Revised 6/01

Pipe

Abbreviations Common to Pipe Pipe Assembly

AC ............................... Asbestos Cement Most piping systems used today, whether iron or PVC,
CI .................................Cast Iron use rubber gaskets to provide liquid-tight joints. Lead joints
CMP ............................ Corrugated Metal Pipe and solvent weld joints are seldom used underground due to
DI .................................Ductile Iron lack of flexibility. Modern rubber gaskets come in a variety
Flg. ..............................Flange of materials and shapes depending upon manufacturer and
HDPE ..........................High Density Polyethylene required use. When testing for system integrity, experience
MJ ................................Mechanical Joint shows that the pipe joint is the most likely trouble spot. With
PE ................................Polyethylene this fact in mind, we offer some helpful suggestions for
PO ................................Push-On handling and installing pipe gaskets. For complete assembly
PSI ............................... Pounds Per Square Inch instructions please refer to specific pipe manufacturer’s
PVC .............................Polyvinyl Chloride literature.
RT ................................ Ring-Tite • Be sure to have the correct gasket for the pipe being
RCP .............................Reinforced Concrete Pipe installed. There are various manufacturers and usually the
TPO .............................Tyton Joint® Push-On Joint gaskets are not interchangeable. Also, there are several styles
of pipe from the same manufacturer which require different
PVC Water Pipe: gaskets. IE: TPO Pipe, MJ Pipe, Snap-Lok™ Pipe, River
Blue Brute ................... Trade Name for AWWA C900 Crossing Pipe, etc..
Ductile Iron OD 150 PSI
DR, SDR .....................Dimension Ratio, Standard Di- • Be certain the required gasket is installed correctly. Gaskets
mension Ratio (the ratio of are often put in backwards; sometimes not at all. Each gasket
diameter to wall thickness. DR, type is a little different and is installed differently. Some pipe
SDR is determined by dividing styles are now coming from the manufacturer with the gasket
the average OD of the pipe by already installed in the pipe bell. This has solved some of
the minimum wall thickness and these problems.
rounding off the quotient when • Inspect the pipe spigot, bell ends and gaskets. Initial
necessary to nearest 0.5. The inspections are done during manufacturing, however, much
lower the number, the greater can happen after material leaves the factory.
the wall thickness). • What is the proper procedure for assembling the pipe joint
DR 18 ..........................4"–12" Ductile Iron OD 150 PSI (belling the pipe)? Most often this is the area where problems
AWWA C900 arise. After installing the gasket in the pipe, a thin film of pipe
DR 18 Large Dia. .........14"–20" Ductile Iron OD 235 lubricant is applied to the inside surface which will come in
PSI rating contact with the plain end of the pipe. Usually the spigot end
ID .................................Inside Pipe Diameter of the pipe is also lubricated (remember to bevel the spigot
IPS ............................... Iron Pipe Size (Steel OD) end if it has been cut). The pipe, gasket and gasket recess must
OD ............................... Outside Diameter always be kept clean! If dirt is present during assembly it can
SDR 21 ........................Thin wall (steel OD) PVC Pipe, tear the gasket or keep the gasket from seating properly, both
200 PSI (no AWWA Std.) resulting in leaks. KEEP THE PIPE CLEAN!!
SDR 26 ........................Thin wall (steel OD) PVC Pipe, • The angle of the pipe while being belled is very important.
160 PSI (no AWWA Std.) The pipe must be held straight when being pushed into the
bell. Deflection in pipe joints must be taken after the joint is
PVC Sewer Pipe: assembled.
DWV ...........................Drain, Waste & Vent
S&D .............................Sewer & Drain • Assembly of PVC pipe has two different aspects to
Sch 40/80 PVC ...........These terms are a carry over from remember. First, do not over-assemble the joint; in other
old steel terminology (derived words don’t push the spigot end into the bell too far. This will
from the Latin: schedulare) that cause the bell to split and leak. Second, do not deflect the
have no particular meaning for joints on PVC pipe. Deflection must be taken in the pipe
PVC aside from a "common" length and not at the joint itself. Deflection at the joint will
method of identifying. flatten the pipe and cause the joint to leak.
SDR 35 ........................PVC pipe with a standard di- Griffin Color Coding System:
mension ratio of 35; also identified
by ASTM D3034. Actually only For pipe marked “Griffin 20” if bell color is:
applies to pipe sizes 4" thru 15", Red ............................... Pipe has had 24" cut from it for
but is commonly used to identify testing, making overall length 18'.
standard solid wall PVC sewer Green ...........................Pipe has had 9" cut from it, making
pipe up to 27". overall length 19'–3".
White ...........................Tyton Joint®
Yellow ......................... Pipe has been gauged and is
suitable for field cuts.

Untitled-1 2 12/5/06, 9:09 AM