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Most popular and commonly used kind of materials available for plumbing installation:

1. Cast iron soil pipe

2. Acid resistant cast iron pipe

3. Asbestos pipe

4. Bituminous fiber sewer pipe

5. Vitrified clay pipe

6. Lead pipe

7. Galvanized steel pipe

8. Galvanized wrought iron pipe

9. Brass pipe

10. Copper pipe

11. Plastic synthetic pipe

12. Stainless steel pipe

The choice of the kind of pipe to be installed depends upon the following considerations:

1. Quality and durability

2. Resistance to external and internal contact with foreign matters

3. Resistance to acid waste and other chemical elements that will pass into it

4. Cost of materials and labor

1. CAST IRON PIPE

PROS CONS
Most popular and generally specified Affected by corrosion caused by the
material for drainage system in buildings action of carbon dioxide, sulfur oxide and
for the past several decades methane gas forming solutions of
carbonic acid and sulfuric acid. These
acids attack the metallic material causing
a slow chemical reaction or oxidation to
take place forming ferrous oxide called
rust.
Commonly used in gravity building and Cast iron pipes and fittings are limited to
storm drain/sewer systems gravity pressure systems.
Durable, conveniently installed and Constant vibrations which causes water
answer to the most plumbing needs of all leak of the pipe joints for buildings taller
types of buildings less than 25 storey high than 25 storey

2 Types of Cast Iron Pipe:

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a. SV (Service) Type

- generally used for above-grade installations and building installation

b. XH (Extra Heavy) Type

- used for applications below grade and underground installation

4 Varieties of Cast Iron Pipe:

a. Standard Pipe

b. Single Hub Pipe

c. Double Hub Pipe

d. Hubless Pipe

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2. ACID RESISTANT CAST IRON PIPE - made from alloy of cast iron and silicon

PROS CONS
Widely used in chemical laboratories, industries Brittle in character and requires stronger support
and other installations where acid wastes are for each pipe installed horizontally to prevent
being discharged. sagging of joints

3. ASBESTOS PIPE - made of asbestos fibers and Portland cement.

PROS
Its thickness is twice as that of standard cast iron pipe.
Could be used in soil, waste, ventilation and downspout
Remarkably superior for embedment in concrete structure
for having the same material properties

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JOINTS - All joints are suitably grouted and firmly packed with oakum or old hemp rope. They are
soaked in tar to be watertight and well secured with pure lead not less than 25 mm deep, well
calked, or filled with cement mortar. For chimney joints, mineral lead is replaced with cement mortar.

4. BITUMINOUS FIBER SEWER PIPE

PROS CONS
Cheapest among the sewer pipes Excessive hot water chemical flow may soften or
Sometimes recommended for house sewer and damage the pipe.
for septic tank installation

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Light in weight, slightly flexible which could take
slight movement w/o danger of cracking or
pulling out from its joint

5. VITRIFIED CLAY PIPE

- one of the oldest materials used for sewer lines

- made out from clay, cast into length of 75 cm treated with glazing compound. The pipe is heated in

a large kiln under a temperature of 1370°C, making it impervious to moisture.

PROS CONS
Highly resistant to most acid wastes Brittle physical property. Hence, it should not be
Durable material for underground installations laid on unstable ground base.
like public sewer, house sewer or strom drain

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6. LEAD PIPE - also one of the oldest plumbing materials used by the Egyptians, the Greeks and the
Roman builders as soil and waste pipe.

PROS CONS
Highly resistant to acid and is suitable for Never used to convey water for human
underground installation. consumption because lead is poisonous and
injuries to human health.

7. GALVANIZED STEEL PIPE – made out from mlld steel, draw through a die and welded, cast into 6 m
long.

CONS
Easily corroded by alkaline and acid water. The carbonic acid in water attack the zinc coating
and ultimately the steel itself.
It is subject to deposits of salt and lime that gradually accumulate and finally choke the flow of
water.
It deteriorates faster when used as hot water supply line.

8. GALVANIZED WROUGHT IRON PIPE

PROS
Better in quality than the steel pipe for plumbing installation.
Test showed that it is more resistant to acid waste than the steel pipe.

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9. BRASS PIPE - made of an alloy of zinc and copper mixed at 15% and 85% proportion respectively.
Brass pipe fittings are of the recessed type similar in design with galvanized steel pipe.

PROS CONS
Superior material for waste and water supply One of the most expensive types of pipes
installations because of its smooth interior
surface and high resistance to acid.

10. COPPER PIPE

PROS
Durable and extremely corrosive resistant material.
Easy to install compared with other types of pipe.

3 Types of Copper Pipe:

a. K Type

- heaviest; has the thickest walls

- suitable for underground installation

- preferred for pressure applications

b. L Type

- lighter than the K type

- available in both rigid and flexible form

- commonly used in residential water supply line and for radiant heating installations

- also preferred for pressure applications

c. M Type

- thinnest

- available only in rigid form

- specially designed for small water supply lines and for radiant heating installations

- used for low and no-pressure applications

Comparisons to Steel Pipe:

a. Copper pipe costs little more than the steel pipe but its fittings cost lesser than that of the steel
pipe.

b. Because of its very smooth interior surface, one size smaller pipe could be used instead, w/o
substantial reduction of liquid flow.

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Example: Where a 25 mm (1”) diameter steel pipe is required, a 20 mm (3/4”) diameter copper
pipe is equally sufficient.

Special Features of Copper Pipe:

a. It could be used as drain and vent pipe.

b. It could be used as cold water supply line.

c. It is remarkably excellent material for hot water lines.

d. It can replace rusted or choked-up sections of galvanized steel pipe.

e. No special tools required to install copper pipe nor threading is necessary.

f. It is bent easily. A flexible vertical line can offset existing structure. Underground lines can be
rerouted

around an obstruction.

g. Measuring is less critical.

h. It needs fewer joints and fittings.

i. It comes in longer length.

j. It may be used one size smaller than a steel pipe.

Note: In installing hot water line, the use of bigger pipe should be avoided because heat loss on
larger pipe is higher than on a smaller one.

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11. PLASTIC SYNTHETIC PIPE

- a new concept in the field of plumbing. It was introduced in the Philippines at the early 70’s,
although it was developed in Germany in the mid-year of 1935.

- has gained widespread acceptance after it has in many ways proven itself to be superior as
sewer and cold water pipe line.

Some codes however are still apprehensive in approving its use. According to Dick Demske:

“Many codes have not been updated since the days when plastic was still in the test tube stage, and
therefore do not make any mention of the type of plastic piping that are in widespread use today…

Building authorities have a reputation for hard headedness and it is not unknown for them to require
the tearing down of an installation that does not conform to their codes.”

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Types of Plastic Synthetic Pipes:

a. Rigid Type

b. Flexible Type

The Rigid Types:

a. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

b. Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC)

c. Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride (uPVC)

d. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

e. Polypropylene (PP)

f. Styrene Rubber Plastic (SR)

The Flexible Types:

a. Polyethylene (PE)

b. Polybutylene (PB) – manufactured w/ special length up to 150 m long in coil form.

❖ PE & PB - in coil form available at 30 m long

The plastic pipes being used for hot water lines recently:

a. CPVC

b. PP

c. PVDC (Polyvinyl Dichloride)

❖ It seems to be all right but whether it could withstand hot water at 180°F or higher
temperature, plus the pressure of hot water for years w/o any amount of substantial
collapse or damage itself, is still a matter of facts to be proven. Thus, extensive research
is still going on to develop plastic pipes suitable for hot water.

Advantages of Plastic Pipe:

a. It is more resistant to rust and corrosion.

b. Water conveyed by plastic pipe has no pipe tastes.

c. The extreme smooth interior surface prevents the buildup of scale, rust and foreign material that
often impedes flow through metallic pipes.

d. There is no turbulence of water and therefore, has a minimum resistance to flow.

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e. PVC pipe and fittings weigh about 1/5 of the metal pipe. They are easily and quickly installed
through solvent cementing.

f. Plastic pipes are cast in longer length and easy to cut as well as to install.

g. The Polyethylene (PE) pipe is flexible material that weighs about 1/8 as much as the steel pipe.

For example: A 100 m long 25 mm diameter coil plastic pipe could be easily carried by one individual

compared with metal pipes having the same length and diameter which could be hardly carried by
5 persons.

h. PVC pipe can be connected to existing metal pipe using a threaded adapter.

i. PVC is virtually acid proof to any chemical used in recommended strengths around the home.

j. No special tools are needed for installing PVC except a rule to measure and a saw to cut.

k. The best reason at all: You can do it yourself.

❖ Certain chemicals such as methyl-ethyl-ketone (acetone), paint remover or paint brush

cleaner should not be poured in PVC or any other drainage pipe.

Selecting Your Plastic Pipes

Physical and mechanical properties of plastic pipes that manufacturers should publish for the users’
information:

1. Specific gravity

2. Hardness

3. Impact strength

4. Compression, shearing and tensile strength

5. Test results

6. Characteristic value of materials

❖ Most of plastic pipes and fittings are produced from synthetic resins. The chemistry of plastic is
perplexing and the finished product could appear in a great variety of forms and colors. It is
derived from coal and petroleum products.

Celluloid - the first plastic material introduced about 100 years ago

1905 – Bakelite was developed.

Polyethylene (PE) – remarkably successful in water piping services for more than 50 years

1945 – Extensive researches on plastic products towards standardization of quality have started when
various plastic materials were introduced for plumbing use.

1972 – Approximately 4,500 state, country and city codes permitted the use of plastic pipe for all or a
portion of the plumbing system. The plumbing code that was promulgated by the Association of
Plumbing Officials and the Plumbing Contractors was called “Model Code”.
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Support

PVC and CPVU installation must be supported when hanging from the ceiling, rafters or floor joists.

The Model Codes that approved the use of plastic pipe for plumbing systems are:

1. The National Standard Plumbing Code

2. Building Officials and Code Administrations International

3. National Associations of Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors

4. Southern Standard Plumbing Code

5. Southern Building Code Congress

6. Uniform Standard Plumbing Code

7. International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials

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