Pipes and its types

What are pipes?

Pipes are installed in two ways, namely.

Horizontal pipe – is any pipe or fitting installed in a horizontal position or which forms an angle of not more
than forty-five degrees with the horizontal plane

Pipes in plumbing are connected to the vent, waste disposal, and water supply. They only differ in materials
used for specific functions. In instance,

Vent Pipe – a vent or opening used for ensuring the circulation of air in a plumbing system and for relieving the negative
pressure exerted on trap seals.

Vent stack pipes – the vertical vent pipe installed primarily for providing circulation of air and from any part of the soil,
waste drainage system.

Backvent Pipe – the part of a vent line, which connects directly with an individual trap underneath or behind
the fixtures and extends to the branch or main vent pipe at any point higher than the fixtures or fixture traps it
serve. It is sometimes called an individual vent.
Indirect waste pipes – is a pipe that does not connect directly with the drainage system but conveys liquid
waste by discharging into a plumbing fixture, interceptor or receptacle directly connected to the drainage
system.

Service pipe – the pipe from the street water main or other source of water supply to the building served.

Soil pipe – any pipe, which conveys the discharge of water closet, urinal or fixtures having similar functions, with or
without discharges from other fixtures to the building drain or building sewer. Soil Pipes are designed to transport the
soiled water (blackwater) from your toilet, urinal, or bidet (if you're fancy).

Soil stack pipe – a vetical soil pipe conveying fecal matter and waste water.
Waste Pipes - are designed to transport the wastewater (greywater) from your sinks, shower, bath, washing machine, or
dishwasher. Free of fecal matter.

Types of pipes
Cast iron pipe - Cast iron pipe fittings are specially designed for soil pipes. These pipe fittings are primarily used in
building construction for sanitary and storm drain, waste and vent piping applications.

There are 2 types of cast iron pipes

1. The SV type which is generally used for building installation

Cast iron has four varieties

1. Standard type

2. Single hub pipe

3. Double hub pipe

4. Hubless pipe
Acid resistant cast iron type - made of alloy of cast iron and silicon. It is widely used in chemical laboratories, industries
where acid waste are being discharge. Basically, this type is brittle in character and requires stronger support for each
pipe installed to prevent sagging of joints.

Asbestos pipe – made of asbestos fibers and Portland cement. The thickness of the pipe is twice as that of a standard
cast iron pipe. Asbestos pipe could be used as soil, waste, ventilation, and downspouts. This kind of pipe is remarkably
superior for embedment in concrete sstructures for having the same material properties.

Bituminous fiber sewer pipe – is the cheapest among sewing pipe. It is sometimes recommended for house sewer and
for septic tank installation. This type of tight is light in weight, slightly flexible which could take slight soil movement
without danger of cracking or pulling out from its joint. However excessive hot water or chemical flow may soften or
damage the pipe.

Vitrified Clay pipe – made out of clay, cast into length of 75 centimeters treated with glazing compound. The pipe is
heated in a large kiln under a temperature of 137degrees Celsius making it impervious to moisture. Clay pipe is highly
resistant to most acid waste.
Lead pipe – Lead is a highly resistant to acid and is suitable for underground installation. But because lead is poisonous
and injurious to human health, it is never use to convey water for consumption.

Galvanized steel pipe – Galvanized pipes are steel pipes that have been dipped in a protective zinc coating to prevent
corrosion and rust. is made out of mild steel, drawn through a die and welded, cast into 6 meters long. This type of pipe
is easily corroded by alkaline and acid water. The carbonic acid in water, attack the zinc coating and ultimately the steel
itself. Galvanized steel pipe deteriorate faster when used as hot water supply line.

Galvanized wrought iron pipe - Galvanized wrought iron pipe is better in quality than the steel pipe for plumbing
installation. They are prepared by welding wrought iron sheet. In addition, seamless pipes are also made.

Brass pipe – it is one of the most expensive pipes. This pipe is made of alloy or zinc and copper mixed at 15% and 85%
proportion respectively. Because of it’s smooth interior surface and high resistance to acid, brass pipe become superior
material for waste and water supply installations. Brass pipe fittings are of the recessed type similar in design with
galvanized steel pipe.
Copper pipe – is durable and extremely corrosive resistant material. It is classified into 3 types.

The K type is the heaviest and suitable for underground installation.

The L type is lighter then K type available in both rigid and flexible form. It is commonly used in residential water
supply line for radiant heating installations.

The M type is the thinnest and available only in a rigid form. This type of copper pipe is specially designed for
small water supply lines and for radiant heating installations.

Plastic or synthetic pipe –

Types of plastic synthetic pipes

a. Rigid type
1. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - It is a chlorinated hydrocarbon polymer. In its natural state, it is
rigid and brittle. But when combined with additives such as plasticizers, it becomes more
resilient and malleable. Depending on the application, a few variants of PVC pipes are used
as hot or cold water conduits in industrial as well as commercial contexts.
2. Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) - Conceptually, CPVC is a PVC homopolymer that has
been subjected to a chlorination reaction. Typically, chlorine and PVC react according to a
basic free radical mechanism, which can be brought about by various approaches using
thermal and/or UV energy.

3. Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) - PVC-U stands for unplasticised PVC, which means
no plasticiser (US: plasticizer) has been added to the PVC compound. as it is incredibly
resistant to chemical erosion and has smoother inner walls that help to encourage water
flow. It also functions well in a wide range of temperatures and operating pressures. It is
incredibly strong, stiff and cost-effective, and so is often used for sewage lines and exterior
drainage pipes.

4. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) - ABS pipe and fittings are made from a thermoplastic
resin called Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS for short). Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
(ABS) is an impact-resistant engineering thermoplastic & amorphous polymer. It is made of
three monomers: acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene. It is a preferred choice for structural
applications, thanks to its physical properties such as high rigidity, resistance to impact,
abrasion, strain.
 5. Polypropylene (PP) - Polypropylene (PP) is the lightest weight piping material with very good
chemical resistance, even to many organic solvents. It is used extensively for HVAC
applications and is available in two classifications, with Type I being the most common. Type
I has better rigidity and strength but lower impact resistance than Type II, which has
improved toughness over Type I material.

6. Styrene rubber Plastic (SR) - A plastic-rubber mixture consisting of at least 50% of a styrene
plastic combined with rubber and various compounding ingredients.

b. Flexible Type
1. Polyethylene (PE) - PE plastic pipe is manufactured by extrusion in sizes ranging from ½" to
63". PE is available in rolled coils of various lengths or in straight lengths up to 30 meters.

2. Polybutylene (PB) - Polybutylene (PB) pipes are made from a plastic resin and were a cheap
and easy solution to the sunbelt building boom from 1975-1995. They provided easy to
install home plumbing systems on millions of homes with the idea that they would last
longer than most other piping materials.
Stainless steel pipe - Stainless steel is a versatile material comprised of a steel alloy and a small percentage of chromium
— the addition of chromium adds to the material’s corrosion resistance, a trait that earned stainless steel its name.
Because stainless steel is also low-maintenance, oxidation resistant, and doesn’t affect other metals it comes in contact
with, it is frequently used in a large array of applications, especially in piping, tubing, and fittings manufacturing. Based
on the end use of the pipe, stainless steel piping is broken down into several categories.

Hangers and supports

Vertical piping shall be secured at sufficiently close intervals to keep the pipes in alignment to carry its weight and
contents. Stacks shall be supported at their base as follows:

Cast iron soil pipe – bell & spigot and hubless pipe shall be supported at every storey or closer.

Screwed pipe – Iron pipe size shall be supported at not less than every other storey height.

Copper tubing – Shall be supported at each storey at maximum intervals of 3 meters on center.

Lead pipe – shall be supported at intervals not exceeding 1.20 meters at centers with a rigid vertical backup.

Plastic pipe – shall be supported at every 1-meter interval.

Horizontal piping

Horizontal pipes shall be supported at sufficiently close intervals to keep them in alignment and prevent
sagging.
Cast iron soil pipe – where joints occur, suspended cast iron soil pipe shall be supported at not more
than 1.5 meters interval; except that pipe exceeding 1.5 meters length may be supported at not more
than 3 meters interval. Supports shall be adequate to maintain alignment and to prevent sagging and
shall be placed within 0.45 meters of the hub or joint. Hubless or compression gasket joints must be
supported at least at every other joint except that when the developed length between supports
exceeds 1.2 meters, they shall be provided at each joint. Support shall also be provided at each
horizontal branch connection. Suspended lines shall be suitably braced to prevent movement.
Screwed pipe – shall be supported at approximately 3 meters intervals for piping 19 mm diameter and
smaller and 3.6 meters intervals for piping 25mm and larger in diameter.
Copper tubing – shall be supported at approximately 1.8 meter intervals for piping 38mm diameter
and smaller and 3 meters interval for pipings 51mm and larger in diameter.
Lead pipe – shall be supported by stiff metal or wooden backing for its entire length with hangers
properly spaced.
In Ground – piping buried in the ground shall be laid on a firm bed for its entire length, except where
concrete cradle support is provided, which is adequate and approved by the administrative authority.
Plastic tube – shall be supporte by stiff metal or wood backing with hangers in its entire length for
small-size tubings up to 38mm diameter and without backings but with spaced metal hangers at
approved spacing for larger-size tubings.