What are the Different Types of Pipe?

• An underground drainage pipe made from solid-walled UPVC. These pipes can feature either a single socket on one end for joining to other pipe lengths or fittings, or be plain-ended on both sides for joining to an existing socket.
• They are most commonly finished in a terracotta colour that mimics the appearance of traditional clay drainage pipes.

• PVC pipes are extremely common in both residential and commercial underground drainage systems. Water is fed into them via gutter downpipes, drains, gullies and soil pipes.
• They can be joined with a wide range of drainage components including inspection chambers and sewage treatment plants.
• They can also feed water into a soakaway crate as part of a sustainable drainage system.

110mm drainage pipe is the most common size, however, 160mm pipes are sometimes used in commercial applications and larger sizes all the way up to 400mm can be used in industrial settings.

• An underground drainage pipe moulded from molten iron.
• These pipes and the accompanying fittings are joined via metal couplings with push-fit options available, rather than the traditional and more difficult methods. 
• They feature a grey epoxy coating and are fully compliant with multiple specifications including BS EN 877:1999 + A1:2006 Incorporating Corrigendum 2008.

• Cast iron pipes are extremely durable and are often used on conservation properties along with above-ground cast iron pipes.
• They are also used in commercial underground drainage applications and sewer systems where corrosion or high pressure may be expected, as they are fully resistant to these conditions.

100mm, 150mm and 200mm diameters.

• A pipe used in underground sewer systems that is made from clay that is fired at high temperatures, a process which hardens it, making it fit for drainage purposes.
• Similarly to cast iron, they are resistant to corrosive substances, and they are also able to withstand a high amount of pressure from soil due to their high strength and integrity.

• These days clay pipes are rarely used for new underground drainage projects due to their extreme weight and specialised joining techniques required, but there are some still in use, particularly as part of older properties.
• The majority of installers favour more modern pipe options that are easier to work with such as cast iron and plastic pipes.

100mm, 150mm, 225mm and 300mm diameters.

• Twinwall pipes are made from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and are lightweight compared to other common pipe materials.
• They feature a ribbed design on the outside and a smooth internal bore that enhances water flow.
• They can be purchased in both a perforated and solid style and they are generally larger than standard underground drainage pipes, with their diameters going all the way up to 600mm.
• These pipes are also easily joined to inspection and catchpit chambers that feature twinwall inlets.

• Twinwall drainage pipes are very popular in surface water and stormwater management projects, particularly in large open areas such as sports fields, golf courses and schools.
• The perforated style is the core component of a French drain, one of the most popular types of drains in the UK.

150mm, 225mm, 300mm, 450mm and 600mm diameters.

• Unlike most drainage pipes that are sold in lengths, land drain pipes are sold in large coils of up to 100 metres.
• They feature perforations along the pipe, just like twinwall pipe lengths, and are very flexible, which allows them to easily bend in the course of a channel if required and it makes pipe connections simple.

• These flexible drainage pipes are used in large fields to prevent waterlogging and flooding, as the perforations allow groundwater to enter pipes at a controlled rate, where they can then be carried along the channel to a drain.
• Land drain pipes can be wrapped in a filter sleeve to prevent sediment from entering the pipe through the perforations.

60mm, 80mm, 100mm and 160mm diameters.

• Copper piping has a high resistance to corrosion and faces minimal expansion and contraction throughout its lifecycle.
• Pair this with their long-lasting durability and natural antimicrobial abilities and it's easy to see why copper is such a popular option.

• Copper pipes are used in domestic and commercial plumbing projects, water heaters and boilers.

15mm, 22mm and 28mm diameters.

• These pipes are manufactured from cross-linked high-density polyethylene.
• This makes each pipe extremely tough, flexible and resistant to limescale.
• PEX pipes are fully compatible with traditional brass compression fittings and are a cheaper alternative to copper plumbing and heating.

• They are used as part of domestic and commercial plumbing systems, as well as radiant heating systems.

15mm and 22mm diameters.

• PB pipes are a unique type of plumbing pipe due to their extreme flexibility, which makes them easy to install, even in awkward and tight spaces.
• They're made from polybutylene that is forged into a five-layer barrier pipe, which boasts many benefits including a high resistance to freezing and corrosion.

• Polybutylene pipes are used in cold and hot water plumbing applications, as well as heating networks.

15mm and 22mm diameters.

• Ring seal, also known as push fit, is the most popular style of soil pipe, and they transport foul water from toilets down into the drainage system.
• The pipes and fittings can easily be joined together without the need for any tools, thanks to the rubber sealing sockets on the system's components.
• They're made from high-quality unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (uPVC).

• Ring seal soil pipes are used on many modern residential and commercial buildings to dispose of foul water from toilets and urinals.
• They can usually be found along the side of the building.
• Ring seal PVC pipes can be used to replace an old cast iron system.

110mm diameter.

• These soil pipes serve the same purpose as ring seal pipes, draining away foul water.
• However, the installation method is quite different. Instead of pushing the pipes and fittings together and having the ring seals create a secure joint, joints are instead created by putting solvent cement on the inside of the fitting you are joining to and the outside of the pipe and then connecting the two, creating a welded connection that cannot be dismounted.

• Used to dispose of foul water from bathrooms in domestic and commercial properties.
• Solvent weld soil pipes are also a preferred option in areas where the soil pipe may face impact, due to the welded joins essentially turning a pipe and a fitting into one piece of plastic.

110mm diameter.

• There are a variety of different styles of cast iron soil pipes for draining foul water from residential and commercial properties, all of which have a life expectancy of over 100 years.
• Push-fit cast iron soil pipes are a modern take on the traditional cast iron system that features rubber seals for joining components.
• The Halifax soil system's components are joined with screw steel and iron couplings.

• These metal pipes can be used on houses, but they are also popular for multi-storey car parks, high-rise developments and educational facilities due to their noise-dampening capabilities and their ability to withstand pressure fluctuations.

50mm, 70mm, 100mm and 150mm diameters.

• Waste pipes are used to transport wastewater from sinks, basins, baths and showers into the soil pipe.
• The push-fit style allows the pipes and fittings to easily be joined by hand without the need for tools, thanks to the rubber seals.
• Push-fit waste pipes are manufactured from high-strength polypropylene and are much smaller than underground drainage and soil pipes.

• Push fit waste pipes are very common throughout the UK and are used in both homes and commercial properties such as restaurants, hotels and offices.
• They safely channel wastewater into the soil pipe where it can be drained away.

32mm and 40mm diameters.

• These ABS pipes serve the same purpose as push-fit waste pipes, but the method to join them is very different. Instead of pushing the pipes and fittings together and having the ring seals create a secure joint, joints are instead created by putting solvent cement on the inside of the fitting you are joining to and the outside of the pipe and then connecting the two, creating a welded connection that cannot be dismounted.

• Solvent weld waste pipes are used in many buildings to safely channel wastewater into the soil pipe where it can be drained away.
• Solvent weld pipes are more popular for waste systems in the south of the UK whereas push-fit is more common in the north.

32mm, 40mm and 50mm diameters

• Compression waste is a diverse waste system where the joins on the end of the pipes and fittings accommodate all types of plastic pipes, including ABS, PVC, and polypropylene, as well as copper pipes.
• Rather than joining with solvent cement or a push fit, the nut on a fitting is undone and then slid over the pipe with the rubber seal and the pipe is pushed into the fitting. Finally, the nut is then tightened.

• Compression waste pipes are used in many plumbing applications including sinks, basins, baths and showers.
• They are very useful for joining two different materials of pipe in the same system.

32mm and 40mm diameters

• Waste overflow pipes are joined together via the same solvent cement method as solvent weld waste pipes.
• The pipes and fittings are made from UPVC, have a high gloss finish and are maintenance-free.

• Overflow pipes are installed on cisterns or water tanks as a safety mechanism, as they are designed to divert excess water away from these systems to prevent flooding and water damage to a building.

21.5mm diameter

• Made from medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), these pipes are lightweight and flexible, and are highly resistant to bacteria as well as corrosion.
• These water pipes are blue, and are supplied in large coils rather than lengths of pipe due to their flexible nature.
• They are designed to be able to withstand the frequent changes in pressure that can occur when supplying water.

• Blue MDPE pipes are used to transport potable water to both residential and commercial properties from a mains supply.
• They can also be used for non-drinking water applications such as supplying swimming pools and irrigation equipment in farming.
• The wide variety of pipe sizes make MDPE pipes very versatile.

20mm, 25mm, 32mm, 50mm and 63mm diameters.

• Black water pipes are also made from MDPE and therefore boast the same flexibility and corrosion-resistant benefits as blue pipes.
• Unlike the blue pipes, they are designed and intended for use only in the supplying of unclean water.

• Black MDPE pipes are commonly used for irrigation purposes, more so than blue pipes, but can also be used for a variety of industrial water applications as well as pumping mains in a sewage treatment plant.

20mm, 25mm, 32mm, 50mm and 63mm diameters.

• Barrier pipes are extra durable MDPE water pipes that feature an additional layer of protective aluminium that further enhances the pipe's resistance to contamination ingress.
• Despite the extra layer, they still retain the flexibility and ease of installation that comes with other MDPE pipes.

• These pipes are commonly used when laying water pipes in contaminated ground.
• They can also be used on farms where agricultural chemicals are frequently used, industrial sites with polluted soils and landfills.

25mm and 32mm diameters.