Technical Blog

Welcome to John’s Blog. Answers to frequently asked questions are periodically posted here. The objective is to share information about PVC pipe with readers as well as with utilities, design engineers and pipe installers. The blog provides the latest information on PVC pipe design, installation, and application for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

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John Houle: Senior Technical Consultant, PVC Pipe Industry

John Houle holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri and an MBA from the University of Oregon. He has more than 25 years of experience in the plastic pipe industry in applications engineering, market development, forensic analysis, technical writing, and standards development.

PVC Pipe Bell Direction

Posted By John Houle on Dec 8, 2016

Questions sometimes arise about which way the bell should be positioned in a PVC pipeline. Typically there are two concerns:

1. Does bell direction make a difference in pipeline hydraulics?

2. Does it make a difference during installation?

The answer is “No” for hydraulics – bell direction does not affect hydraulic design.

The answer is “Yes” for installation – bell direction is important during pipe installation to facilitate problem-free joint assembly.

For details, click here for my Tech Brief.