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Why a PVC-U soil stack might be the right choice


Everyone is searching for sustainability in the drive towards a carbon neutral and more circular economy and Government targets are really focusing the mind for those in construction as well as their customers. Here Steve Skeldon, BPF Pipes Group, examines the sustainability benefits of PVC-U soil stacks


W


hen you think about product sustainability, PVC-U isn’t necessarily the first material that springs to mind. However, take a look at the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for PVC-U and your


opinion may be changed: EPDs are able to bring a data driven objective view which is sometimes at odds with perceived viewpoints. An EPD states the environmental impact of a product throughout its life –


from cradle to grave. By doing this for the entire lifecycle of the product it can help customers select the most sustainable materials and even specific product brands.


The argument for PVC-U measured through EPDs


TEPPFA, the European plastic pipes and fitting association, is working hard on sustainability and has developed an EPD for PVC-U which allows direct comparisons to be made with ductile iron. These comparisons are measured in kg of CO2 released over a 50-year lifespan and the impact of fossil fuel depletion. It can be seen in the accompanying chart which demonstrates that PVC-U has a lower environmental impact over its entire lifecycle than ductile iron. The value of EPDs is immense when making decisions on construction materials that are intended for long-term use.


The role of standards in supporting sustainability of PVC-U soil stacks


It is also becoming increasingly important to customers that building products are made to the appropriate manufacturing standards. PVC-U as described in the TEPPFA EPD is based on a virgin solid wall PVC-U pipe manufactured to EN 1329, but further environmental benefits can be realised if the pipe is manufactured with higher levels of recycled material. Taking post-consumer PVC-U waste at end of life (such as window profiles)


Comparison of PVC-U to DI for the 7 environmental impact criteria


100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30%


20% 10% 0%


Resources Depletion (non-fossil ADPn)


Abiotic (fossil ADPf)


Resources Depletion


Abiotic


Acidification Potential AD


Ductile Iron The EPD comparing PVC-U with ductile iron 12 January 2023


Eutrophication Potential EP


Warming Potential GWP


Global PVC-U


Depletion Potential ODP


Ozone


Photochemical Ozone creation Potential POCP


PVC-U stacks are available with push-fit joints, so there is a much lower requirement for energy consuming power tools like hand drills to remove the blind bosses. The pipe can be cut with a hand saw too. PVC-U stacks can be disassembled and re-used rather than replaced, and they contain UV protection for long-life and durability when installed externally. When it comes to design technology, pipe manufacturers have invested


heavily in the creation of BIM content for designers of building services over recent years. This has a direct impact on the industry by reducing unnecessary site waste, such as through clash detection and more accurate bills of materials. In conclusion, with data derived by TEPPFA, manufacturing standards which enable high levels of recycled material and support retrofitting, and the inherent design and installation advantages of PVC – all combine to present a compelling case for ensuring PVC-U stacks are essential for your next project. The BPF Pipes Group produces guidance on installing below and above


ground plastic pipes, intended to encourage best practice and circularity across the entire industry.


EPDs for PVC-U show that this product is more sustainable than you might think


and integrating this waste into a multilayer pipe strengthens the environmental case for PVC-U. Critically, standards such as EN 1453 are in place to allow it, so customers can have confidence that making a good decision using the environmental parameter isn’t compromised by lower performance in use. The BPF Pipes Group is at the forefront of standards development and makes the interesting point that a pipe manufactured today can be retrofitted to a pipe manufactured several decades ago; which means the whole pipe system doesn’t have to be replaced. Like many other building products, pipe manufacturers do not force obsolescence; just compare that to anyone trying to install new software or operating systems on a five-year-old tablet or laptop – they will know that this is certainly not true of other markets.


Design and installation factors – less is more


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