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By joining and supporting the Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association companies confirm their commitment to quality products and customer service, which has made PVC the number one piping material for water and wastewater infrastructure.
Uni-Bell provides members and their clients with engineering design and installation assistance as well as up-to-date information to ensure long lasting application and performance of PVC pipe products for buried water, sewer, force main, reclaimed, drainage and irrigation markets.
Uni-Bell is an important industry stakeholder and contractors and utilities are encouraged to use Uni-Bell-member manufactured PVC pipe products for quality, technical service and installation support.
The quality and performance of PVC pipe are assured by a wide array of tough standards, control tests and independent certifications.
Numerous standards agencies govern PVC pipe manufacturing. The most widely recognized of these for water and sewer applications are the American Waterworks Association (AWWA), the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). For potable water quality, the best known certification is provided by NSF International/American National Standards Institute (NSF/ANSI). A comprehensive list can be found in the Handbook of PVC Pipe. In cooperation with users, designers and manufacturers, including the Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association, these agencies offer an independent assurance of sound engineering, appropriate testing and good quality – as well as information on installation.
PVC pipe undergoes numerous quality control tests, including regular measurements of critical dimensions, tests for extrusion quality, pipe flattening, burst pressure, impact resistance, joint integrity, and hydrostatic soundness. This ensures optimum quality, reliability and long-term strength. For instance, AWWA C900 pipe receives a minimum of 28 quality control checks daily on each extrusion line, in addition to the hydrostatic proof test performed on each pipe, which is tested at twice its pressure rating – confirming the product exceeds performance requirements. See Chapter IV of the Handbook of PVC Pipe for more details on manufacturing and testing. Each PVC pipe is stamped with extensive information, including production or lot code, allowing it to be matched with applicable quality records, which are maintained for a minimum of two years.
Independent inspection provides added assurance that PVC pipe meets applicable standards and specifications. This is done through unannounced plant audits, verification of materials, procedures and test equipment, as well as through random sampling and testing of pipe and materials. Tests are performed by non-profit agencies such as NSF International, Underwriters Laboratories and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, which can prevent shipment and initiate recall of nonconforming products. Further scrutiny of PVC pipe performance is provided through testing and research by universities, laboratories and other water and sewer associations. Many of their reports are available in Uni-Bell’s technical library.
PVC pipe’s superior qualities and performance have made it the material of choice for water and wastewater systems since it was introduced in North America some 70 years ago. Today, more than two million miles of PVC pipe are in service throughout the continent.