Practical Use and Performance Testing of Light Weight Thermoplastics Pipes

Material efficiency is a focal point for the thermoplastic pipe industry. With the high embodied energy content of the materials, the environmental and cost gains to be made through material savings are significant. Many techniques have been developed for the manufacture of both pressure and non-pressure pipe to provide the improved strength with reduced material. The techniques are directed to the primary functional parameters, the pressure capacity for pressure pipes and the lateral stiffness for non pressure pipes. However, a consequence of improvement in performance in these directions is that secondary loading conditions that may arise in service or construction assume increased significance. Design and construction practices may need to adapt accordingly. The higher strain levels generated may have short or long term consequences for the interface with fittings of other materials, and design modifications may be desirable. This paper discusses a number of these issues, with particular focus on the application of PVC-O500 pressure pipes. Evaluation and test work undertaken to support design, installation and usage recommendations is described .