Welcome to the
PVC Pipe Association

EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS

Participate in our online webinars and learn about the design, specification and installation of PVC pipe for water and sewer projects.

PVC pipe for municipal applications is available in sizes from 3 to 60 inches.

CLICK HERE for more information.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND TECHNICAL BRIEFS

Access more than 75 one-page Technical Briefs for answers to the most commonly asked questions about PVC water and sewer pipe, health and safety, as well as information on competitive pipe materials.

CLICK HERE for technical briefs.

TESTING CONFIRMS PVC PIPE HYDRAULIC COEFFICIENTS ARE CONSERVATIVE

Recent hydraulic research on new and in-service PVC pipe has confirmed that industry-recommended flow coefficients are conservative for design of pressure and non-pressure pipes.

CLICK HERE for report.

PVC PIPE STANDARDS SHEETS

Your quick reference guide of applicable standards for PVC pressure, sewer and reclaimed water pipe:

• Pressure Pipe Standard for Water Mains
• Gravity Sewer Pipe Standards
• Force Main Sewer Pipe Standards
• Reclaimed Water Pipe Standards

HANDBOOK OF PVC PIPE

Everything you need to know about PVC pipe: materials, manufacture, design and installation.

Get the facts on why PVC pipe is the most widely used piping material for underground infrastructure today.

Preview now! Free one-time download of up to three chapters.

WATER MAIN BREAK STUDY

"Overall Pipe Breaks Up 27% In Six Years"

Water Main Break Rates
In the USA and Canada:
A Comprehensive Study

Once again, PVC pipe has the lowest break rate.

Utah State University
Buried Structures Laboratory

CLICK HERE for study.

FRENCH TRANSLATION NOW AVAILABLE

CLICK HERE for French translation.

CYCLIC-LIFE CALCULATOR

New online calculator for PVC sewer force mains uses project parameters to calculate expected cyclic life and determine the appropriate DR for projects. Multiple surge events can be added, which the calculator can easily combine to provide resulting cyclic life. Up to four surge events can be included.

CLICK HERE for calculator.

ASSESSING THE TRANSPARENCY & RELIABILITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATIONS FOR UNDERGROUND PIPING

Find out how to objectively evaluate sustainability and environmental claims for underground infrastructure.

CLICK HERE for technical paper.

PVC PIPE LONGEVITY REPORT

AFFORDABILITY & THE 100+ YEAR BENCHMARK STANDARD

A Comprehensive Study on PVC Pipe Excavations, Testing, & Life Cycle Analysis

By Steven Folkman, Ph.D., P.E., Utah State University, Buried Structures Laboratory

CLICK HERE for report.

SAFE AND GREEN PVC PIPE

Get the facts on PVC pipe’s health and safety benefits, its green credentials, rigorous quality control and testing, how its unsurpassed corrosion resistance is the key to truly sustainable underground infrastructure, and much more…

PVC pipe: true strength and sustainability begin with corrosion resistance.

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE: SPECIFYING, DESIGNING AND INSTALLING PVC WATER AND SEWER PIPE

Participate in two, three-hour online courses over two days (December 6 & 7, 2023) and obtain a complete evaluation of PVC water and sewer pipe applications. Get up to 6.0 PDHs! Ideal for long-time as well as new users of PVC pipe.

CLICK HERE to register.

ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATION

The only ISO-compliant, peer-reviewed, industry-wide EPD for water and sewer pipe in North America. Benchmarks the impacts of PVC pipe products across their life cycles. Fully transparent and certified by NSF International as an industry best practice. Verified LCA Conformity to Product Category Rule and ISO 14025.

CLICK HERE for 2023 EPD.

CLICK HERE for 2015 EPD.

SAMPLE SPECIFICATIONS FOR PVC WATER AND SEWER PIPES

Recently published sample specifications for water and sewer pipes.

Specifications are provided for three project types:

1. Potable water
2. Gravity sewer
3. Sewer forcemains

CLICK HERE for the sample specifications.

PIPE MATERIAL COMPARISONS

Find out how PVC stacks up against other water and sewer pipe materials. Learn about the important technical criteria to consider when selecting underground piping for your community.

• PVC vs. Ductile Iron (DI) Pressure Pipe for Water Mains
• PVC vs. Fiberglass (FRP) Gravity Sewer
• PVC vs. HDPE Pressure Pipe for Water Mains
   

CLICK HERE for a complete list.

LCA FOR PVC PIPE

Life Cycle Assessment of PVC Water and Sewer Pipe and Comparative Sustainability Analysis of Pipe Materials

Comparative analysis and environmental review of underground piping shows PVC pipe has fewer environmental impacts and life cycle costs over a 100-year life.

CLICK HERE for report.

CLICK HERE for Spanish translation.
CLICK HERE for French translation.

EXTERNAL LOAD DESIGN CALCULATOR

Allows designers to easily determine long-term deflection of PVC pipe given specified embedment (backfill) and pipe material properties. Users can vary inputs such as pipe size, wall thickness, soil properties, live loading conditions and depths of cover.  PVC pipe has a long-term deflection limit of 7.5%. 

CLICK HERE for calculator.

EVALUATING LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENTS FOR UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE

Sustainable Solutions Corporation (SSC) paper on the importance of using transparent and verifiable standards when determining the environmental impacts of a pipe product. No other pipe material has disclosed environmental impacts to as transparent and regulated a degree as the PVC pipe industry.

CLICK HERE for technical report.

PVC PRESSURE PIPE TAPPING GUIDE

Newly revised tapping guide for PVC pipe includes sections on:

(1) Introductory material;
(2) Direct tapping;
(3) Saddle tapping;
(4) Sleeve tapping

CLICK HERE for report.

CLICK HERE for Spanish translation.

GUIDE FOR PVC FITTINGS & LATERALS

Design & installation information for a wide range of PVC fittings available for various dimension ratios and outside diameters of PVC pipe through 60-inch.

PVC fittings allow you to build completely corrosion-free, low-maintenance sewer pipe systems.

CLICK HERE for Guide.

HAVE A TECHNICAL QUESTION?

We are proud to provide free technical support to PVC pipe users and those interested in learning more about PVC pipe.

CLICK HERE to contact one of our engineers today for your specifications development and project design needs.

2024 PVCPA ANNUAL MEETING

50TH ANNUAL MEETING

February 26-28, 2024

Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort

Playa Herradura, Costa Rica

CLICK HERE to receive registration and program information when available.

CONTRACTOR’S GUIDE FOR INSTALLATION OF GASKETED PVC WATER/SEWER PIPE

Easy-to-use “reversible book” format assists readers to quickly access information.

 
Provides preferred methods of installation based on field experience, published reports, and other industry sources that will help users be more effective and efficient at installing PVC piping systems.

Now Available in Spanish!

CLICK HERE to order your copy now.

FORCE MAIN DESIGN GUIDE FOR PVC PIPE

Guide for PVC sewer force mains uses recently developed method for cyclic-life design, which refers to the number of years PVC pipe can withstand cyclic pressures. Design procedure and examples are provided, along with additional considerations.

CLICK HERE for Guide.

INTERNAL PRESSURE DESIGN CALCULATOR

Assists engineers to determine PVC pipe wall thickness using expected design values for working pressure, surge pressures (both occasional and recurring) and hydrostatic test pressure based on pipe size and OD regimen. 

CLICK HERE for calculator.

HYDRAULIC ANALYSIS: PUMPING COSTS FOR PVC AND DUCTILE IRON PIPE

Using accepted hydraulic theory and pump design, this technical report examines head loss and pumping costs over 100-years for PVC and ductile iron pipe. When industry-accepted data are used, PVC pipe is shown to be more efficient.

CLICK HERE for technical report.

GUIDE: FIELD CUTTING OF PVC PIPES

PVC Pipe Association's guide for safe and effective field-cutting of PVC pipe.

CLICK HERE for the Guide: Field Cutting of PVC Pipes.

U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS' REPORT (2018)

Municipal Procurement: Competitive Bidding for Pipes Demonstrates Significant Local Cost-Savings

Richard F. Anderson, Ph.D., Senior Advisor, Mayors Water Council 

A call for reform in water pipe procurement.

CLICK HERE for report.

MAJOR PVC PIPE MARKETS

Corrosion-proof PVC is the number one piping material used in North America. Use it for all of your infrastructure projects.

• Force Mains
• Reclaimed Water
• Sanitary Sewer
• Storm Sewer
• Trenchless
• Water

GUIDE FOR PVC PRESSURE FITTINGS

PVC pressure fittings — guide for design and installation.

CLICK HERE for the Guide for PVC Pressure Fittings