PVC vs. POLYPROPYLENE (PP) SANITARY SEWER PIPE

PVC sewer pipe has demonstrated outstanding performance even in Canada's challenging conditions, with over 85% adoption in new installations, making it the preferred material for sanitary sewers. Solid-wall PVC sewer pipe sets the standard against which other pipe types are measured, including profile-wall PVC and PP pipes. The long-term reliability of PVC sewer pipe, spanning almost fifty years, is supported by CSA's PVC sewer pipe standards, such as CSA B182.2 (since 1983), CSA B182.7 (first published in 1997 and merged into B182.2 in 2011), and B182.4 (also since 1983). In contrast, the PP standard B182.13 was introduced only in 2011. Stringent acceptance tests include deflection mandrel testing, where PVC pipe allows no more than 7½% deflection of the pipe diameter, ensuring a high safety factor against buckling. PP pipes lack specific guidance on allowable deflection, necessitating lower deflection specifications for equivalent safety. Air testing standards for PVC and PP pipes differ, with PVC benefiting from industry guidelines like UNI-B-06, which surpass CSA standards for ensuring system tightness. PP's lower modulus of elasticity and susceptibility to creep pose challenges for air testing, requiring additional scrutiny for long-term joint tightness. Utilities typically specify a minimum waiting period of 30 days for final acceptance of newly installed sewer pipes. PVC's proven performance in deflection-versus-time testing ensures reliable design and installation, whereas comparable testing for PP is still underway, necessitating retesting after one year. PVC offers a wider range of fittings compared to PP, enabling easier system design without compromising performance. PVC also provides heavy-wall and higher-stiffness options for challenging installations, which are not readily available in PP systems. The recent introduction of PP into the sanitary sewer market raises concerns due to unsupported performance claims, lack of rigorous testing, questions about joint integrity, reduced safety factors, and limited fitting options for connections. Wastewater utilities are advised to exercise caution when considering PP for sewer applications.

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