PVC Pipe Fittings Inch

PVCu stands for Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride, a thermoplastic commonly used for pressure pipe systems in water, industrial, and chemical applications. Unlike flexible PVC, PVCu contains no plasticisers, giving it a rigid structure with excellent strength, dimensional stability, and long-term pressure performance.

In pressure pipe systems, PVCu is valued for its high resistance to corrosion, chemicals, and scaling, making it suitable for conveying potable water and many aggressive fluids. It offers a smooth internal bore for efficient flow, low friction losses, and reliable solvent weld or threaded jointing. With a proven service life and consistent performance across a wide range of temperatures and pressures, PVCu remains a dependable, low-maintenance material for pressurised pipework installations.

It is also known as uPVC and, in our industry, is often shortened to just PVC.

PVCu is one of the most widely used plastic materials with a wide choice of fittings for a range of applications, including:

• Industrial Process Systems: Used to safely convey pressurised water and chemicals in industrial processes where corrosion resistance and dimensional stability are essential.
• Water Treatment: Often used for transporting treated water, backwash lines and process fluids due to their chemical resistance, smooth bore and long service life.
• Chemical Dosing: Widely used for the safe transportation of corrosive, hazardous, and treatment chemicals due to its excellent chemical resistance, rigidity, and durability.
• Food & Beverage: Used for transporting fluids in hygienic, corrosion-free, and pressurised environments, due to their non-toxic, odourless, and tasteless properties.
• Swimming Pools & Spas: Used to circulate, filter and treat pool and spa water, handling pressure, disinfectants and temperature variations without corrosion.
• Cold Water Supply: PVCu pressure pipework is used to distribute cold potable water in residential, commercial and industrial installations thanks to its pressure rating, WRAS approval and corrosion-free performance.

However, these PVC fittings are not suitable for use with compressed air.

Important Information:

• Always use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Gloves and eye protection.
• Always carry out solvent welding in a well-ventilated area.
• Always refer to Material Safety Datasheets (MSDS).

Procedure:

1. Make a straight cut in the pipe with a pipe cutter or saw, then deburr the cut end with a deburring tool or reaming pen.
2. Chamfer the leading edge of the pipe at approximately 15° to 30°. This will prevent the solvent cement from being wiped from both the pipe and fitting when joined.
3. Mark the pipe back from the chamfered end to a length equal to the socket depth plus 5mm. This mark will act as a visual indicator to show that the pipe is fully inserted into the socket.
4.  Roughen the outside of the pipe with an emery cloth and clean the pipe surface with solvent cleaner (up to the indicator mark). Do not roughen the pipe to the extent that the clearance between them is noticeably increased.
5. Clean the inner surface of the socket using a lint-free cloth or absorbent paper dampened with solvent cleaner.
6. Select the correct solvent cement, PVCu to PVCu, ABS to ABS. The two cements are not interchangeable. Apply the cement straight from the tin using a brush half the diameter of the socket and ensure all relevant surfaces are covered. Read the instructions on the tin and avoid using excessive amounts of solvent cement.
7. Push fittings/pipe together without twisting and ensure that they are aligned and fully engaged (the indicator mark should be in line with the edge of the socket), then hold the assembly for a short time as specified.

Important: Joints are normally made in temperatures between 5°C and 25°C. The maximum time before the cement is too dry for jointing is approximately 3 minutes. In hot weather, this time is reduced, but the joint must still be made while the cement is wet. At temperatures below 5°C, the curing time will be considerably increased.

When the joint is made, an O-ring of cement is formed between the pipe chamfer and the internal socket wall, this ring helps to ensure seal integrity. A bead of cement will show around the external junction of the pipe and fitting; this should be wiped off, leaving the outer part of the joint clean. Do not disturb the joint for at least 10 to 15 minutes to ensure that the weld integrity is maintained. After this period, the assembly can be carefully handled, prepared for further jointing or left for the recommended curing time, which is:

Up to 8" (225mm):

• After 8 hours, the joint will have cured enough to withstand the working pressure
  
• After 24 hours, the pipe system can be fully pressure tested

Pipe work should be ventilated during the joining and curing processes. Never seal a pipe system which has been newly jointed, as the trapped vapours can cause damage. Positive ventilation with a small air blower is recommended to purge systems with multiple joints.

How do I connect a PVC pipe to brass fittings?

• Connecting from PVC to a brass system is easy using a composite union. It has a PVCu socket on one side and a male or female brass thread on the other.

  1.  To make the connection, glue the plain-ended PVCu pipe into the socket side of the union.
  2. Screw the threaded brass end of the composite union onto the receiving threaded fitting using PTFE tape.
  3. Tighten both sides of the union to achieve a secure, pressure-rated joint.
• To give you an idea, in the image below, we have joined a 22mm Copper Pipe to a 32mm PVCu Pipe using a Copper Male Adaptor and a Female Threaded Composite Union with PTFE Tape on the threads.

Can I remove PVC fittings that have been glued?

• While it can be possible to remove and reuse PVCu fittings, due to the nature of their use in pressurised systems, it is not advised, as it could weaken the fitting and cause a failure.
• The advised method to replace PVCu fittings is to cut them out and replace them entirely.