How to choose between HDPE water supply pipe and HDPE wire mesh skeleton pipe?

 

Both HDPE water supply pipe and HDPE wire mesh skeleton composite pipe can be used in water supply and fire protection fields. How should we choose between the two? Here we discuss the performance characteristics and cost of the two.

1. Pressure bearing capacity

 

● HDPE water supply pipe:

According to GB/T 13663.2-2018 standard, the pressure bearing range of HDPE water supply pipe is 0.6MPa, 0.8MPa, 1.0MPa, 1.25MPa, 1.6MPa and 2.0MPa (PE80 pipe can only reach 1.6MPa at most);

● HDPE wire mesh skeleton pipe:

According to GB/T 32439-2015 standard, the pressure range of HDPE wire mesh skeleton pipe is 0.8MPa, 1.0MPa, 1.6MPa, 2.0MPa, 2.5MPa and 3.5MPa (there is also 1.25MPa in the urban construction standard CJ/T 189-2007).

Obviously, the pressure bearing range of HDPE wire mesh skeleton pipe is larger and the pressure bearing capacity is stronger.

2. Connection method

 

●HDPE water supply pipe:

Common connection methods for HDPE water supply pipes include hot-melt butt, electric fusion connection and flange connection, among which hot-melt butt is the most commonly used. Since the hot-melt butt machine is large and requires a large operating space, it is not suitable for construction in narrow or restricted environments.

●HDPE wire mesh skeleton pipe:

The most common connection method for HDPE wire mesh skeleton pipe is electric fusion connection, which achieves the purpose of connection by heating the built-in resistance wire to melt the pipe. The electric fusion welding machine is relatively light and requires relatively small space. It can be constructed in narrow pipe wells, trenches and other places.

3. Pipeline cost

 

Under normal circumstances, due to the steel wire embedded in the PE wire mesh skeleton pipe, the wall of the wire mesh skeleton pipe will be thinner and the cost will be lower under the same specifications and pressure. Însă, this is not the case for all specifications. Generally, the diameter Dn160 and the pressure 1.6MPa are used as the boundary. For specifications less than this, the cost of PE water supply pipe is more advantageous; for specifications higher than or equal to this, the cost of PE wire mesh skeleton pipe is more advantageous.

4. Pipe fittings cost

 

● HDPE water supply pipe:

The most common connection method for HDPE water supply pipe is hot-melt butt welding. Straight connection does not require a direct head, hot-melt butt welding is sufficient. In addition, under the same specifications, the cost of HDPE butt fittings (elbows, tees, etc.) is also lower than that of electric fusion pipe fittings;

● HDPE wire mesh skeleton pipe:

The most common connection method for PE wire mesh skeleton pipe is electric fusion connection. Straight connection must also use a special “electric fusion sleeve”. Since the electric fusion pipe fittings have built-in resistance wires, the process is more complicated, and the cost is higher than that of PE butt fittings under the same specifications.

5. Application field

 

● HDPE water supply pipe:

HDPE water supply pipe is mainly suitable for medium and low pressure applications, such as urban water supply systems, building water supply pipelines, rural drinking water projects, agricultural irrigation, etc., but for pipe jacking, directional drilling, and crossing projects, PE water supply pipes are generally used.

● HDPE wire mesh skeleton pipe:

HDPE wire mesh skeleton pipe is mainly used for transportation needs in high pressure applications or complex environments, such as fire pipelines, oil and gas fields, power plants, chemical plants, petrochemical companies, water plants and other industries.

6. Construction efficiency

 

Construction efficiency is also mainly determined by the connection method.

● HDPE water supply pipe:

For HDPE water supply pipe, since it is generally connected by hot-melt butt welding, it requires multiple steps such as clamping, cutting, centering, heating, switching, melting butt welding, cooling, etc., especially the cooling time is long and the construction progress is slow;

● HDPE wire mesh skeleton pipe:

HDPE wire mesh skeleton pipe adopts electric fusion connection, with short heating and cooling time, fast connection process, high construction efficiency, and significant savings in labor costs;

Having said all this, it is difficult to make a conclusion on which pipe is more advantageous, because both have their own advantages under specific circumstances, and even the dividing line of the cost advantages of the two pipes mentioned above: Dn160, 1.6MPa, is not fixed, and will also change with the change of material prices. As a reference, you only need to know that there will be a critical point of cost around this. In the specific construction, it is also necessary to make a comprehensive choice based on the project design requirements, cost budget, connection method, construction conditions, etc. If you have any questions, you can consult me——zhongtong pipe