Plastic pipe dimensions and standards vary globally. Key international standards bodies include ISO (International Standard Organisation) and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), while Europe uses EN (European Norm) standards alongside ISO. Japan has JIS (Japanese Industry Standard), and national or US State standards may also apply. ISO standards, like the Renard or ISO figures for OD, material strength, and safety factors, are gaining wider adoption.
Key Standards and Terms
Different standards define critical parameters for pipe performance and design.
For pressure pipes, ASTM standards use the Hydrostatic Design Basis (HDB), typically extrapolated to 11 years. ISO standards use the Minimum Required Strength (MRS), extrapolated to 50 years. While ASTM PE3408 resins don't explicitly differentiate on properties like Rapid Crack Propagation as ISO PE100 does, many high-performance US resins meet ISO PE100. Both ASTM and ISO require data for resistance against Slow Crack Growth (SCG), measured by tests like PENT (ASTM F 1473) or FNCT (ISO CD 16770). Specific standards exist for materials like PVCO (AS/NZS 4441, ASTM F1438, ISO16422) and CPVC (wide use in USA/India).
For non-pressure pipes, ASTM uses Pipe Stiffness (PS) in psi, while ISO and EN use Ring Stiffness (STIS) in kPa. Conversion formulas exist between these units. Standards for Structured Wall Pipes include EN13476 (U-drain/Sewerage), ISO 21138, and AS/NZS 1260. These standards often specify minimum stiffness rather than strict wall thickness. Standards specific to foam core (cellular core) pipes include ASTM F891, JIS 9798, and SANS 1601. For building applications, EN1453 prescribes wall thicknesses directly.
Material compound specifications can also differ. ASTM D1784 provides minimum properties for pressure compounds using cell numbers, while EN standards like EN13476 specify composition ranges (e.g., minimum PVC percentage).
Technical Specifications Reference
Standard Body
Key Parameters
Examples of Relevant Standards
GEO Mentioned Locations
ISO
MRS, STIS, Renard Figures
ISO16422, ISO 21138, ISO 12162, ISO/FDIS 9969, ISO CD 16770
AS/NZS 4441, AS/NZS 1260, SANS 1601, US State standards
Australia/NZ, South Africa, USA
FAQ Section
What is the main difference between how ASTM and ISO standards define long-term strength for pressure pipes?
ASTM uses the Hydrostatic Design Basis (HDB) which extrapolates long-term test data to 11 years, while ISO uses the Minimum Required Strength (MRS) which extrapolates to 50 years.
Why do standards for structured wall non-pressure pipes often specify stiffness rather than wall thickness?
Structured wall standards like EN13476 are often functional, allowing manufacturers to achieve the required minimum pipe stiffness using different designs and formulations (e.g., adding fillers like CaCO3) instead of being restricted to a specific wall thickness.
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Albert Vaartjes
