Why is PVC piping used? Polyvinyl Chloride pipes are used for the following reasons.
PVC piping (Polyvinyl Chloride) is one of the largest requested piping applications in Canada and the United States. It accounts for the largest majority of pipe materials used in underground municipal applications for drinking water distribution and wastewater mains. It is estimated that half of the world's polyvinyl chloride resin manufactured annually is used for producing pipes for various municipal and industrial applications. In the water distribution market and it accounts for 66% of the market in the US, and it accounts for 75% of the market in sanitary sewer pipe applications,
PVC piping with its light weight, high strength, and low reactivity makes it particularly well-suited for this purpose. In addition, PVC pipes can be fused together using various solvent cements, or heat-fused (butt-fusion process, similar to joining HDPE pipe), creating permanent joints that are virtually impervious to leakage. PVC was found to have great shock absorbing abilities.
PVC pipe is also commonly used in the insulation of electrical wires as well as the following applications.
Drain-waste-vent (DWV).