joined?
Whendeterminingthe lengthsof plasticpipe needed,alsoconsiderthe lengthof fittings.
Be sure to add the lengthof the segmentof pipe whichfitsintothe socketof the plasticfitting
Whenjoined,the pipe shouldseatfirmlyonthe ridge inside the fitting.
Aftermeasuringlengthsneeded,markwithapermanentmarker,scratchawl,or three-corneredfile.
Plasticpipe canbe cut witha wheel type pipe tuber,specializedcutters,fine-toothedhacksaw,miter
saw,motorizedmitersaw,saber saw,or sawsall
Whatevercuttingtechnique isused,itisimportanttohave squarelycutpipe thatwill fitfullyinto
the socketof plasticfittings,formingleak-proof joints.

8. By Abdulbasit
Afterthe pipe iscut,remove anyburrs that are presentoneitherthe insideoroutside of the pipe
witha reamer,sandpaper,roundfile,orutilityknife.
All plasticpipe exceptPEpipe canbe joinedwithglue-onfittings.
Match the cementtothe pipe youare using.
Pvc pipe markings
The outside of PVCpipe mustbe labelledasfollows:
Manufacturer'sname or trademark(e.g.PPFA)
Standardto whichit conforms(ASTM)
Pipe size
Material designationcode
DWV if for drainage
Pressure ratingif forpressure
SDR numberor schedule number
If the pipe isforpotable water,alaboratoryseal or mark attestingtosuitabilityforpotablewater
For those standardsthat coverseveral products,there mustbe additional markingstoindicate the
pipe stiffnessnumber,the SDR,the EB or DB number. A certifier'smarkmayalsobe on the pipe