6/16/2020 PE pipe & maximum operating pressure

PE technical guidance

What is the recommended maximum

operating pressure for a PE pipe?
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Relationship between MOP, MRS & SDR

The relationship between the maximum operating pressure (MOP), the minimum required
strength of the PE pipe grade (MRS) and the pipe geometry (SDR standard dimension ratio) is
given by the following industrially recognised and applied formula;
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MOP = (20 x MRS) / (C x (SDR-1))

Where C is the ‘overall service (design) coefficient, or Safety Factor.

It is generally recommended by our customers and design institutes that for water applications
the minimum value of C is 1.25 and for gas applications the minimum value of C is 2.0. The
designer may apply higher coefficients depending upon national codes of practice or judgment of
local conditions and the critical nature of the application.

Example 1: What is the maximum operating pressure of a PE100 SDR11 water pipeline?

MOP = (20 x MRS) / (C x (SDR-1))

MRS = 10 MPa, SDR = 11, C = 1.25

MOP = (20 x 10) / (1.25 x (11-1))

MOP = 16 bar

Example 2: What is the maximum operating pressure of a PE100 SDR17 gas distribution main?

MRS = 10 MPa, SDR = 17, C = 2.0

MOP = (20 x 10) / (2.0 x (17-1))

MOP = 6.25 bar

(Note, other factors such as resistance to rapid crack propagation (RCP) are suggested to be
taken into account, particularly for gas applications, to confirm that the calculated MOP can be
applied. Refer to EN 1555-1/2 and ISO 4437-1/2)

References
EN ISO 12162:2009 Thermoplastics materials for pipes and fittings for pressure
applications - Classification and designation - overall Service (Design) coefficient
EN 1555-1:2010 Plastics piping systems for the supply of gaseous fuels. Polyethylene (PE)
- Part 1 General.
EN 1555-2:2010, Plastics piping systems for the supply of gaseous fuels. Polyethylene
(PE) - Part 2 Pipes
ISO 4437:2007 Buried polyethylene (PE) pipes for the supply of gaseous fuels - Metric
series - Specifications
EN 12201-1:2011, Plastics piping systems for water supply, and for drainage and sewerage
under pressure - Polyethylene (PE) - Part 1: General

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EN 12201-2:2011, Plastics piping systems for water supply, and for drainage and sewerage
under pressure - Polyethylene (PE) - Part 2: Pipes
ISO 4427-1:2007, Plastics piping systems – Polyethylene (PE) pipes and fittings for water
supply – Part 1: General
ISO 4427-2:2007, Plastics piping systems – Polyethylene (PE) pipes and fittings for water
supply – Part 2: Pipes

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Last update Thursday 31 May 2018   

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