The standard effective length of PVC pipes is 6m although other lengths, up to 12m, may also be available.
PVC Pipe Sizes in Australia
The external diameter of the pipe is 34mm. 20mm or ¾ inch pressure PVC pipe (in this case, class 12), has an internal diameter of 23mm with an external diameter of 27mm.
The most common PVC pipe sizes are 1½ inches (used as drain pipes for kitchen sinks, bathroom vanity, and tubs), 2 inches (used as drain pipes for washing machines and shower stalls), 3 inches (used in piping toilets), and 4 inches (used to connect homes to sewer system).
PVC pipe sizes are given by the "ID" or Internal Diameter of Schedule 40 pipe. What does this mean? This means that for a standard, Schedule 40 PVC pipe, the PVC industry uses the measurement of the 'hole' inside the PVC pipe as its size. This is the measurement, from top-to-bottom of the inside of the PVC pipe.
They have varying sizes from 75 mm to 375 mm in diameter, and this largely depends on the supplier.
For a very long time, 100mm PVC has been the standard diameter for both stormwater and sewer drains. But in the past 5 years or so, 90mm PVC has become much more popular.
Schedule 40 PVC pipes are made with thicker walls that stand up to low pressure applications. Whereas PVC DWV piping has thinner walls and is not made for pressurized applications. Another thing that can cause confusion sometimes is the end types.
Sometimes these fittings may be referred to in imperial form. For threads and PVC Pipe: half inch refers to 15mm, three quarter inch refers to 20mm, one inch refers to 25mm, one and a quarter inch refers to 32mm, one and a half inch refers to 40mm, two inch refers to 50mm.
The most common sizes you'd use around your home would be 1.5-, 2-, 3- and 4-inch. The 1.5-inch size is used to capture water that might flow out of a kitchen sink, a bathroom vanity or a tub.
PVC-U is the most common PVC type for pipes and fittings including transportation of drinking water, soil and waste, sewage and underground drainage and industrial applications.
The most common standard diameters are as follow: 0.5 inch (15 mm), 0.75 inch (20 mm), 1 inch (25 mm), 1.5 inch (40 mm), 2 inch (50 mm), 3 inch (80 mm), 4 inch (100 mm), 6 inch (150 mm), 8 inch (200 mm), 10 inch (250 mm), 12 inch (300 mm), 14 inch (350 mm), 16 inch (400 mm), 18 inch (450 mm), 20 inch (500 mm), 22 inch ...
The OD of 1" PVC pipe is 1.315". Schedule 80 PVC pipe has thicker walls than schedule 40, but still has the same OD. This means that the ID of 1" schedule 80 PVC pipe is actually slightly less than 1".
Generally speaking, the main pipeline from the street to your home is either ¾ or 1 inch in diameter. Supply pipes are ¾ inch in diameter and individual components are ½ inch in diameter.
Imperial sizes are measured using the approximate bore diameter, for instance the outside diameter of 1/2″ copper pipe is about 15mm and 3/4″ is about 22mm and 28mm is about 1 inch in diameter.
Using the table below we can see that a thread measuring 1/2" is actually a 1/4" BSP thread. Similarly, a thread that measures 1" is actually a 3/4" BSP thread.
Generally, schedule 40 pipe is white in color, while schedule 80 is often gray to distinguish it from 40. PVC is available in many colors though, so be sure to check labels when purchasing.
The amount of pressure a pipe is rated for varies based on size, but a 4” schedule 80 PVC pipe for instance is rated at 320 PSI while a schedule 40 PVC pipe of the same size is only rated at 220 PSI.
PVC Pipe is identified by the ID (Inside Diameter) and is referred to as a "nominal" size which means "in name only." However this confuses people and most novices try to use the OD (Outer Diameter) to order parts.
The WELS standard is Australian Standard 6400:2016 Water efficient products — Rating and labelling. Requirements detailed in the WELS standard include product testing, rating, labelling and display, such as information that must be on the water rating label (star rating, water consumption, flow rates).
AS/NZS 3500.2:2021 Plumbing and drainage, Part 2: Sanitary plumbing and drainage - Downloadable. This Standard specifies requirements for the design and installation of sanitary plumbing and drainage from the fixtures to a sewer, common effluent system or an on-site wastewater management system, as appropriate.
HP Storm is currently manufactured in the 12”–60” (300-1500mm) size range and in 20-foot (6m) lengths. The 20-foot (6m) lengths aid in speed of installation and reduce the total number of joints.