Plumbing Materials: All about Plumbing Pipe and Fittings

A home plumbing system features plumbing materials including a complex network of tanks, pumps, vents, pipes, fittings, fixtures, and sanitary ware amongst a wide range of other apparatuses and valves. The plumbing system in any premises or building is responsible for moving across fluids for a wide range of applications.  

Some of the common uses of plumbing are transportation of portable water, cooling and heating, and waste removal. If the system is properly set in place, then it will help in distributing as well as delivering the right amount of water to the appliances that make use of water -everywhere in the building. This features a proper water supply to the kitchen and bathroom. The main objective of a plumbing system is supplying water for use by humans.  

Due to this, a large and extensive network of different pipes is set in place. Plastic pipes and plumbing fixtures manufactured by Topline Industries are a complete and ideal solution for any building or residential plumbing.

What are Plumbing Materials?

The plumbing system of your house will feature different types of plumbing materials and fittings for multiple uses -including waste drainage, freshwater supply, gas pipes for appliances, irrigation, and so more. The type that is used in an application will significantly depend on the age of the plumbing system. An outdated plumbing system might be dominated by materials like galvanized iron or cast iron. On the other hand, a new home will feature plastic-based plumbing pipes of different types that are used extensively.  

Some advanced plastic pipes from leading manufacturers like CPVC and PVC water pipes might also be utilized in the venting of top-efficiency condensing furnaces. There are several types of plumbing materials and fittings that are found in homes of varying ages, what their applications are, and the overall overview of cutting and fastening them together. Some of the common plumbing materials utilized in piping for water supply pipes, waste lines, and natural gas supply, include: 

• PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride for plumbing waste lines 
• Galvanized iron for water plumbing lines 
• Chromed copper for water plumbing lines 
• Chromed brass for plumbing or piping waste lines 
• Cast iron for plumbing or piping waste lines 
• Copper (flexible and rigid) for water or plumbing supply lines 
• Black iron for pipes 
• CPVC or Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride for plumbing supply lines 
• PEX or Cross-linked Polyethylene for plumbing supply lines 

When you wish to install a plumbing project, some of the common plumbing materials you should select are:

#Copper Pipes

Copper is a highly durable material. It has been a famous plumbing material since the 1960s. Several materials have been introduced since then. Still, copper remains one of the leading options for plumbing materials due to its immense durability. 

Copper has been in use for delivering safe drinking water for several thousands of years due to its features of corrosion-resistance, join-ability, formability, safety, and recyclability. Copper serves to be an ancient material. As far as piping materials for underground water service lines are concerned, copper features as many as 2,500 years of success to its name.  

Unlike other materials utilized for service lines, copper turns out to be impervious. It prevents outside chemicals from contaminating the plumbing system. When designed, installed, and operated effectively, copper plumbing services prevent water contamination in the tube  

Copper also turns out to be one of the most dependable as well as used materials for plumbing tubes in the modern era. Copper is immensely beneficial in underground plumbing applications as it is immensely corrosion-resistant in most underground environments. 

#PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride

 PVC stands for Polyvinyl Chloride. It is a type of plastic material that is primarily used for drainage pipes, main supply lines, spas, pools, irrigation piping, and so more. PVC plumbing pipes are available in varying thicknesses referred to as schedules. Some of the most common PVC schedules are Schedule 40 & Schedule 80. The higher the schedule, the thicker will be the walls.  

Schedule 40 turns out to be one of the most common PVC types. Schedule 80 standard for PVC pipes tends to be stronger and thicker. It enables handling higher pressures. In most cases, PVC pipes are only utilized for cold water pipes. It is because hot water is responsible for eventually breaking down the plastic material, Moreover, it can also degrade upon exposure to heat as well as harmful UV rays of the sun. It is recommended to look into local codes before using the PVC Casing pipes. One of the best aspects of PVC pipes is that it does not corrode or rust over time. It is also affordable to replace and repair the pipes.

#ABS or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

ABS is a form of black plastic pipe. It is similar to PVC. However, it tends to be less flexible and more vulnerable to degradation. Once, it used to be a highly preferred material for plumbing. However, people recently started switching to PVC. It was when the users started observing joints that used to come loose quite often. Still, ABS continues to be strong, easier to install, and holds up well in case of underground pipes.  

It is a difficult decision to choose between PVC and ABS pipes. Therefore, you can search for reliable plumbing pipe manufacturers and suppliers like Topline Industries.

#PEX Pipes

PEX or Cross-linked Polyethylene is a durable form of plastic piping that is utilized for supplying water. It is rigid enough to bear the overall pressures of water supply. However, these pipes are flexible enough to weave throughout ceilings, walls, basements, and crawlspaces. It is also relatively less expensive in comparison to most other piping or plumbing materials. 

The tubes are mostly available in diameters of ½ inches or ¾ inches. Moreover, it is also simpler to cut and join them. Moreover, they are typically colored red in code for ensuring hot water supply and blue color in code to signify cold water supply.

#CPVC Pipes

CPVC stands for Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride piping materials. It is a thermoplastic material that is derived out of PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride piping material. It is manufactured by replacing a part of hydrogen with chlorine. In simper words, CPVC pipes are PVC pipes delivering addition chlorine in terms of composition. The chlorine content in the PVC pipes can be around 60 percent. However, it does not impact the water flow or quality. On the other hand, it only enhances the toughness of the product.  

CPVC pipes are immensely famous for their overall durability. This is the reason why they last for around 50 to 75 years. The best feature of the CPVC plumbing pipes is that these are capable of withstanding higher temperatures of around 93 Degree C. CPVC pipes are capable of resisting weakening and softening to around 115 Degree C. This is the reason why these pipes are regarded as ideal for plumbing functions of hot water systems.  

Another leading feature of CPVC pipes is that they are highly resistant to corrosion -both internally as well as externally. The best part is that almost no sedimentation takes place within the inner walls of these plumbing pipes. To top it all, these pipes are designed in such a manner that they are capable of resisting tempering due to industrial chemicals in extremes of temperatures.

Which is the Best Plumbing Material for Plumbing Installations?

Different pipes portraying different materials are suitable for plumbing installations within residential units. Like any other engineered decision, the best option for your plumbing project will depend on the project conditions and the application of the plumbing pipe. Moreover, every plumbing material out there will have its own benefits and demerits.  

Some of the most common materials for plumbing installations in residential complexes are PVC, CPVC, PEX, and metal pipes. If you are looking for a highly durable and corrosion-resistant material for your home’s plumbing application, CPVC pipes can be your leading choices. These are Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride piping materials that have a higher concentration of chlorine. These pipes are great for residential plumbing applications as these are ideal for drinking and hot water -unlike standard PVC.  

In comparison to copper, CPVC pipes tend to be smoother. These produce less noise as water flows through them. CPVC piping also tends to be insulated to minimize energy loss and are more flexible than metallic piping. Moreover, CPVC pipes are also more fire-resistant.  

Another leading option for plumbing applications is the UPVC pipes utilized in drainage plumbing systems, water supply pipelines, and irrigation piping networks. Developed according to ISO or CE specifications, the UPVC products or piping systems make use of socket or threaded water pipe connectors. These are capable of enduring a maximum operating temperature of 60 Degree C.  

As far as the installation of UPVC pipes is concerned, these plumbing pipes are initially cut and cleaned properly. Then, adhesive is applied to both the ends of the pipes for ensuring quicker insertion as well as connection purposes. These pipes are known for their amazing acoustic properties, bacterial attributes, low thermal conduction, and recyclable material quality.

Conclusion

With a wide range of piping materials available out there, selecting the right plumbing solution is a tough decision. One of the best suggestions is to search for a reliable and reputable piping manufacturer like Topline Industries to handle your plumbing jobs easily with the help of the wide variety of plumbing pipes.  

You should look into the different features and benefits of multiple piping materials to ensure the best-ever plumbing project for your property. 

Topline is a Leading CPVC and PVC Pipe Manufacturer

If you are in search of the best plumbing materials for your residential or commercial plumbing projects, you can reach out to Topline Industries for getting access to premium-grade plumbing pipes and fittings online. Topline Industries is a leading manufacturer and supplier of top-class pipes, fittings, and tanks to meet a wide range of plumbing and water distribution requirements.  

As it a leading manufacturer of top-quality plumbing pipes and fittings in India, Topline Industries offers access to the best quality of CPVC pipes and other piping materials -perfectly suited for your plumbing requirements. The plumbing pipes and materials here adhere to the latest piping standards that are accepted throughout the world. There is also the presence of CPVC fittings and tanks to enhance the shopping experience of users.