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.

Cold Weather Has No Practical Effect on PVC Pipe Installation and Use

Posted By John Houle on Mar 13, 2013

Negative attacks made by our competitors allege that PVC pipe is not suitable for cold-weather projects. The attached technical brief refutes this claim.

PVC pipe has been in service in North America since the 1950s and has proven its ability to function well when exposed to the rigors of cold-temperature installation and operation. PVC is widely used in Canada, Minnesota, and the Dakotas, so cold weather is not a limiting factor for PVC pipe projects.

In fact, installation of PVC pipe is even more advantageous as temperatures decrease and workers become hampered by inclement weather conditions. PVC is ideal in these situations because it is easy to cut, easy to handle, and easy to assemble.

This technical brief discusses three aspects of PVC pipe in cold temperatures:

Design
- Effects on PVC’s material properties
- Accommodating thermal expansion
- How to prevent freezing
Handling and Installation
- Effects on PVC’s material properties
- Accommodating thermal expansion
- How to prevent freezing
Operations – no change from typical operations

There are three key messages:

In cold conditions, installation practices are important for all piping – abusive handling practices should not be used with any pipe material.
Worker safety should always be paramount – prolonged exposure to cold temperatures may affect workers’ productivity and performance.
PVC pipe is a logical choice for cold-weather projects.

For the Tech Brief, click here.