PVC In Commercial Applications

For more than five decades, PVC pipe and fittings have been increasingly installed in applications that include
water delivery, drain, waste and vent, building sewers, storm and rainwater disposal and industrial process
piping. PVC is a hard-working alternative to metal piping systems -- affordable, versatile, easy to install,
and durable. It also meets many of the requirements of today’s environmentally conscious public. If you are
not installing PVC in your commercial jobs, you are missing the opportunity to add value to new and retrofit
installations with Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipe and fittings.

Why Install Anything Else?

History and use of PVC
Polyvinyl chloride was discovered in the mid-nineteenth century. Scientists observing the newly created
chemical gas, vinyl chloride, discovered that when the gas was exposed to sunlight, it underwent a chemical
reaction (now recognized as polymerization) resulting in an off-white solid material. But, the solid material
was so difficult to work with that it was cast aside in favor of other materials. Years later in the 1920s, sci-
entist Waldo Semon was hired by BFGoodrich to develop a synthetic rubber to replace increasingly costly
natural rubber. His experiments eventually produced plasticized polyvinyl chloride. Initially, product develop-
ers used PVC in a variety of ways – in shoe heels, golf balls, and raincoats, to name just a few. Its application
increased significantly during World War II as PVC turned out to be an excellent replacement for rubber insu-
lation on electrical wiring and was used extensively on U.S. military ships. After 1945, its peace-time usage
grew dramatically as scientists realized its versatility and cost effectiveness.

Today one of the largest uses of PVC is in pipe and fittings. In addition to residential and commercial drain,
waste and vent, water service, and roof and floor drain installations, PVC is used in numerous other applica-
tions including transfer piping, food processing, chemical processing, and water treatment to name just a few.
In short, PVC piping is as versatile as polyvinyl chloride itself.

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 “I don’t use metal if I don’t have to”

Mechanical contractors who use PVC pipe and fittings report that low cost and ease of installation are among
the top reasons for choosing it. PVC is lighter and easier to handle, requires less time to install, and provides
years of dependable service. Many contractors have been installing PVC piping for 40 years or more, and
they expect – as other piping costs increase – to install even more of it in the future. Those who install it say
PVC has a great “track record.” It stands up to the rigors of daily use without repair or replacement.

PVC pipe and fittings are ideal not only for new construction, but also for retrofit installations and repairs. In
fact in some cases, PVC’s affordability allows developers and contractors to retrofit buildings for modern use
in installations where metal piping would be cost prohibitive.

According to the Vinyl Institute, today PVC piping surpasses all other piping materials in North America,
accounting for 70-percent of the water distribution market and 75-percent of the sanitary sewer market.

PVC Pipe and Fittings Manufacturing and Distribution

PVC pipe and fittings are manufactured using standard extrusion and injection molding processes. There is
very little waste in the manufacturing processes, and any product that does not meet dimensional specification
is ground up and reused. Since PVC is a thermoplastic, PVC piping can be reformed and reworked into useful
product. It can also be recycled after the end of its application life.

PVC pipe and fittings are sold in the U.S. and Canada by distributors and retailers. Pipe is available in 10-
and 20-foot lengths in ½- to 48 to 60-inch diameters, in sizes conforming to IPS Schedules 40, 80 and 120 as
well as several Standard Dimension Ratio (SDR) thicknesses. It conforms to ASTM and other standards for
pressure and non-pressure applications. See the detailed specifications at the end of this brochure for more
information.

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 The Benefits of PVC

Piping is an essential component in every building. Durable, dependable piping installations offer good
service and save on costly repairs and replacements over the life of the system. PVC is the material of choice
in drain, waste and vent installations as well as in cold water delivery because it offers a combination of
characteristics unavailable with other materials, including easy installation and durability. PVC is also used
extensively in industrial and process piping for many of the same reasons it’s used to deliver and dispose of
water – it’s affordable, efficient, and durable.

• In DWV installations, PVC protects the environment from bacteria, waste and chemical contamination
Installed in roof and floor drains, PVC is an excellent choice for physically removing water and other
liquids. This includes drains used to disperse rain water or melted snow. Because PVC is unaffected by
most chemicals, it is also useful for installation in floor drains used to collect and disperse other chemicals.
Specific chemical resistance depends on a given PVC product’s chemical composition. Always consult
manufacturers for guidance regarding chemical resistance.

• In water service installations, PVC protects potable water from

aggressive chemicals and/or bacteria outside the pipe and from
chemical contamination within the pipe, making it the ideal choice
for water service delivery systems in all construction. Because
PVC does not corrode or accumulate mineral deposits, it offers a
consistent flow rate over the life of the installation. Connections
between PVC and other piping materials – as necessary for water
delivery – are readily accomplished by transition fittings.

• Beyond traditional plumbing installations, PVC’s chemical resistance, light weight, easy installation and
long service life have made it the backbone of a variety of water and chemical treatment systems. Unlike
metal piping, PVC does not interact with chemicals or bacteria passing within or around it. Some water
treatment systems operate with aerators, using PVC piping to carry oxygen to naturally remove harmful
bacteria. In other process piping situations, PVC piping protects processing of food.

How Durable is PVC?

PVC resists corrosion, scale buildup and pitting. It is unaffected by hard or soft water or aggressive ground
water. It does not react with the chemical makeup of domestic and industrial waste. However, PVC piping
used to transport specific chemicals or chemical waste should be tested for those installations.

This durability eliminates the cost of repair, replacement and cleanup from leakage. In addition, PVC is often
the material of choice for replacing less durable piping.

Because PVC maintains its smooth interior surface over the life of the piping, it maintains efficient flow
in pumping situations and does not require cleaning.

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 What About Water Quality?

For potable water applications, PVC pipe has been successfully tested against the NSF/ANSI 61 standard and
other health effects standards for more than 40 years. While the safety qualifications of its metal counterparts
have been consistently challenged, PVC has continued to deliver water as pure at the end of the pipe as when
it enters the system. PVC is a thermoplastic material made from compounds that commonly meet Class 12454
per ASTM D 1784 or Class 11432 per ASTM D 4396 (for cellular core pipe).

Code Acceptance
PVC pipe is permitted to be used in any water service system, DWV, or sewer, without limitation, in the
following:

• International Plumbing Code (International Code Council),

• Uniform Plumbing Code (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials),
• National Standard Plumbing Code (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association) and
• PVC is also accepted in most local building and plumbing codes as well as specifications in most
municipalities.

Installation Of PVC Saves Time, Money, Labor

• Installing PVC pipe and fittings requires solvent cements developed specifically for this purpose. These
cements must conform to ASTM D 2564. When primer is also required, it must conform to ASTM F 656.
PVC piping eliminates the time-consuming welding or soldering processes required for metal pipe and
fittings and their related safety concerns.
• PVC pipe is easily cut with a wheeled cutter, miter saw or power saw designed to make square cuts. Cut
pipe ends should be deburred, chamfered and wiped clean before dry fitting. When joining with solvent
cement, always follow manufacturer’s instructions; including using primer as required.
• PVC pipe can also be joined using mechanical fittings where permitted.
• Horizontal/Vertical above ground installations are easily installed: Follow manufacturers installation
recommendations and local codes for proper support spacing at various temperatures.

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 Meeting The Greenbuilding Challenge

PVC meets the challenges of today’s greenbuilding specifications. Greenbuilding refers to the techniques and
systems for construction materials and practices which limit the impact on natural resources in the manufac-
turing of raw materials, the construction and the long-term maintenance and life cycle of a commercial or
residential building.

PVC pipe and fittings offer a number of sustainable qualities. These include:

• Properly installed PVC pipe and fittings offer an especially long service life. Many systems installed
fifty or more years ago continue to provide dependable, maintenance-free service. Long after copper
and steel pipe have suffered irreparable damage due to corrosive water and other fluids passing
through them or from the aggressive soil conditions in which they have been installed, PVC systems
continue to function without maintenance.
• PVC protects potable water and does not allow outside contaminants to leach into the pipes. Because
PVC is an inert substance, it does not react with chemicals around it. In fact, it’s often the material
of choice for chemical processing. Since PVC is so dependable, it protects the surrounding
environment – soil, sand, etc., -- from sewage and other undesirable materials.
• Solvent cements and their use have been carefully studied. As a result, guidance for their use is
documented in ASTM D 2564 and ASTM F 656, D 2855 and F 402. Concerns regarding the use of
solvent cement are easily addressed by using appropriate ventilation and protection against skin and
eye contact. In addition, low VOC cements meeting SCAQMD Rule 1168 are available.
• PVC’s long life cycle means that most installed PVC remains in service, delivering water and
discarding waste, so the issue of handling discarded PVC materials is somewhat minimized.
However, even discarded PVC can be recycled. According to the Vinyl Institute, vinyl may be
automatically sorted from other recyclables. The industry has also developed a specific standard which
incorporates recycled content. ASTM F1760 includes a middle layer of post consumer or internally recycled
PVC.
• No waste in the manufacturing process. Leftover materials are simply reground and reused in pipe and
fitting production.

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 Technical Specifications

PVC pipe, fittings, cements, and primers for the following applications are contained in the applicable Plumbing
Code and/or Municipal Specifications.

• Drain, Waste and Vent Piping (DWV) • Water Distribution • Industrial

• Water Service • Sewer

PVC related products should conform to one or more of the standards listed below.
PVC Product Standards
Product standards set out the minimum requirements and/or criteria products must meet for specific uses or applications. Product standards, as used in the
plumbing industry, are usually voluntary, national-consensus standards. The following table lists the ASTM Standards for PVC piping systems, the appropriate
applications, sizes, design pressure and dimensioning systems.

Standard Name DESIGN PRESSURE (1) BASIS FOR

STANDARD NAME APPLICATION SIZE
ASTM OTHER In Inches RATING at 73 F, PSI DIMENSIONS
PVC DWV Pipe & Fittings D2665 CSA B181.2 DWV 1 1/4 - 12 Not rated IPS Sch 40

PVC Pipe with Foam Core F891 DWV 1 1/4 - 12 IPS Sch 40
2 - 18 IPS - PS Series Sewer
3 - 18 and Drain PS Series

Coextruded PVC Non-Pressure Pipe F1760 Sewer 1/2 - 12 Not rated Sewer Drain IPS Sch 40
having Reprocessed Recycled Content

OD PVC DWV Pipe & Fittings 3.25 D2949 DWV 3.25 OD In the standard

PVC Pipe Sch 40, 80, 120 D1785 CSA B137.3 Pressure 1/8 - 24 120 - 810 IPS Sch 40
1/8 - 24 210 - 1230 IPS Sch 80
1/2 -12 340 - 1010 IPS Sch 120

PVC Pipe Pressure Rated (SDR) D2241 Pressure 1/8 - 36 50 - 400 IPS SDR 13.5, 17, 21, 26, 32.5, 41, 64

Type PSM PVC Sewer Pipe & Fittings D3034 Sewer 3 - 15 SDR 23.5, 26, 35, 41

PVC Sewer Pipe & Fittings D2729 Sewer 2-6 In the standard

Threaded PVC Fittings, Sch 80 D2464 Pressure 1/8 - 6 50% of pipe Sch 80

PVC Fittings Sch 40 (Socket & Threaded) D2466 Pressure 1/8 - 12 Sch 40

PVC Sch 80 Socket Fittings D2467 Pressure 1/8 - 16 Sch 80

PVC Large Diameter Ribbed F794 Sewer 4 - 48 Pipe Stiffness

Sewer Pipe & Fittings

PVC Plastic Schedule 40 Drainage F1866 4-24

and DWV Fabricated Fittings

Making Solvent Cement Joints, PVC D2855 All IPS

Solvent Cement PVC D2564 All

Joints for IPS PVC w/Solvent Cement D2672 All

PVC Primers F656 All

Pressure Joints using Flexible D3139 Supply and distribution

Elastomeric Seals lines for water

Joints for Drain and Sewer Using D3212 Drain and 25-FT Head
Elastomeric Seals gravity sewage

Elastomeric Seals (Gaskets) for F477 Gravity, low pressure

Joining Plastic Pipe & high pressure piping

NOTES:
Pressure ratings for Sch pipe vary for each pipe size. They also vary by Schedule. Pressure ratings for SDR pipe are constant for all sizes in a
single SDR (e.g. SDR 21 pipe is rated 200 psi). Schedule 40 & 80 references apply only to IPS OD pipe. SDR references can apply to all OD
systems (e.g. IPS, CTS, Sewer & AWWA Cast Iron). 6
 For more information on PVC Pipe & Fittings
contact THE PLASTIC PIPE & FITTINGS ASSOCIATION
800 Roosevelt Road, Suite 312
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
www.ppfahome.org