Types of PVC Pipes

                   Types of PVC Pipes

Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is a synthetic material that has been used to make pipes since the early 20th century. It has become an increasingly popular substance for builders and plumbers because of its resistance to corrosion. In addition to varying by size, thickness and chemical composition, PVC pipes can be color-coded by function (e.g., blue for water main, red for fire main)

Plain PVC

• Cheap, light and resistant to corrosion, PVC became an obvious solution to many of the problems faced by plumbers, builders and city planners. It gained popularity in the United States in the 1940s, and has since become a mainstay for many uses, including irrigation, sanitary sewer collection and electrical communications. Because it is a thermostatic plastic, PVC can only be melted and molded once. A second melting to re-shape PVC pipes will cause them to lose some of their integrity.

CPVC and UPVC

• CPVC stands for chlorinated PVC pipe. Suitable for a variety of applications, CPVC has a higher chlorine content than regular PVC, which means it can withstand a broad spectrum of temperatures. CPVC is ideal for use with hot water heaters. UPVC stands for unplasticized PVC pipe. This type of material is more rigid than traditional PVC material, and is commonly used for water waste transport. It can also be used to make siding materials for construction and remodel purposes.

PVC-U, PVC-M and PVC-O

• If you see PVC with a dash after it, the subsequent character has something to do with the thickness of the pipe walls. PVC-U pipes have thicker walls than regular PVC pipes. This modification enables them to withstand more internal pressure. PVC-M and PVC-O pipes are newer versions of the PVC-U. Though they have thinner walls than the traditional PVC-U, PVC-M and PVC-O pipes are specifically designed for high levels of internal pressure as well.

Lead Reinforcement

• Outside the United States, where the use of lead pipes for potable water has been banned since 1986, PVC pipes are often reinforced with lead, a process that makes the pipes stronger and less susceptible to bursting under pressure. In China, more than 90 percent of PVC pipes are manufactured with lead reinforcement. The Environmental Protection Agency has advised that exposure to lead can cause sundry adverse health effects. Globally, other governments have succumbed to public pressure and are in the process of phasing out lead in drinking water pipe manufacture