Position paper: 100-year lifetime for PVC-U and PVC-Hi pressure pipe systems buried in the ground for water and natural gas supply
Durability is key for underground piping systems, as it is costly to install and replace pipes buried in the ground. TEPPFA and PVC4Pipes have identified the need for explaining the difference between the design point at 20 degree/50 years and the expected life time of PVC-U and PVC-Hi pressure pipe systems.
Research, extrapolation studies and studies of dug-up pipes in service for years show minimal degradation and extrapolative tests performed on these test samples confirm an expected service life in excess of 100 years.
