Plastic Pipe Claims
The design of sewers and culverts requires consideration of the interrelated fields of hydrology, hydraulics, structural behavior, durability, economics, and construction procedures. Knowledge of the performance of a pipe material in each of these fields is essential for complete evaluation and comparison to the performance of other pipe materials. Such knowledge must be based on scientific research and field experience rather than unsubstantiated claims. This publication presents various claims made by the plastic pipe industry, discusses engineering facts which indicate the claims are not justified, and evaluates critical properties of plastic pipe which affect performance, durability and service life.