PVC pressure pipes can work as expected if you don't make any mistake when you are handling or storing them prior to their installation. This article discusses some crucial tips that you should keep in mind while handling or storing PVC pressure pipes at a jobsite.
Minimise Handling
The chances of the pressure pipes sustaining some damage increase as the pipes are handled several times. It is therefore advisable for you to place each pipe close to the section of the trench where it will be installed. Place the pipe on the side that is opposite the side where soil from the trench has been kept. This placement will ensure that the pipe will be easily lowered into the trench with minimal extra handling. Another way to minimise handling is by storing the pressure pipes in the palletised units in which the pipes were delivered. You can then remove each pressure pipe from the pallet when the installation process begins.
Secure the Pipes
It is also important for you to secure the pressure pipes when you are storing them at a jobsite. Unsecured pipes can easily roll in case anything, such as vibrations, disturbs them. Pressure pipes that roll can sustain impact damage when they hit a hard surface, such as a rock. Use appropriate securement devices, such as straps, to keep the individual pipes in one place until they are installed.
Keep Them Separate
It is also necessary for you to keep each pressure pipe separate from the others during storage. Pipes that are kept in close proximity to other pipes may make contact with each other. Such contact can lead to some damage that can affect the performance of the pressure pipes. It is therefore advisable to handle one pipe at a time during the offloading and storage process so that you prevent such impact damage.
Pay Attention to Ventilation
PVC pressure pipes should not be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time during storage. Direct sunlight can gradually affect the dimensional stability of the pipes due to some reactions that can occur within the material at those elevated temperatures. It is also helpful to ensure that air is allowed to circulate within any covered PVC pressure pipes. Ventilation will avert heat buildup inside those pressure pipes.
Each manufacturer of PVC pressure pipes provides the specific handling and storage guidelines that should be followed by the users of those products. Consult the supplier of the pipes for guidance in case your storage site has conditions that were not reflected in the product literature that you received as your consignment was delivered.
