Storing PE Pipe

Before pipe and/or fittings are placed into storage, they should be visually inspected for scratches, gouges, discoloration and other defects. Damaged or questionable materials should not be put into storage. Cuts and gouges that reduce the wall thickness by more than 10% may impair long-term service life and should be discarded.

Off-Site Storage Guidelines

Store small pipe in racks according to the length and size of the pipe. Block or strap the pipe to prevent it from rolling or falling off the rack. Pipe larger than two inches in diameter should be stacked with spacing strips between each row. Arrange and block each row of stacked pipe to prevent it from rolling off the pile. If pipe is stored outdoors, make sure all blocks are made of material that won't deteriorate as it weathers.

Material that cannot be stacked because of its size or shape should be stored on shelves capable of supporting the combined weight of the materials.

Job Site Storage Guidelines

The storage area should have a relatively smooth, level surface free of stones, debris or other materials that could damage the pipe or fittings. Where adequate ground conditions do not exist or when a bed cannot be prepared, the pipe may be placed on planking evenly spaced along the pipe length.

Suggested Loose Storage Stacking Heights in Rows for HDPE pipe

Storing PE Pipe

When pipes of variable wall thickness are received, it is recommended that the pipe be segregated into piles, each pile containing a single size and pressure rating to minimize confusion at a later date. The pile should be constructed in a pyramid, with each successive layer having one less pipe than the layer below. The bottom layer should be braced to prevent movement.

The maximum allowable stacking heights for polyethylene pipe should not exceed those in the table below. Pipe coils should be stored upright on skids on a level surface.

Indoor/Outdoor Storage

Expansion and contraction caused by uneven heating during storage in the sun may cause the pipe to bow if not restrained by racks. This does not damage the pipe but may be inconvenient when the pipe is taken out of storage for installation

Since black HDPE pipe generally contains greater than 2% carbon black, it will resist damage from sunlight indefinitely. Colored products are compounded with antioxidants, thermal stabilizers and UV stabilizers. Therefore, non-black products should remain in unprotected outdoor storage for no more than two years (or longer only as recommended by the pipe manufacturer). Black products with stripes are generally suitable for unprotected outdoor storage and service.