CPVC Plumbing System: Everything You Need to Know

The science of modern materials has made rapid advancements in the past several years -especially when combined with rapid innovations in the field of manufacturing. Continuous advancements have brought about new variants of modern thermoplastics like CPVC or Chlorinated Polyvinyl featuring specialized characteristics. There are several benefits of using chlorinated pipes or CPVC pipes.  

Most of the building and homeowners might not fully realize the benefits as well as versatility of CPVC as the suitable material for potable water supply pipelines. Nowadays, things are changing at a rapid rate, so here are 8 things you must know prior to investing in CPVC pipes. To get the most out of the plumbing units of your home, you should consider installing CPVC plumbing system units in your home.  

What is CPVC Piping System?

CPVC or Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride is available as a strong, durable, and flexible material that is primarily used in plumbing systems of both residential and commercial units. The durable material has been effectively used in plumbing applications across the globe for several years.  

CPVC material was initially created by Lubrizol Advanced Materials. The material is known for its features of inherent chemical resistance, ability to withstand high pressure and heat, and reliability. Therefore, it serves as the ideal material for commercial, residential, and even industrial plumbing and piping systems.  

A typical CPVC plumbing system comprises CPVC material as the plumbing unit -along with a complex unit of CPVC pipes, fittings, accessories, and valves. The system in any building is aimed at moving around hot as well as cold water for a huge spectrum of applications. CPVC plumbing material is typically used for the transportation of hot & cold water for washing, drinking, flushing, bathing, and so more.  

CPVC plumbing and piping system features CPVC plumbing pipes, CPVC threaded adaptors, CPVC plumbing fittings, CPVC valves, CPVC solvent cements, CPVC flanges, and other accessories. This plumbing system is corrosion-resistant, tough, rigid, non-scaling, reliable, resistant to chemicals, and capable of withstanding high pressure and temperature. These plumbing systems are easy to install as well as convenient to handle. Therefore, these factors make CPVC the ideal material for commercial, residential, and industrial fire sprinkler and piping systems. 

CPVC Plumbing System Standards

For CPVC plastic plumbing pipes, the standard specification of ASTM F441 is used with Schedules 40 & 80. According to the test methods and requirements of the standards, CPVC plumbing pipes are assessed for ensuring workmanship, materials, sustained pressure, extrusion, flattening, burst pressure, and dimension qualities.  

Another set of CPVC piping system standard is specified by ASTM D1784. The specification helps in assessing the CPVC pipes as per the parameters like base resin, tensile strength, impact resistance under notch, deflection temperature under flammability, load, and level of elasticity in tension.  

As the CPVC pipes are specified meeting the ASTM F441 & ASTM D1784 standards, users should practice ample confidence that the respective piping systems will function as per the expectations. Still, not all approved CPVC pipes are regarded as equal. Within each standard, you will come across distinctions setting specific CPVC manufacturers and producers apart from each other.

Differences in Hydrostatic Design Stress of CPVC Pipes

Within the standard of ASTM F441 standard, you can come across two distinct codes -4120-05 & 4120-06. One of the major differences between CPVC 4120-05 & 4120-06 standards is the HDB or Hydrostatic Design Basis factor of the material and the HDS or Hydrostatic Design Stress. 

HDB is regarded as the predicted long-term strength of the CPVC pipes. The method of data collection and testing used in the process is ASTM D2837. It is also regarded as the standard method for gaining access to hydrostatic design basis for CPVC-like thermoplastic piping materials. 

During the given test, the CPVC pipe is put under pressure and assessed for as long as 16,000 hours -almost a year and ten months, at the temperature range of 23 Degree C and 82 Degree C. The respective circumferential stress or hoop stress that is collected over time is than analyzed for 100,000 hours. The predicted strength of the pipe after 100,000 years is referred to as HDB or Hydrostatic Design Basis. 

From this point, HDB is used for calculating the HDS or Hydrostatic Design Stress parameter -assumed to be around 50 percent of HDB. This helps in the creation of an inherent safety factor for ensuring pressure rating of the CPVC piping system.

CPVC 4120-05 Vs. CPVC 4120-06

The respective test results are utilized for defining the differences between CPVC 4120-05 and CPVC 4120-06. It is observed that CPVC 4120-06 features a better hydrostatic design status under the impact of higher temperatures.  

• CPVC 4120-05 pipes feature a minimum HDS of 500 psi water at 82 Degree C 
• CPVC 4120-06 pipes feature a minimum HDS of 625 psi water at 82 Degree C 

For industrial units, one of the major benefits of using CPVC 4120-06 pipes is the advanced pressure rating along with a reduced derating factor upon the rise of temperature.  

In addition to these industrial-grade CPVC pipe standards, here are some more standards to consider: 

• EN -1566: Specifying CPVC piping systems for water and soil discharge (at both low & high temperature) within the building structure. 

1. Part 1: ensuring specifications for fittings, pipes, and the entire plumbing system 
2. Part 2: ensuring guidance for conformity assessment 

• EN ISO -15877: Specifying CPVC piping systems for cold and hot water installations  

1. Part 1: general 
2. Part 2: pipes 
3. Part 3: fittings 
4. Part 4: fit for the system’s purpose 
5. Part 5: Guidance for conformity assessment 

• ISO-7675: Specifying CPVC piping systems for waste and soil discharge (at both low & high temperatures) within buildings 

• IS -15225: CPVC compounds utilized for pipes & fittings. 

• IS-15778: CPVC pipes for potable cold and hot water through distribution lines 

• DIN -8079: Specifying dimensions of CPVC pipes 

• DIN-8080: Specifying general quality and testing requirements for CPVC pipes. 

• ASTM -D1784: Specifying standards for Rigid PVC compounds and CPVC compounds. 

• ASTM -D2846: Specifying standards for CPVC plastic cold and hot water distribution systems. 

• ASTM -F1970 -Specifying standards for specially-engineered fittings, CPVC systems, and valves or appurtenances for PVC systems. 

• ASTM -F402: Specifying standard practices for safe handling of primers, solvent chemicals, and cleaners utilized in joining CPVC pipes & fittings. 

• ASTM -F437: Specifying standards for threaded CPVC plastic pipes and fittings -schedule 80 

• ASTM -F438 -Specifying standards for socket-type CPVC pipes and fittings -schedule 40 

• ASTM -F439: Specifying standards for CPVC plastic pipes & fittings -schedule 80 

• ASTM -F441: Specifying standards for CPVC plastic pipes -Schedule 40 & 80 

• ASTM-F442: Specifying standards for CPVC plastic pipes -SDR-PR 

CPVC Plumbing System Sizes and Availability in India

When you are searching for the best CPVC pipe fittings in India, you can access some basic sizes and fittings available in India. When you choose CPVC plumbing systems from a reliable manufacturer and supplier in India like Topline Industries, you can expect the following sizes and availability: 

• Copper Tube Size or CTS: These are the most commonly used CPVC sizes in India. The Copper Tube Size or CTS versions of CPVC pipes are perfect for a majority of residential plumbing and piping requirements in the country. These are available in the following sizes: 

1. Half an inch or 15mm 
2. ¾ inches or 20mm 
3. One inch or 25mm 
4. 1 and ¼ inches or 32mm 
5. One and a half inches or 40mm 
6. Two inches or 50mm 

You can come across CTS CPVC pipe sizes in either SDR 13.5 or SDR 11. The CPVC fittings for CTS variants are available as SDR 11. 

• Iron Pipe Size or IPS: These CPVC pipe sizes are used when larger volumes of water supply are needed in residential areas, hotels, industries, and hospitals. These are available in the following sizes: 

1. 2 and a half inches or 75mm 
2. 3 inches or 90mm 
3. 4 inches or 110mm 
4. 6 inches or 160mm 
5. 8 inches or 200mm 

The IPS pipes & fittings are available in either Schedule 40 or Schedule 80 standards. 

When you wish to make use of CPVC plumbing systems, it is imperative for you to select the right size and check its availability. A reliable manufacturer like Topline Industries can help you in the direction. 

Topline Provides the Best CPVC Plumbing System

Once you have analyzed the right size and functionality of the CPVC pipes and fittings for your project, here are some added benefits you can expect for residential plumbing projects: 

• Clean and Safe Water Quality: Most international agencies test as well as approve materials to be used in potable water applications. These tests and approvals offer the guarantee that the CPVC plumbing or potable water distribution system will not be transferring any harmful products through drinking water that it transports.  

With Topline Industries CPVC plumbing systems, the material is approved for all drinking water distribution and plumbing systems. Moreover, our CPVC compounds do not contain any flame retardants, plasticizers, anti-static agents, or biostabilizers.  

• Joint Strength: CPC plumbing systems or CPVC pipes & fittings are combined together with the help of solvent cement. It is a substance that helps in chemically fusing a plumbing pipe to the respective fitting at its molecular level. Unlike the use of glue in other piping or plumbing systems, joints featuring solvent cement tend to become the strongest aspects of the entire piping system. When these piping systems or fittings are installed properly, these do not break apart easily. 

• Chlorine Resistance: Disinfectants containing chlorine -especially chlorine dioxide can lead to major pipe failures in green pipes or PPR, metallic, and PEX pipes. However, top-grade CPVC pipes by Topline Industries are unaffected by the impact of chlorine. CPVC pipes, therefore, never fail due to the presence of strong additives that are used for keeping water safe and clean for the longest period. 

• Biofilm Resistance: Water plumbing or distribution systems are regarded as perfect grounds for ensuring maximum bacterial growth. However, CPVC pipes that we manufacture help in keeping clean and safe. Several international studies have revealed that CPVC constantly tends to outperform copper as well as other common piping materials -especially PPR, with its unique ability to prevent the development of biofilms.  

• Fire Resistance: CPVC pipes are fire-resistant. They do not support combustion. Unlike other plastics, CPVC pipes and fittings will not aid in spreading the fire. Topline CPVC pipes are highly renowned due to the low smoke and flame development characteristics. 

Conclusion

Topline Industries is a highly certified CPVC plumbing system manufacturer in India. Topline CPVC pipes and fittings are designed by ensuring a unique combination of CPVC material with important physical properties for plumbing and piping applications -for both cold and hot water supply lines. Topline Industries makes use of the latest CPVC technology and top-grade materials to come up with world-class CPVC pipes & fittings.