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Modern Pipe Materials
Another important element of comfort and safety in buildings is plumbing. What is surprising is that some municipal codes actually allow for up to one gallon of leakage for underground piping made of traditional materials. This is often because the joints are butted together and if the Earth moves, a leak can develop. Plastic pipe, if installed properly, shouldn’t leak and should last a long time. According to John Rattenbury, PE, CIPE, “Perhaps the two most attractive features of PVC [pipe] are low cost and ease of installation.”
Plastics also offer homeowners the ease of do-it-yourself repair. Easy to drill, saw and construct, plastic piping is fast, efficient and economical for homeowners. According to the builderswebsource.com, the benefits of PVC include:
In addition, the use of plastic piping for central vacuum systems, cold air inlets for fireplaces and gas heaters can help reduce drafts in the home environment.
Beyond serving as a cost-effective, efficient and durable means of meeting plumbing needs, plastics can serve as a green solution. For example, the manufacturing of PVC pipe can provide an overall savings of energy compared to alternative materials. A 1991 study by Franklin & Associates indicated that the manufacture of pressure piping used in the building, construction and transportation industries required 56,497 trillion fewer BTUs than iron and concrete/aggregate alternative pipe. Also, because PVC pipe and fittings are lighter in weight than alternative piping materials, they can save energy in transportation.
Modern Pipe Materials Resources
Replacing Iron Pipe with HDPE Plastic Pipe at Arlington Cemetery
HDPE Plastic Pipe Goes Under Ground with Fewer Trenches Time to make water main repairs at Arlington National Cemetery, and officials chose HDPE plastic pipe. The pipe laying project replaced 44,500 feet of 60 year old…
PVC Piping: The Ultimate Underground Solution
One of the world’s most versatile plastics started as an accident in a rubber scientist’s laboratory some 80 years ago. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was first created by a German chemist in 1872, but never patented until 1913. It…
Advanced Engineered Pipe Materials & Infrastructure Improvements
Maintaining and improving infrastructure—roads, bridges, tunnels, sewers, water supply, etc.—is a fundamental charge of states, cities, and localities. Whether it’s replacing leaky pipes or repairing roads, choosing the…
A Brief History of HDPE Pipe in U.S. Water Infrastructure
1948: First high-density polyethylene pipe systems made available. 1955: ASTM International establishes the Plastic Pipe Committee 1978: American Water Works Association (AWWA) approves HDPE pipe for water tubes up to 75 mm (3…
HDPE Specifications and Standards
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) solid wall pipe has been used in potable water applications since the 1960s. While the American Water Works Association (AWWA) is expected to publish its AWWA M 55, Manual for the Design and…
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