Corrugated Plastic Pipe
Outperforms in the most demanding environments
Proven and accepted
TECHNOLOGY, DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION INFORMATION
Significant cost savings
INSTALLS QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY
The Green Choice
Environmental benefits from cradle to grave
AGRICULTURAL DRAINAGE
MAXIMIZING CROP YIELDS FOR OVER 50 YEARS
What we do
Corrugated Plastic Pipe – Outperforms in the most demanding environments
The Drainage Division, a division of the Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI) provides drainage and stormwater systems management solutions and includes members who focus on gravity flow drainage applications.
ABOUT THIS VIDEO:
PPI has developed this video channel as a service to the industry. The information presented here is offered in good faith and believed to be accurate, but is offered without any warranty, expressed or implied including WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Any reference to particular proprietary product should not be construed as an endorsement by PPI, which does not endorse the proprietary products or processes of any manufacturer. PPI assumes no responsibility for viewer's compliance with applicable laws and regulations..
PPI has developed this video channel as a service to the industry. The information presented here is offered in good faith and believed to be accurate, but is offered without any warranty, expressed or implied including WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Any reference to particular proprietary product should not be construed as an endorsement by PPI, which does not endorse the proprietary products or processes of any manufacturer. PPI assumes no responsibility for viewer's compliance with applicable laws and regulations..
Strong but flexible
Corrugated plastic pipe is a tough material. It’s one of most chemically inert drainage products available making it highly resistant to corrosive gases and chemicals. It does not rust and is highly resistant to abrasion. Joints are watertight in gravity drainage applications.
Yet corrugated plastic pipe is highly flexible and lightweight, making it ideal for maneuvering in congested utility corridors, adjusting to unique site conditions or traversing difficult terrain.
100-year service life
You can expect a service life of 100 years in typical drainage applications. Highly resistant to abrasion and chemicals, corrugated plastic pipe outperforms in environments that damage other materials. Acidic soil and runoff from road salts are common problems that can shorten the life of other drainage pipes to just a few years. Corrugated plastic pipe will last for decades in the same environment.
Years of extensive research by AASHTO and various state DOTs have validated the performance of corrugated plastic pipe under difficult loading conditions. Corrugated plastic pipes are designed to interact with the surrounding soils and carry HL-93 live loads (HL-93 is a pair of 25.kip axles spaced 4 ft apart) with just 12 in of cover in most cases. The soil and pipe interaction allows corrugated plastic pipe to be buried beneath deep fills without having to worry about different pipe classes.
Cost-effective and safe installation
Expect significant cost savings with corrugated plastic pipe as it installs quickly and easily. With less than 10% of the weight of concrete pipe, it’s easier and safer to handle and make field adjustments, which reduces installation cost and time.
The pipe is manufactured in longer pipe lengths than reinforced concrete pipe, which means fewer joints and more efficient installation. Secure and leak-resistant joints can be installed quickly with bell and gasketed spigot joints. Fast installation also reduces the duration of traffic disruptions often associated with underground installations.
Significant environmental advantages
Corrugated plastic pipe has environmental advantages throughout its entire product life. Compared to other pipe types, plastic pipe has a smaller carbon footprint as it requires much less energy to fabricate, transport and install. It is an inert material that does not emit or leach toxins into the environment during production or installed use. Plastic pipes achieve the highest service life ratings compared to other materials. At the end of its service life, plastic pipe is highly recyclable.
Who should be using
Corrugated Plastic Pipe?
Corrugated plastic pipe is ideal for new installations or replacing deteriorating infrastructure. The Drainage Division works to help end-users understand the important technical, performance and environmental benefits — and the cost effectiveness. We work to educate engineers, public agencies, contractors and installers, farmers, homeowners and environmental agencies, organizations and individuals concerned with sustainable infrastructure.
Proven and accepted
Corrugated plastic pipe has been in use for more than 50 years in the United States and even longer in Europe. It was first developed domestically in the late 1960s to replace clay tiles used in agricultural crop drainage and the natural gas industry began replacing failing iron pipe with plastic. Today, more than 95% of the natural gas supply lines in North America are made of plastic pipe, further proving its superior reliability on a daily basis. The move into stormwater management began in the 1980s with development of a smooth interior surface to meet the demands of culverts and urban storm sewers.
With its durability and strength, plastic pipe has changed the infrastructure industry, our systems are engineered to manage stormwater in transportation, municipal, commercial, residential, and agricultural applications.