PVC Fittings Design and Installation Guide

This guide by the Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association outlines the design and installation of gasketed PVC fittings for potable water, force main, pressure irrigation, and reclaimed water systems. It covers fittings for PVC pipes up to 60 inches in diameter but excludes solvent-welded and fusible PVC fittings. Manufacturing Methods PVC fittings are made using three methods, all with gasketed push-on joints that meet or exceed the pipe’s pressure rating. 1. Fabricated Fittings Constructed from PVC pipe meeting AWWA C900 standards, these fittings include thermoformed bends, couplings, and reinforced structures. Available sizes range from 4 to 60 inches with pressure classes equal to or greater than the connected pipe. Products include tees, bends, reducers, and adapters. 2. Injection-Molded Fittings Made per AWWA C907 by injecting PVC into molds, these fittings feature a wall thickness 25% greater than DR18 pipe and meet specific strength standards. They are available in 4 to 12 inches and Class 235 psi. Products include bends, tees, couplings, and plugs. 3. Machined Couplings Produced using molding and fabrication, these couplings meet AWWA C900 standards and are available in sizes from 4 to 60 inches. Compatibility with Dissimilar Materials PVC and ductile iron (DI) pipes share the same outside diameter (CIOD/IPS), allowing for straightforward transitions. PVC spigots fit into DI bells without couplings, while DI spigots require transition couplings. Note: DI spigots should never be inserted into PVC bells due to tolerance differences. Transition couplings ensure watertight joints. Thrust Restraint Design Pressurized systems can develop thrust forces at fittings, size changes, and dead ends. Restraint methods include: Internally restrained joints External mechanical devices Concrete thrust blocks Properly restrained pipelines transfer thrust forces to the soil via bearing strength and pipe-soil friction. Restraint device selection depends on factors like system pressure, pipe size, fitting type, and soil properties. Long-term considerations include construction, groundwater level changes, and monitoring activities near bends. For accurate designs, specialized software is available to calculate restrained lengths and configurations. To know more: https://www.uni-bell.org/Portals/0/ResourceFile/guide-for-pvc-pressure-fittings.pdf

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