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Ductile Iron vs. PVC Pipe: Key Advantages

Ductile Iron pipe is significantly superior to PVC pipe in terms of strength, pressure capacity, and durability, with much higher tensile and impact strength. It offers advantages in installation, such as easier direct tapping and greater hydraulic capacity, without the need for tracer wires. Overall, Ductile Iron pipe is the preferred choice for water and wastewater applications due to its reliability and performance under various conditions.

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Joaquin Riccitelli
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16 views1 page

Ductile Iron vs. PVC Pipe: Key Advantages

Ductile Iron pipe is significantly superior to PVC pipe in terms of strength, pressure capacity, and durability, with much higher tensile and impact strength. It offers advantages in installation, such as easier direct tapping and greater hydraulic capacity, without the need for tracer wires. Overall, Ductile Iron pipe is the preferred choice for water and wastewater applications due to its reliability and performance under various conditions.

Uploaded by

Joaquin Riccitelli
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

WHY DUCTILE IRON PIPE IS SUPERIOR TO PVC PIPE

Pvc pipe is sometimes specified as a substitute to Ductile Iron pipe, making the two products seem as equals. However,
Pressure Class Ductile Iron pipe is far superior to any product the pvc pipe industry makes. We can demonstrate that
assertion through the comparisons shown below (based on 6-inch pipe).

Strength Characteristics:

Ductile Iron pipe:

C has an ultimate tensile strength more than eight (8) times that of pvc.
This gives Ductile Iron a tremendous advantage in pressure
capacity for both working pressure and surge.
C resists up to four (4) times the hydrostatic burst pressure of DR 18
pvc.
C can support more than eight (8) times the crushing load of DR 18
pvc.
C has more than thirteen (13) times the impact strength of pvc.
C does not suffer fatigue from cyclic stresses as can pvc.

Installation:

C Because Ductile Iron pipe has much greater ability to withstand


crushing loads, bedding requirements are not as critical as with pvc
pipe.
C Direct tapping of Ductile Iron pipe is easier, faster, safer and less
likely to result in pipe damage (see DIPRA’s direct tapping
reports).
C Ductile Iron Pipe is easier to locate - no tracer wires are necessary.
C Ductile Iron Pipe has a much larger inside diameter than pvc pipe.
This translates into greater hydraulic capacity (see DIPRA’s
brochure “Hydraulic Analysis of Ductile Iron Pipe”).
C More and better choices for restrained joints are available with
Ductile Iron pipe.
C Greater joint deflection with Ductile Iron pipe provides versatility
& savings during installation.

For more details on how Ductile Iron and pvc pipe compare, contact
DIPRA to obtain the brochure “Ductile Iron Pipe versus pvc.”

Ductile Iron pipe has long been recognized as the superior pipe material for water and wastewater applications. Its
tremendous strength and durability allow it to be designed under conservative assumptions. Therefore, it can be
installed with confidence that actual service conditions will not compromise its ability to perform. Regardless of the
criteria - strength, durability, tapping, flow capacity, safety factor, or actual field experience - it is easy to understand
what those who know pipe have long understood. Ductile Iron pipe is the right decision.

245 Riverchase Parkway East, Suite O, Birmingham, Alabama 35244 205.402.8700 205.402.8730 [Link]

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