Plumbing Materials

Selection of piping materials depends on:

• pressure
• velocity,
• temperature
• corrosiveness of the medium
conveyed within, initial cost, installation costs, operating costs,
and good engineering practice.
Plumbing Materials

• Should be neatly arranged

• Cut accurately to established measurements
• Worked into place without springing or forcing
• Sufficient headroom should be provided
• Should not interfere with access to maintain equipment
• Should be clean
• Exposed ends of piping should be covered
Plumbing Materials

• made of gray cast iron with a compact

close grain.
• primarily is used for sanitary drain,
waste, vent, and storm systems
• used for underground applications
Plumbing Materials

• Two(2) Types of Cast Iron Pipe

1. SV Type – generally used for building

installations
2. XV Type – classified as extra duty
pipe used for underground
installations
Plumbing Materials

• Methods of Joining

• Rubber (neoprene) compression

gasket
• Molten lead and oakum
Plumbing Materials

• pipe primarily is used in water and sewer systems for

underground and industrial applications
• high-strength material and is not as brittle as cast iron pipe
Plumbing Materials

Cement lining
• required for water distribution systems
• provides a protective barrier between the potable water
supply and the ductile iron pipe
Plumbing Materials

• Cast Iron Flanged Fittings

Plumbing Materials

• used for sanitary sewers, storm sewers,

culverts, detention systems, and low-pressure
force mains

• Reinforced concrete pipe is the most durable

and economical of all piping products.
Recommended for installations where low,
moderate, or severe cover and/or live load
conditions exist and structural failure might
endanger life or property
Plumbing Materials

• is for water supply; drain, waste, and vent

• boiler feed lines; refrigeration; and similar
purposes.
Plumbing Materials

COPPER WATER TUBE

• a seamless, almost pure copper material

• has three basic wall thickness
dimensions, designated as Types K, L,
and M
• K – thickest, L – intermediate thickness
and M – thinnest
Plumbing Materials

COPPER WATER TUBE – Methods of Joining

• Soldered
• Flared
• Brazed
• Roll grooved or mechanical coupling
• Press-type fitting
• Push-type fitting
• T-drill
Plumbing Materials

COPPER DRAINAGE TUBE

• for DWV applications is a seamless

copper tube conforming to the
requirements of ASTM B306.
• required to be identified by a yellow
stripe giving the manufacturer’s name
or trademark, the nation of origin, and
the letters “DWV.”
Plumbing Materials

MEDICAL GAS TUBE

• shipped cleaned and capped and is furnished in Type K or L

wall thickness in drawn (hard) temper only.

MEDICAL GAS TUBE – Methods of Joining

• Brazing
• Specialized mechanical compression coupling
Plumbing Materials

• Glass pipe is used in the mechanical

industry in two ways: as pressure and as
drainage
• Glass is installed by cutting the pipe to
the exact fixed length.
• Joints are made by using compression-
type couplings consisting of 300 series
stainless steel outer bands, electrometric
compression liners, and sealing members
of chemically inert tetrafluoroethylene
(TFE).
Plumbing Materials

• specified for heating, air-conditioning, plumbing, gas, and air

lines
• produced in three basic weight classifications: standard,
extra strong, and double extra strong.

The methods of joining are:

• Welding
• Threading
• Grooved
Plumbing Materials

• available in compositions designed for various applications,

including DWV, water supply, gas service and transmission
lines, and laboratory and other chemical drainage and piping
systems
Plumbing Materials

• two basic types of plastic pipe: thermoset and thermoplastic.

• Thermoset - has the property of being permanently rigid. Epoxy

and phenolics are examples of thermosets.

• Thermoplastic - a material having the property of softening when

heated and hardening when cooled. Acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polybutylene (PB),
polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), cross-linked polyethylene
(PEX), and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) are
thermoplastics.
Plumbing Materials

Polybutylene (PB)

• a flexible thermoplastic that was

manufactured to pipe and tubing
specifications.
• an inert polyolefin material, meaning
that it is chemically resistant. That is why
PB pipe cannot be solvent cemented like
other plastic piping systems.
Plumbing Materials

Polyethylene (PE)
• an inert polyolefin material,
meaning that it is chemically
resistant
• cannot be solvent cemented like
other plastic piping systems;
cannot be threaded or solvent
welded.
• Joints are made with inserts and
clamps and by heat fusion
Plumbing Materials

Crossed-linked Polyethylene (PEX)

• has been used extensively in Europe
for many years for hot and cold
potable water distribution systems.
• specially controlled chemical reaction
takes place during the manufacturing
of the polyethylene pipe to form PEX.
Cross-linked molecular structuring
gives the pipe greater resistance to
rupture over a wider range of
temperatures and pressures than
other polyolefin piping (PB, PE, and
PP).
Plumbing Materials

Crossed-linked Polyethylene,
Aluminum, Crossed-linked
Polyethylene (PEX-AL-PEX)
• PEX-AL-PEX is a composite pipe
made of an aluminum tube laminated
with interior and exterior layers of
cross-linked polyethylene. The layers
are bonded with an adhesive.
• The cross-linked molecular structuring
described above and the addition of
the aluminum core makes the pipe
resistant to rupture.
Plumbing Materials

Polyethylene/Aluminum/Polyethylene
(PE-AL-PE)
• PE-AL-PE is identical to the PEX-AL-PEX
composite pipe except for the physical
properties of the polyethylene.
• Polyethylene does not display the same
resistance to temperature and pressure
as the cross-linked polyethylene.
Therefore, this type of pipe is limited to
cold water applications or applications
with other suitable fluids up to 110°F at
150 psi (43°C at 1,034 kPa) of pressure.
Plumbing Materials

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

• Polyvinyl chloride is rigid, pressure- or
drainage-type pipe that resists
chemicals and corrosion.
• PVC water service piping is a different
material than PVC drainage pipe.
• PVC is used for water distribution,
irrigation, storm drainage, sewage,
laboratory and hospital wastes,
chemical lines, chilled water lines, heat
pumps, underground FM-approved fire
mains, animal rearing facilities,
hatcheries, graywater piping, and ultra-
pure water.
Plumbing Materials

Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC)

• CPVC finds application in hot and
cold water distribution and chemical
process piping.
• The higher-temperature version of
PVC is CPVC pipe.
Plumbing Materials

Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
• ABS is manufactured in Schedules 40
and 80 and in special dimensions for
main sewers and utility conduits and in
SDR for compressed air.
• It is commonly used for DWV plumbing (in
the color black), main sanitary and storm
sewers, underground electrical conduits,
and applications in the chemical and
petroleum industries.
• The joints are solvent welded for
Schedule 40 and welded or threaded for
Schedule 80.
Plumbing Materials

Polypropylene (PP)
• PP is manufactured for a wide variety
of systems. The DWV systems are for
chemical, special waste, or acid
waste systems, in both buried and
aboveground applications.
• Polypropylene comes in a variety of
pressure systems. It can be natural in
color for high-purity systems, or it may
be black or beige with the added
color pigment. Polypropylene pipe is
available in both metric and IPS sizes.
Plumbing Materials

Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)

• Polyvinylidene fluoride is a strong, tough,
abrasion-resistant fluorocarbon material.
• It is used widely in high-purity electronic or
medical-grade water or chemical piping
systems that need to remain pure but
function at high temperatures. Other uses
include a wide range of industrial liquids,
saltwater disposal, and corrosive waste
systems, again where high-temperature
performance is required.
• It also is often used for corrosive waste
applications in return air plenum spaces.
PVDF offers excellent flame- and smoke-
resistant characteristics.
Plumbing Materials

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
• Teflon, or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE),
has outstanding resistance to chemical
attack by most chemicals and solvents.
• Teflon piping is well suited for low-
pressure—not to exceed 15 psi—
laboratory or process industry
applications. If higher pressure or hotter
temperatures are needed, Teflon-lined
steel pipe generally is used. Lined steel
pipe is 1 inch to 12 inches (25.4 mm to
304.8 mm) and can handle corrosive
chemicals as well as high-pressure
applications.
Plumbing Materials

Low-extractable PVC (LXT PVC)

• Rather recent to the expensive high-
purity piping market is the less expensive
low-extractable PVC material that is
used in pressure piping loops for the
conveyance of ultra-pure water.
• This piping network provides a very
economical solution compared to
stainless steel, PVDF, or PP for the
engineering of ultra-pure water loops for
use in healthcare, laboratory, micro-
electronics, pharmaceutical, and various
other industrial applications.
Plumbing Materials

Fiberglass and Reinforced

Thermosetting Resin Pipe
• Fiberglass piping systems are
manufactured and joined using
epoxy, vinylester, or polyester resins.
These three resins offer a very distinct
price/performance choice varying
from strongest/most expensive to
weakest/least expensive.
Plumbing Materials

Random Copolymer Polypropylene (PPR)

• PPR pipes and fittings are used in pipe
systems made of polymeric materials. PPR is
a commonly preferred pipe material in
water and gas systems.
• PPR pipes are resistant to high
temperatures and pressures, making them a
reliable option for long-term use.
• PPR pipes have low installation costs and
require minimal maintenance.
• PPR pipes have a lightweight structure,
making transportation and installation
easier.
• PPR pipes are resistant to corrosion,
providing a long-lasting and reliable
solution.
Plumbing Materials

• Vitrified clay pipe is used in

a building sewer starting
outside of the building and
connecting to the main
sewer. It also is used for
industrial waste because of
its outstanding corrosion
and abrasion resistance.
Plumbing Materials

• Duriron is a 14.5 percent silicon iron

that possesses nearly universal
corrosion resistance. For nearly a
century, duriron pipe and fittings
have provided a durable and
reliable means of transporting
corrosive waste safely.
Plumbing Materials

• Stainless steel and aluminum

are the most common special-
purpose piping materials used
for a wide range of
applications where
performance requirements
outweigh costs. Stainless steel
and aluminum require
specialized skills in design and
fabrication. Aluminum
Stainless Steel
Plumbing Materials

• Mechanical joints include

transition (flanged),
compression, and threaded
joints. Mechanical joints shall
incorporate a positive
mechanical system for axial
restraint in addition to any
restraint provided by friction
Plumbing Materials

• Compression-type gaskets
have been used in pressure
pipe joints for years. The
compression joint uses hub-
and-spigot pipe and fittings
(as does the lead and oakum
joint).
Plumbing Materials

• To make a caulked joint, the spigot end

of a pipe or fitting is placed inside the
hub of another pipe or fitting. Oakum is
placed around the spigot in the hub
using a yarning tool, and then the
oakum is packed to the proper depth
using a packing tool. Molten lead is then
poured into the joint, ensuring that the
lead is brought up near the top of the
hub.
• After the lead has cooled sufficiently, it
is caulked with a caulking tool to form a
solid lead insert. The result is a lock-
tight soil pipe joint with excellent flexural
characteristics.
Plumbing Materials

• The shielded coupling for hubless

cast iron soil pipe and fittings is
a plumbing concept that
provides a more compact
arrangement without sacrificing
the quality and performance of
cast iron. The hubless coupling
system typically uses a one-
piece neoprene gasket, a shield
of stainless steel retaining
clamps.
Plumbing Materials

• Mechanically formed tee fittings

shall be formed in a continuous
operation consisting of drilling a
pilot hole and drawing out the
tube surface to form a tee
having a height of not less than
three times the thickness of the
branch tube wall
Plumbing Materials

1. Press Connect and

Push Connect
2. Roll Groove
3. Brazing 1 2

4. Soldering

3 4