PVC-U Potable Water Pipe

PVC-U Potable Water Pipe
Implementation Standard: GB/T1033.1-2008 ;GB/T 10002.1-2023 ;GB/T 6671
Material: polyvinyl chloride
Caliber range: DN75 – DN300
Custom orders are supported.

Description

1.Product Introduction

The PVC-U Potable Water Pipe is a high-performance unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U) pipe specifically designed for potable water conveyance and pressurized water supply systems. Manufactured from a PVC compound with a Minimum Required Strength (MRS) of ≥25 MPa using an extrusion molding process, this product features a uniquely designed bell-and-spigot joint with an integrally formed, steel-reinforced rubber sealing ring. This innovative structure ensures both exceptional sealing reliability and installation convenience during pipe joining.

As an upgraded version of traditional PVC-U pipes, the PVC-U Potable Water Pipe demonstrates significant improvements in strength, impact resistance, and, most importantly, hygiene performance. The water conveyed through this pipe meets standards suitable for direct drinking. The product is suitable for operating environments with water temperatures not exceeding 45°C and is widely used in both indoor building and outdoor buried water supply pipeline systems, including general-purpose pressurized water transmission and potable water distribution.

Product Specifications

2.Technical Parameters

Performance Category

Test Item

Technical Standard

Typical Value

Physical Properties

Density

GB/T1033.1-2008

≥1.35 g/cm³

Vicat Softening Temperature

GB/T 10002.1-2023

≥80℃

 

Longitudinal Reversion

GB/T 6671

≤5%

Falling Weight Impact Test

No rupture

 

Mechanical Properties

Tensile Yield Strength

≥25 MPa

 

Apparent Hoop Tensile Strength

CJ/T 493-2016

≥45 MPa

Hydrostatic Pressure Test

GB/T 6111

No seepage

 

Hygienic Properties

Lead Content

≤0.01 mg/L

 

 

Cadmium Content

≤0.001 mg/L

 

Vinyl Chloride Monomer Residue

GB/T 4615

≤1.0 mg/kg

 

Turbidity

Compliant

 

Odor and Taste

No abnormal odor

 

 

System Performance

Joint Sealing Test

CJ/T 493-2016

No leakage

Whole-Pipe Hydrostatic Pressure Performance

Compliant

 

Angular Deflection Sealing Test

No leakage

 

3.Connection Methods

  • Gasket-Sealed Joint (Push-Fit Joint): PVC-U pipes utilize a bell-and-spigot joint system where the rubber sealing gasket is integrally formed into the expanded bell end. Connection is achieved by simply pushing the spigot end into the bell, enabling rapid installation. This method ensures durable and reliable sealing performance, making it particularly suitable for outdoor buried water supply projects and large-diameter pipeline installations. This type of joint can accommodate a certain degree of pipeline displacement caused by ground settlement or temperature variations, ensuring the long-term stability of the system.
  • Mechanical Couplings:For special connection requirements, mechanical couplings such as compression fittings can be employed. This method relies on an external fixing system (e.g., bolts or screws) to compress an elastic sealing ring, facilitating connections between pipes of different materials, such as linking to asbestos-cement pipes or cast iron pipes. Mechanical couplings offer greater flexibility in engineering design and maintain reliable connections even under complex working conditions.
  • Additional Methods:The PVC-U pipeline system can also accommodate other installation methods, including flanged connections and threaded connections. This versatility meets the diverse installation needs within building water supply systems, such as for horizontal runs, risers, branch lines, and expansion joints.

4.Key Advantages & Selling Points

  • Exceptional Physical Properties:The product exhibits outstanding strength and impact resistance, with tensile strength and hydraulic pressure performance superior to those of common pipe materials. This ensures the long-term safe and stable operation of the pipeline system. With a high Vicat Softening Temperature, the pipe can withstand certain temperature variations, making it suitable for diverse environmental conditions.
  • Superior Sealing Performance:The integrally molded bell joint with a steel-reinforced sealing ring structurally guarantees reliable and leak-proof pipe connections. This effectively prevents seepage, minimizing water loss and reducing maintenance costs.
  • Excellent Hygiene Performance:The product is environmentally friendly and non-toxic, capable of conveying water that meets direct-drinking standards. The pipe materials undergo rigorous screening and testing to ensure the leaching levels of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium are significantly below national standard limits, guaranteeing drinking water safety.
  • Convenient and Efficient Installation: The gasket-sealed push-fit joint system greatly simplifies construction procedures, enhances installation efficiency, and shortens project timelines. Compared to conventional welding or solvent cementing methods, it reduces reliance on highly skilled labor, lowering installation difficulty and the risk of human error.
  • Long Service Life:The product offers excellent corrosion resistance, protecting it from chemical attack by soil and water. With an expected service life exceeding 50 years, it significantly reduces lifecycle costs.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to other high-performance pipes of similar grade, PVC-U Potable Water Pipe offers a more competitive cost advantage. Coupled with its lightweight properties, which further reduce transportation and installation expenses, it provides a high value-for-money solution for projects.

5.Product Applications

  • Municipal Water Supply Systems: Suitable for the construction and renovation of urban municipal trunk pipelines and regional water distribution networks. It provides safe and reliable drinking water conveyance services for residential and commercial areas. Its excellent hygiene performance ensures water quality safety throughout the entire journey from the treatment plant to the end-user.
  • Building Water Supply Systems:Widely used for water supply pipeline systems within buildings, including indoor and outdoor water pipes for residences, public buildings, and industrial plants, meeting demands for domestic cold and hot water supply.
  • Industrial Water Supply Projects:Particularly suitable for industrial water supply projects in settings such as industrial parks and petrochemical bases, meeting the higher requirements for pressure resistance and durability in industrial water pipelines.
  • Rural Safe Drinking Water Projects:Provides an ideal pipeline solution for addressing safe drinking water issues in rural areas. Its ease of installation makes it especially suitable for water supply projects in remote regions.
  • Pressurized Sewerage/Drainage Systems:In addition to water supply applications, it can also be used for pressurized sewerage and drainage systems, demonstrating its versatility.
  • Agricultural Irrigation Systems:Suitable for pressurized water transmission pipelines in large-scale agricultural irrigation projects. Its corrosion resistance protects against erosion from fertilizers and chemicals in the soil.

6.Testing & Certifications

  • Testing Standards:The product is strictly manufactured and inspected in compliance with standards including CJ/T 493-2016 “High-performance unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U) pipes and fittings for water supply” and GB/T 10002.1-2023 “Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U) pipes for water supply”. This ensures consistent and reliable product quality.
  • Testing Accreditation:Authoritative testing services for PVC-U Potable Water Pipes are provided by professional institutions (e.g., Zhongke Testing), which possess accreditations such as CMA (China Metrology Accreditation) and CNAS (China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment). These institutions issue legally valid test reports.
  • Testing Items:The scope of testing covers multiple aspects including appearance, dimensions, physical properties, mechanical properties, and hygiene indicators. Hygiene performance testing encompasses sensory characteristic indicators (e.g., color, turbidity, odor and taste, visible particulate matter) as well as chemical indicators such as heavy metal content (lead, mercury, chromium (hexavalent), cadmium, etc.) and levels of volatile phenols, nitrates, etc.
  • Hygiene Permit:As the product relates to drinking water hygiene and safety, it holds the relevant Hygiene Permit Approval. This ensures that the pipeline materials will not cause secondary pollution to drinking water quality during long-term use.
  • Certification Systems:Manufacturing enterprises are typically certified under the ISO9001 Quality Management System, ensuring full-process quality control from raw material procurement to finished product delivery. Some enterprises also hold ISO14001 Environmental Management System certification, reflecting their commitment to environmental responsibility.

7.Manufacturing Process Flow

  • Raw Material Preparation:PVC compound with a Minimum Required Strength (MRS) ≥ 25 MPa serves as the core raw material. The formulation incorporates environmentally friendly stabilizers (e.g., calcium-zinc stabilizers) and other food-grade additives, ensuring the material is hygienic, non-toxic, and high-performing. All incoming raw materials undergo rigorous inspection prior to acceptance, including tests for vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) residue, guaranteeing their safety and reliability.
  • Mixing & Conveying:PVC resin is combined with stabilizers, modifiers, and other auxiliary materials according to a precise formula. The mixture undergoes high-speed hot mixing followed by cold mixing to ensure thorough and uniform blending of all components. The homogenized compound is then conveyed via a vacuum conveying system to the extruder hopper, preventing external contamination.
  • Extrusion Molding:The compound is melted and plasticized within a conical twin-screw extruder at controlled temperatures. It is then extruded through a die to form the pipe profile. During extrusion, vacuum calibration technology is employed, ensuring precise control of the pipe’s outer diameter and uniform wall thickness. This step is critical for guaranteeing the pressure resistance of the finished pipe.
  • Belling & Seal Ring Insertion:One end of the pipe is heated and expanded by a belling machine. Simultaneously, the steel-reinforced sealing ring is precisely embedded into the belled section, forming the integrally molded bell-and-spigot joint structure. This process represents a core technology for PVC-U pipes and is directly related to the sealing reliability of the pipeline system.
  • Cooling & Sizing: The extruded and belled pipe enters a vacuum spray cooling tank for gradual cooling. This step relieves internal stresses and ensures dimensional stability and accuracy of the pipe shape.
  • Printing & Haul-off:The cooled pipe is pulled at a constant speed by a haul-off machine. Identification marks, including product specifications, production date, and applicable standards, are printed onto the pipe body. This enables full product traceability.
  • Cutting & Preliminary Inspection:A continuous length of pipe is cut to specified lengths using an automatic cutter. Each pipe section then undergoes a preliminary inspection, which includes checks for appearance, dimensions, and the correct positioning of the sealing ring.
  • Final Inspection & Packaging: Finished products undergo sampling for final testing, including dimensional measurements, hydrostatic pressure tests, and hygiene performance evaluations. Approved products have protective end caps fitted to prevent damage during transport. They are then bundled and packaged, accompanied by a certificate of compliance and quality tracking information.

8. Packaging and Delivery

  • Packaging Standards:Products are protected with protective end caps on both pipe ends to prevent damage to the bell and spigot during transportation and storage. Pipes are bundled according to their specifications and are fully wrapped in protective film or woven bags to guard against surface scratches and contamination. Small-diameter pipes are typically bundled in fixed quantities (e.g., 50 or 100 pieces per bundle), while large-diameter pipes may be bundled individually or in small lots. Each bundle includes a Certificate of Compliance, a Product Quality Tracking Card, and an installation manual for user reference and ease of use.
  • Clear Marking:Each pipe is permanently marked with essential information including product name (PVC-U), dimensions, pressure rating, applicable standards, manufacturing date, and manufacturer details, ensuring full product traceability. The external packaging features prominent labels indicating the product model, quantity, production batch number, and orientation symbols, facilitating inventory and logistics management.
  • Transportation Specifications:During transport, pipes must be stacked flat to avoid localized pressure and impact from sharp objects, preventing deformation or surface damage. Pipes are secured using supports and protective strapping to prevent shifting and friction during transit. Pipes of different specifications and pressure ratings are shipped separately to prevent mixing. Throwing, stepping on, or transporting pipes alongside oil, chemicals, or other contaminants is strictly prohibited.
  • Delivery Process:Upon order confirmation, production is scheduled according to contract requirements to ensure on-time delivery. All products undergo final inspection before leaving the factory to guarantee they meet quality standards. Flexible delivery options are offered, including customer pick-up or manufacturer-arranged logistics. For large-volume orders, staggered or batch deliveries can be arranged to align with the customer’s project timeline. Complete documentation, including a Product Quality Guarantee, test reports, and the Certificate of Compliance, accompanies each delivery.
  • Storage Recommendations:Pipes should be stored in a level, well-ventilated, and clean warehouse, protected from direct sunlight and rain. Stacking height should not exceed the manufacturer’s recommended limit to prevent long-term deformation of pipes at the bottom of stacks. Storage areas should be kept away from heat sources and potential chemical contaminants to ensure the environment is suitable for the product’s characteristics.

9. Sales Service

  • Pre-Sales:Provide professional technical consultation and recommend the most suitable product specifications and solutions based on the customer’s project requirements. Arrange sample delivery for customers to visually inspect product quality prior to procurement. Dispatch technical engineers for on-site surveys to offer expert advice on pipeline system design and construction methodology. Conduct product application training sessions to help clients and relevant construction personnel understand product features and key installation points.
  • In-Sales:Upon order confirmation, provide comprehensive production progress tracking with regular updates to the customer. Invite clients to conduct production process supervision and pre-delivery inspections to ensure products meet expected quality standards. Offer professional loading guidance to guarantee product safety during transportation. Flexibly coordinate logistics and delivery to ensure timely arrival at the designated construction site.
  • After-Sales:Establish a dedicated technical support hotline for prompt resolution of technical questions during product installation and use. Provide on-site installation guidance; for key projects, dispatch technical personnel to the site to oversee installation and ensure construction quality. Maintain customer files and conduct regular follow-ups to monitor product performance. Offer a quality warranty commitment: the product warranty period is not less than 12 years starting from the date of acceptance. Any quality issues arising under normal use conditions will be addressed with free repair or replacement.

10. Corporate Strengths

  • Scale Advantage:The company operates a modern production base. Our large-scale production capacity ensures strong market supply capabilities and cost competitiveness.
  • Technical R&D: We prioritize product research, development, and innovation. Utilizing high-performance PVC-U material formulations, our products significantly outperform conventional PVC-U pipes. Equipped with a dedicated R&D team and advanced laboratory facilities, we continuously improve product performance and develop new pipeline solutions. We maintain collaborations with research institutions (industry-academia-research partnerships), ensuring our technology remains at the forefront.
  • Quality Assurance:The company has implemented a stringent Quality Management System. We enforce comprehensive quality monitoring throughout the entire process, from raw material procurement and production to finished product shipment. Our products are tested and certified by national authoritative inspection agencies, ensuring compliance with all relevant standards and specifications. By employing advanced testing equipment, we conduct sampling inspections on every production batch to guarantee consistent and reliable performance.
  • Environmental Responsibility: Committed to sustainable development, the company uses environmentally friendly production formulations, ensuring our manufacturing processes meet environmental standards. PVC-U pipes are inherently eco-friendly and non-toxic, capable of conveying water that meets direct drinking standards, thus contributing to water resource protection and public health.
  • Professional Team:Our company boasts an experienced management team, specialized technical personnel, and skilled operators, forming a high-caliber, professional workforce. We organize regular training sessions for our employees to continuously enhance their professional skills and customer service awareness.
  • Comprehensive Service:We have established a full-spectrum customer service system, providing end-to-end support from technical consultation and solution design to installation guidance and post-sales follow-up. Adhering to the “customer-first” principle, we respond promptly to client needs, resolve issues efficiently, and build long-term, stable cooperative relationships.
Zhongcai(Sancai) Pipe has 20 years of industry experience and serves over 500 customers worldwide. Its advantages include:
  • Advanced production capacity: Automated production line with an annual output of over 100000 tons, meeting large-scale demand. R&D Strength: Collaborate with universities to continuously innovate products, such as anti-static PE pipes. Customer case: Successfully participated in the Asian municipal water supply project, with a customer satisfaction rate of 98%. Environmental Commitment: Use recyclable materials, reduce carbon footprint, and support green buildings.
  •  Strict quality control: Establish a sound quality management system, implement full process quality monitoring from raw material procurement to product delivery, and rigorously inspect every link to ensure reliable product quality.
  • Rich industry experience: With years of deep cultivation in the pipe and fittings industry, we have accumulated rich project experience and successfully served numerous large-scale municipal, construction, industrial and other projects, winning widespread recognition and praise from customers.