Copper vs. PVC water services
Copper vs. PVC water services
(OP)
Is there any consensus as to what type of pipe might be better for service lines between a ductile iron water main and structures the main serves?
My particular case is a new main serving a half dozen residential care buildings (small, 5-20 resident children and staff per building). I'm going back and forth with the water operator on what material he wants to use for the building services. These services would be no larger than 1 or 2". (Fire protection piping is a separate system).
If anyone has any advice or bias one way or another I'd love to hear it.
Thanks, Pete
My particular case is a new main serving a half dozen residential care buildings (small, 5-20 resident children and staff per building). I'm going back and forth with the water operator on what material he wants to use for the building services. These services would be no larger than 1 or 2". (Fire protection piping is a separate system).
If anyone has any advice or bias one way or another I'd love to hear it.
Thanks, Pete





RE: Copper vs. PVC water services
Then again, copper doesn't corrode very readily. I suspect copper would be better in respect to mechanical properties (strength, temperature resistance etc). If the piping is exposed, copper may be more resistant to the environment than PVC (thinking resistance to UV rad here).
If you can find PVC piping which will meet your requirements/local codes, I'd say go with that over copper piping.
RE: Copper vs. PVC water services
PUMPDESIGNER
RE: Copper vs. PVC water services
KRS Services
www.krs-services.com
RE: Copper vs. PVC water services
I've spoken with a couple of municipal water superintendents in my region and they both allow only type "K" copper but neither had clearly defined reasoning other than they didn't trust contractors to take the extra care necessary to put in PVC. But from what you're saying KRS you've had the opposite experience?
What make of PVC or HDPE do you folks use?
RE: Copper vs. PVC water services
I've found that plastic is a little more forgiving, but crews do not like them because it is something that they are quite often not used to. Mind you, my last two crews have been converted completely to the use of Kitec piping. Now that there are some very competant alternatives, I would not recommend use of copper, both due to cost per meter, installation care and susceptibility to hot soils.
KRS Services
www.krs-services.com
RE: Copper vs. PVC water services
http://www.cpchem.com/performancepipe/products/products...
http://www.vanguardpipe.com/index.html
http://www.pwpipe.com
http://www.ipexinc.com/index.htm
Above link is for Kitec pipe
PUMPDESIGNER