PVC pipes are used in so many different, practical ways. They are very strong and durable and are, for many different reasons, very popular.
However, they do have a weight limit. Read on to find out all about PVC pipes and how much weight they can hold.
How Strong Is A PVC Pipe?
This is a common question, and it is not an easy question to answer.
There are lots of different types of strength when it comes to PVC pipes.
The most common ways to test the strength of a pipe are the collapse pressure, tensile strength and the burst pressure.
Understanding these strengths is crucial, especially when considering how to connect PEX to PVC in plumbing systems.
Tensile Strength
PVC pipe tensile strength refers to the amount of weight that can be put on the PVC pipe before it snaps or bends out of shape.
PVC pipes are measured by their tensile strength in this way when you hang weight from the pipe until it bends, misshapes or breaks.
The PVC pipe increases in strength as the size of the pipe increases.
These pipes are very strong, even the ones that are smaller can hold a lot of weight. For more specific applications, like connecting PVC pipes without glue, it’s important to understand their strength.
Burst Pressure
This refers to the internal pressure that a pipe can withstand before it fails.
This is important to consider when you are letting fluids run through the piping system.
PVC pipes often struggle to handle the pressure in comparison to other types of pipes.
However, you don’t need your pipes to hold too much pressure in your home or your small business and so it is a perfectly acceptable pipe to use.
The pipe burst pressure decreases when the pipe increases in size.
Knowing this is key for long-term durability, much like understanding how long PVC pipes last in various conditions.
Collapse Pressure
The last time of strength that we will look at is the collapse pressure, or PVC pipe crush strength.
This refers to the amount of collapse pressure that can exist outside of the pipe to stop it from collapsing inwards.
This is important when you are living in hot temperatures. In order to test this strength, you can put weight on top of the pipe.
When it starts to cave in, this is the extent of the collapse pressure.
The amount of collapse pressure PVC pipe can hold before it caves in will decrease as the size of the pipe increases.
Size To Weight Ratio
Finding the perfect size to weight ratio is very important when you are using PVC. This is true for many different reasons.
These points should be considered when you are choosing this part of your project.
You should take into account the maximum amount of weight that your pipe or project will need to withstand.
Make sure that you don’t just choose the amount and pick the weight exactly.
Instead, you should give yourself a margin so that if anything goes wrong you will be protected.
A 10% margin should work well in this case.
When you are choosing your size-weight ratio, try to ensure that you keep the pipe as small as possible in order to meet the weight.
This will save you some money and time.
There are many different types of PVC. The type of PVC that you choose is very important as some can hold more weight than others.
They can also cost very different amounts. The size of the project that you are undertaking is very important.
Also, make sure to consider the horizontal span length of the PVC pipe. If you are trying to install a very long pipe, the pipe is likely to bend or sag in the middle.
Can You Use PVC Pipes For Load Bearing?
PVC piping may not be as strong as it looks, and it can be very fragile compared to a metal pipe. While it can be used for load-bearing, it is probably not a good idea.
If you are going to use it in this way, you will need to make sure that it is reinforced with a strong support system.
There are some ways that you can make PVC more suitable for load bearing. These include:
- Use the PVC for vertical load-bearing rather than horizontal. If you use vertical load bearing, then you will have gravity on your side.
- If you need to use the PVC in a horizontal way, you need to ensure that you are adding reinforcements and supports. If you add PVC pipe support beams to the pipes that prop the pipes up, then you will add a large amount of sturdiness to the piping. These should be added vertically.
- Don’t even try to add heavy loads. Even with reinforcements, it is very likely that they will crack.
- You can use support ropes if you can see that the pipe is bending. These will hold up the pipe. This is because, sometimes, the pipes can hold the extra weight but they just bend as a result of it.
Is PVC Strong Enough For Water Lines?
PVC is very often used in plumbing, and it is great at doing so. However, it does depend on the temperature of the water in question.
For cold water, it is great at transferring the water from A to B.
It is also used in many other different parts of plumbing and you will find it all over the house.
For instance, most sink P traps are made from PVC.
If you are looking to transport hot water, however, you should not use PVC.
This is because the water is too hot and it can cause the chemicals in PVC to break down, meaning that the PVC is no longer strong.
When it gets brittle, you can start developing many different problems and you may start to experience cracked or burst pipes and leaks.
This can cause a lot of headaches down the line, so make sure that you are not pushing your PVC past its limits and creating more problems!
Final Thoughts
There are many different ways to look into the strength of a PVC pipe, and how much weight they can hold.
PVC piping is a great type of material to use for your pipes and other projects.
You need to be careful not to exceed the maximum load on these pipes, however, to ensure that the pipes don’t break and ruin your project!