Applications
Water
PE pipes for potable water are extruded from virgin polyethylene resins with carbon black for UV resistance, to DIN 8074 and DIN 8075.
Material
- 01
Virgin, high-grade polyethylene resins. HDPE and linear low-density PE (density 0.930 g/cm³) are both used.
- 02
A minimum of 2% carbon black for resistance to ultraviolet deterioration.
- 03
Manufactured to DIN 8074 and DIN 8075.
- 04
Available in a range of diameters, coil lengths and working pressures.
Heat-fused joints
A fused joint is as strong as the pipe and does not leak. There are no bell-and-spigot leak points every 10 to 20 feet, so allowable leakage in the life-cycle cost is zero rather than the 10 to 20% typical of PVC and ductile iron.
Fused joints are self-restraining. Thrust blocks and thrust restraints are not required.
Flexibility and fatigue
- 01
Bends to a radius of 25 times the nominal diameter and can be cold-formed in the field.
- 02
Fewer fittings for directional changes than rigid materials.
- 03
Suited to dynamic soils and earthquake-prone areas.
- 04
Accepts repeated pressure surges above the static pressure rating.
Construction and cost
The polyethylene pipe industry estimates a service life of 50 to 100 years. HDPE does not corrode, tuberculate or support biological growth, and it resists the chemicals used in water treatment.
Flexibility and fused joints allow horizontal directional drilling, pipe bursting, slip lining, plough-and-plant and submerged or floating installation.
Pipe is produced in straight lengths up to 12 m and in coils up to 6 inch diameter. Polyethylene is about one-eighth the density of steel, so lifting equipment is lighter.
Hydraulics
The Hazen-Williams C factor is 150 and stays there: the smooth bore does not corrode or tuberculate, so flow capacity does not fall over time.
PE 100 pipe dimensions
Wall thickness and weight per metre for PE 100 water pipe from 20 mm to 1,200 mm, by pressure class. SDR 17 is PN 10 and SDR 11 is PN 16. A dash means the size is not made in that class.
| SDR 41PN 4 | SDR 26PN 6 | SDR 21PN 8 | SDR 17PN 10 | SDR 13.6PN 12.5 | SDR 11PN 16 | SDR 9PN 20 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outside diameter, mm | ||||||||||||||
| 20 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2.0 | 0.118 | 2.3 | 0.134 |
| 25 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2.0 | 0.151 | 2.3 | 0.173 | 3.0 | 0.213 |
| 32 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2.0 | 0.198 | 2.4 | 0.235 | 3.0 | 0.282 | 3.6 | 0.331 |
| 40 | – | – | 1.8 | 0.229 | 2.0 | 0.251 | 2.4 | 0.299 | 3.0 | 0.36 | 3.7 | 0.434 | 4.5 | 0.514 |
| 50 | – | – | 2.0 | 0.317 | 2.4 | 0.378 | 3.0 | 0.458 | 3.7 | 0.555 | 4.6 | 0.673 | 5.6 | 0.796 |
| 63 | 1.8 | 0.368 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 0.586 | 3.8 | 0.728 | 4.7 | 0.883 | 5.8 | 1.06 | 7.1 | 1.27 |
| 75 | 1.9 | 0.462 | 2.9 | 0.683 | 3.6 | 0.836 | 4.5 | 1.03 | 5.6 | 1.25 | 6.8 | 1.48 | 8.4 | 1.78 |
| 90 | 2.2 | 0.647 | 3.5 | 0.988 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 5.4 | 1.47 | 6.7 | 1.79 | 8.2 | 2.14 | 10.1 | 2.57 |
| 110 | 2.7 | 0.952 | 4.2 | 1.45 | 5.3 | 1.79 | 6.6 | 2.19 | 8.1 | 2.64 | 10.0 | 3.18 | 12.3 | 3.82 |
| 125 | 3.1 | 1.25 | 4.8 | 1.86 | 6.0 | 2.29 | 7.4 | 2.79 | 9.2 | 3.4 | 11.4 | 4.12 | 14.0 | 4.92 |
| 140 | 3.5 | 1.56 | 5.4 | 2.35 | 6.7 | 2.86 | 8.3 | 3.5 | 10.3 | 4.26 | 12.7 | 5.13 | 15.7 | 6.18 |
| 160 | 4.0 | 2.02 | 6.2 | 3.08 | 7.7 | 3.75 | 9.5 | 4.57 | 11.8 | 5.56 | 14.6 | 6.74 | 17.9 | 8.04 |
| 180 | 4.4 | 2.51 | 6.9 | 3.83 | 8.6 | 4.71 | 10.7 | 5.77 | 13.3 | 7.05 | 16.4 | 8.51 | 20.1 | 10.2 |
| 200 | 4.9 | 3.08 | 7.7 | 4.74 | 9.6 | 5.84 | 11.9 | 7.12 | 14.7 | 8.65 | 18.2 | 10.5 | 22.4 | 12.6 |
| 225 | 5.5 | 3.9 | 8.6 | 5.96 | 10.8 | 7.37 | 13.4 | 9.03 | 16.6 | 11.0 | 20.5 | 13.3 | 25.2 | 15.9 |
| 250 | 6.2 | 4.88 | 9.6 | 7.38 | 11.9 | 9.02 | 14.8 | 11.1 | 18.4 | 13.5 | 22.7 | 16.3 | 27.9 | 19.6 |
| 280 | 6.9 | 6.04 | 10.7 | 9.2 | 13.4 | 11.4 | 16.6 | 13.9 | 20.6 | 16.9 | 25.4 | 20.5 | 31.3 | 24.6 |
| 315 | 7.7 | 7.59 | 12.1 | 11.7 | 15.0 | 14.3 | 18.7 | 17.6 | 23.2 | 21.5 | 28.6 | 25.9 | 35.2 | 31.1 |
| 355 | 8.7 | 9.65 | 13.6 | 14.8 | 16.9 | 18.2 | 21.1 | 22.4 | 26.1 | 27.2 | 32.2 | 32.9 | 39.7 | 39.5 |
| 400 | 9.8 | 12.2 | 15.3 | 18.8 | 19.1 | 23.1 | 23.7 | 28.3 | 29.4 | 34.5 | 36.3 | 41.7 | 44.7 | 50.1 |
| 450 | 11.0 | 15.4 | 17.2 | 23.7 | 21.5 | 29.3 | 26.7 | 35.8 | 33.1 | 43.7 | 40.9 | 52.8 | 50.3 | 63.4 |
| 500 | 12.3 | 19.2 | 19.1 | 29.2 | 23.9 | 36.1 | 29.7 | 44.2 | 36.8 | 53.9 | 45.4 | 65.2 | 55.8 | 78.1 |
| 560 | 13.7 | 23.9 | 21.4 | 36.6 | 26.7 | 45.2 | 33.2 | 55.4 | 41.2 | 67.6 | 50.8 | 81.7 | 62.5 | 98.0 |
| 630 | 15.4 | 30.2 | 24.1 | 46.4 | 30.0 | 57.0 | 37.4 | 70.2 | 46.3 | 85.5 | 57.2 | 103.0 | – | – |
| 710 | 17.4 | 38.4 | 27.2 | 59.0 | 33.9 | 72.6 | 42.1 | 89.0 | 52.2 | 109.0 | 64.5 | 131.0 | – | – |
| 800 | 19.6 | 48.7 | 30.6 | 74.7 | 38.1 | 92.0 | 47.4 | 113.0 | 58.8 | 138.0 | 72.6 | 173.0 | – | – |
| 900 | 22.0 | 61.3 | 34.4 | 94.4 | 42.9 | 116.0 | 53.3 | 143.0 | 66.1 | 174.0 | 81.7 | 222.0 | – | – |
| 1000 | 24.5 | 75.9 | 38.2 | 117.0 | 47.7 | 144.0 | 59.3 | 176.0 | 73.5 | 219.0 | 90.8 | 274.0 | – | – |
| 1200 | 29.4 | 109.0 | 45.9 | 168.0 | 57.2 | 207.0 | 71.1 | 254.0 | 88.2 | 320.0 | 109.1 | 390.0 | – | – |
Source: ALROWAD PE 100 data sheet, DIN 8074 and 8075, ISO 4427, ES 1832, design coefficient C = 1.25.
Next step
Other applications
- 01IrrigationHDPE pipe for irrigation and water systems resists corrosion and weather, and its flexibility cuts the number of fittings a network needs.
- 02Fire fightingPolyethylene piping for underground fire-fighting systems, manufactured to ISO and DIN 8074 and DIN 8075.
- 03GasPolyethylene is the standard material for gas distribution. Typical pressure ratings reach 80 psi for MDPE and 125 psi for HDPE.
- 04Fish cagesHDPE floating cages for aquaculture. Each project starts with an assessment of the site and the species.
- 05LiningA damaged or worn pipeline renewed from the inside: a continuous polyethylene pipe is pulled into the old one between two pits, with no open trench along the route.