- Flexible and Fatigue Resistant - Benefits
- HDPE pipe is flexible and can be bent as shown in the PE Handbook. For example, the minimum bending radius for a 12-inch HDPE IPS DR 17 pipe is 27 x OD = 27 x 12.75 in = 344.2 in = 28.7 ft. This can eliminate many fittings required for directional changes in a piping system where fittings and thrust blocks or restraints are required with alternate materials.
- The flexibility of HDPE pressure pipe makes it well suited for dynamic soils including areas prone to earthquake.
- HDPE pressure pipe can accept repetitive pressure surges that significantly exceed the static pressure rating of the pipe.
- Cost Effective, Long Term and Permanent - Benefits
- Polyethylene pipe installations are cost effective and have long-term cost advantages due to the pipe's physical properties, leak-free joints and reduced maintenance costs.
- The polyethylene pipe industry conservatively estimates the service life for HDPE pipe to be 50-100 years. This relates to savings in replacement costs for generations to come.
- Handling - Benefits
- It is much easier to handle and install HDPE pipe vs. the heavier, rigid metallic or concrete pipe segments, allowing for huge cost advantages in the construction process.
- Polyethylene pipe is better able to structurally withstand an impact than PVC pipe, especially in cold weather installations where other pipes are more prone to cracks and breaks.
- Hazen Williams C Factor is 150 and doesn't change over time - Benefits
- HDPE pipe has a smooth ID that does not corrode or tuberculate and maintains its flow capability over time.
- The C Factor of Ductile Iron pipe is dramatically reduced over time due to corrosion and/or tuberculation.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, utilities spend $36 billion annually on corrosion protection of pipes. Is your municipality contributing to these expenditures? If the answer is yes, then specify HDPE pipe. It does not corrode or tuberculate, long life-cycle reduces your maintenance budget, and infiltration into the pipe and exfiltration into the environment is non-existent.