Shah Rahman
Case Studies from Around the World # 2004 Milan
The introduction of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping standards four decades ago on the North American continent has provided utilities and municipalities a solution to overcoming common problems inherent in traditional piping materials such as corrosion, pipe cracking, poor joint performance, and cost and difficulty of installation. A rise in the comfort-level of utilities with the use of small diameter (4-inch through 12-inch) gasket-joint PVC pipe has resulted in the rapid adoption of large diameters (14-inch and above) for both pressure and gravity applications. In large diameters, gasket-joint PVC pipe has exhibited the best growth prospects based on increased sanitary sewer and water distribution and transmission uses. PVC pressure pipe standards commonly used in the U.S. and Canada include ASTM D2241, AWWA C900, AWWA C905, AWWA C909, ASTM F1483, and CSA B137.2. As AWWA C905 is the most commonly used large diameter PVC pressure pipe standard, it is the main focus of this paper. Discussion on the standard’s design allowances as they apply to potable water transmission and sewer force main applications are included. Recent research, which has led to a new approach for determining the cyclic life of PVC pressure pipe, is discussed. Several case studies are included from Uni-Bell’s PVC News magazine to illustrate the steady growth of the large-diameter pressure pipe market in North America.