EPD: PVC-U pressure pipes, DN15-DN300, Premium (Iplex)
The Australian Standards for PVC pipe ( AS/NZS 1477, AS/NZS 4765 and AS/NZS 4441) have the Best Environmental Practice requirements developed by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) embedded in them to facilitate and openly encourage responsible sourcing of raw materials, best practice manufacturing, fully independent third party certification compliance, simpler procurement and easier identification of compliant products. No other Australian or international product standards have taken this step. Iplex Premium PVC pressure pipes are manufactured from unplasticised polyvinyl chloride polymer (a thermoplastic material) using the extrusion process. Unplasticised PVC (also known as uPVC and PVC-U) pipes were introduced into Australia in the early 1960’s and are now widely accepted for use in water supply, irrigation and sewerage rising mains. Iplex PVC-U pressure pipes meet the requirements of AS/NZS 1477 – PVC pipes and fittings for pressure applications and the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Reticulation Code WSA 03. ApolloBLUE™ is a bi-axially oriented PVC (PVC-O) pressure pipe for use in water supply infrastructure. Iplex manufactures the pipe using two new processes known as Biax Extrusion and Super Socketing, both of which are patented. This method of production, results in an exceptionally tough, high performance thermoplastic pipe with greatly enhanced physical characteristics, including greater impact resistance, higher ductility, improved fatigue resistance and reduced weight when compared with other PVC pipes. ApolloBLUE™ also provides increased hydraulic capacity due to its exceptionally smooth and enlarged bore. Modified PVC (PVC-M) is similar in composition to the traditional PVC pressure pipe that has been used in Australia for the past forty years. The difference is that an impact modifier has been added to alter the fracture mechanism, so the material behaves in a ductile manner. Iplex RHINO® pressure pipes are high performance thermoplastic pipes, incorporating the advancements of modified PVC pipe technology. RHINO® pressure pipes provide superior characteristics over conventional PVC-U pressure pipes, including higher impact resistance and ductility, reduced weight and greater hydraulic capacity. Iplex modified PVC-M pipes do not contain any compounds based on lead, cadmium or mercury. Detailed product characteristics are shown in Table 1 and the content of PVC-U, PVC-M and PVC-O pressure pipes are shown in Table 2. Iplex Premium PVC-U, ApolloBLUE™ PVC-O and RHINO® PVC-M pressure pipes are all suitable for a whole range of pressurised pipe applications, including: • Major potable water supply trunk and reticulation mains; • Irrigation and turf watering systems; • Industrial process pipelines; • Effluent pipelines for pumped sewage, industrial and rural wastes; and • Slurry pipelines carrying abrasive and corrosive mine or quarry materials.