Wavin HDPE

HDPE ideal for largescale developments

Fifteen years is a short timeframe within the construction industry but, looking back to then, most soil, waste and rainwater solutions were made using polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, the world’s third most widely- produced synthetic plastic polymer. PVC is lightweight, yet durable, and used by contractors the world over.

However, since then an alternative plastic drainage solution, HDPE, has come to market offering a number of added benefits over PVC.

Here, John McPeake, Wavin Ireland Technical Sales Manager, explains why HDPE has now become so popular.

HDPE is manufactured using highdensity polyethylene. It is similar to PVC in that it is highly robust, but it also offers additional qualities such as enhanced chemical resistance and flexibility. That is the reason why many contractors use it as their go-to solution for a range of soil, waste and rainwater drainage applications.

While HDPE is suitable for use in a range of different types of construction, its qualities make it an ideal solution for use in large-scale commercial developments, both during and long after installation. Such construction projects are synonymous with increased footfall from a range of different trades. There is more site traffic and increased exposure to the elements, so using materials that can endure this is key.

HDPE and BIM

The benefits of HDPE are not exclusive to its physical properties alone. Some manufacturers of HDPE systems, such as Wavin, have designed BIM Revit families for these ranges to assist in the design of above-ground drainage systems. For specifiers, being able to create an accurate, virtual representation of a piping system can save a great deal of time and money on a project. This is especially true in major developments where there are a number of different factors to consider, and systems to work around. As well as ensuring that a system will perform as required, this process also ensures that only the required amount of materials will be ordered, keeping costs down.

Wavin is the only plastic piping systems manufacturer that allows users to build an accurate representation of piping system installations, including automatic routing preferences, a fully-integrated “bill of materials” and high levels of detail and accuracy every time.

Wavin HDPE comes in 12 pipe diameters – from 40mm to 315mm – and is a universal system approved for pipe installation in buildings to DIN 19535 and DIN EN 1519. It is the ideal choice for projects in hospitals and industrial environments and is durable at extreme temperatures, resisting up to 100oC and offering excellent impact-resistance even at -40oC. Its flexibility means it is well suited to assemblies subjected to vibration. It is therefore ideal for use in seismic zones and across expansion joints.

An additional benefit is that its “Quick- fit” coupling and expansion joint seals remain resistant to wastewater as the seals are produced from an elastomer that guarantees sealing and durability.

See www.wavin.ie or contact the Wavin Technical Design Team at e: projects.ie@wavin.com