Types of PVC Pipes and Their Uses in Saudi Arabia
PVC pipe is sorted four ways: by material (PVC-U, also written uPVC, or CPVC for hot water), by pressure duty (pressure or non-pressure), by wall rating (class, schedule or SDR) and by use (water main, sewer, duct, conduit or perforated). Match all four to the specification and you have the right type.
Types of PVC Pipes: Four ways to sort PVC pipes
A pipe line such as “uPVC pressure pipe, Class 4, SASO ISO 1452, 110 mm” answers four separate questions at once. Each comes from a different way of sorting the pipe, and mixing them up leads to wrong orders: Schedule 40 and Class 4 sound alike but rate the wall in different ways.
| Sorted by | Question it answers | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Material | What is the pipe made of, and how hot can the water be? | PVC-U (uPVC), CPVC |
| Pressure duty | Does the pipe hold pressure, or carry flow by gravity? | Pressure pipe; sewer and drain pipe |
| Wall rating | How thick is the wall for the job? | Class 4 and 5, Schedule 40 and 80, SDR, sewer Class 2 to 4 |
| Use | Where does the pipe go? | Water main, sewer, duct, conduit, perforated pipe |
By material: PVC-U, CPVC and the variants
For water, sewer and cable work the pipe is normally PVC-U, which is PVC with no plasticiser added. That is the material behind most of 4B Factory’s range, and 4B also makes CPVC. What is uPVC pipe covers its properties, and uPVC vs PVC explains the naming. For hot water, CPVC vs uPVC vs PVC shows where CPVC is the right pick. For PPR, copper, GI and PEX, see uPVC vs PPR, copper and GI pipes.
| Material | What it is | Continuous temperature limit | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC-U (uPVC) | Rigid PVC, no plasticiser | About 60 °C, with the pressure rating falling as water warms | Cold water mains, sewers, drainage, duct and conduit |
| CPVC | PVC that has been chlorinated further | About 93 °C | Hot and cold water, fire sprinkler lines, hot chemical service |
Limits as stated by a plastics supplier, Laird Plastics. Check the limit in the standard that applies to your product. Temperature derating shows how PVC-U pressure ratings fall with heat.
Two more variants turn up on international water-main specifications. PVC-M adds a toughness-enhancing agent, and PVC-O is oriented during manufacture, which ISO 16422 covers for pressure water pipe. They are different products from PVC-U, so do not substitute one for the other without the engineer’s approval.
By pressure duty: pressure and non-pressure pipe
Pressure pipe holds water under pump or head pressure, and its wall is sized to a pressure rating. Sewer and drain pipe carries flow by gravity and is sized for burial load instead. It is not a substitute on a pressure line, even when the diameter matches.
In 4B Factory’s range, pressure pipe is the Class 4 (10 bar) and Class 5 (16 bar) water main pipe made to SASO ISO 1452 in 50–315 mm, plus Schedule pipe to ASTM D 1785. Non-pressure pipe is the 110–710 mm sewer and drain pipe made to SAS 1395 / 1396.
By wall rating: class, schedule and SDR
Four rating systems appear on Saudi pipe lists. They describe the wall in different ways, so a number from one cannot be read as a number from another.
| System | Source standard | How the wall is described |
|---|---|---|
| Class (PN) | SASO ISO 1452, metric pressure pipe | Class 4 is PN 10 (10 bar); Class 5 is PN 16 (16 bar) |
| Schedule | ASTM D 1785, inch sizes | Schedule 40, 80 and 120: same outside diameter for a nominal size, thicker wall as the schedule rises |
| SDR | ASTM D 2241 | Ratio of outside diameter to wall thickness; a lower SDR means a thicker wall and a higher pressure rating |
| Sewer wall class | SAS 1395 / 1396 | Class 2 (light), 3 (medium) and 4 (heavy); heavier classes suit deeper burial and traffic loads |
Ratings as listed on 4B Factory product pages.
Compare pipes on pressure rating and outside diameter, not on the names. The pressure classes guide helps choose between Class 4 and Class 5, Schedule 40 vs 80 covers the ASTM series, and the sizes chart gives outside diameters and walls.
By use: the main types and where they go
This is the sort most buyers start from. Each row links to the product page with the full data table.
| Type | Standard | Colour | Typical use | Sizes listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water main pressure pipe | SASO ISO 1452, ASTM D 1785, DIN 8061/8062 | Blue (potable) or grey | Potable and utility water networks | 50–315 mm |
| Schedule 40 / 80 / 120 pipe | ASTM D 1785, ASTM D 2241 | White (Sch 40), dark grey (Sch 80) | Industrial and process lines | ½″–8″ |
| Sewer and drain pipe | SAS 1395 / 1396 | Terracotta | Gravity sewers and drainage | 110–710 mm |
| Duct | SAS 254 / 255 | Dark grey | Underground cable protection | 20–63 mm |
| Conduit | NEMA TC 2, UL 651, SEC TMSS 01 | Grey | Electrical wiring in and around buildings | ½″–6″ |
| Perforated pipe | DIN 4925 on a sewer or pressure parent pipe | Per parent pipe | Soil drainage and well screens | 75–500 mm |
Standards, colours and size ranges as listed on 4B Factory product pages. Confirm available sizes and lengths when you request a quote.
Fittings are a separate family: bends, tees and reducers are matched to the pipe’s size system and class, as the PVC pipe fittings guide explains. Duct has its own sizing, covered in D54 vs D56 duct pipe.
How each type is joined
Pressure pipe uses an integral socket with an EPDM rubber seal, or a solvent weld. Sewer pipe is joined with solvent cement or a rubber ring. Conduit has a factory-belled socket and takes solvent cement, and duct is a spigot-and-socket fit, dry or solvent welded. The installation and jointing guide covers the method for each.
When PVC is the wrong type
Hot water. Standard PVC-U softens above about 60 °C. Use CPVC or another material rated for the temperature.
Compressed air and gas. PVC should not carry them, because a ruptured line is a serious injury hazard. The uPVC guide gives the OSHA reference.
Choosing the type: four questions
- What is the pipe carrying, and at what temperature?
- Is it under pressure? If so, what is the working pressure, including surges?
- Which standard does the project specification name?
- Where is it laid, and what load does it carry: burial depth, traffic, or none?
Answer those four and the choice narrows to one row of the use table above.
Specifying pipe for a project?
Send the specification or bill of quantities with sizes and quantities. We confirm the type, class and sizes and quote factory-direct from our Al-Kharj plant.
Request a QuotePVC pipe types from 4B Factory
Four Brothers Industrial Co. makes PVC-U pipe at its Al-Kharj plant for water mains, sewers and drainage, cable duct and conduit. It also makes CPVC pipe, perforated pipe and fabricated fittings to project specifications. Browse the full range on the products page, or ask for the data sheet for the line you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pressure pipe, normally Class 4 or Class 5, made from a compound approved for drinking-water contact and to a potable-water standard such as SASO ISO 1452 or SAS 14/15. Ask for the certificate and data sheet for the exact product. Our lead-free uPVC pipe guide covers what to look for.
Only as a convention, and it differs between standards and makers. 4B Factory lists blue for potable-water pressure pipe, terracotta for sewer pipe, dark grey for duct and grey for conduit, but colour is never proof of rating. Read the marking on the pipe for the standard, nominal size and class, and check it against the certificate.
Duct, which is thin-walled pipe laid in trenches to protect telecom and power cables. Conduit is the heavier pipe used inside and around buildings for electrical wiring. The conduit vs duct selection guide explains how to choose between them.
Types of PVC Pipes and Their Uses in Saudi Arabia
PVC pipe is sorted four ways: by material (PVC-U, also written uPVC, or CPVC for hot water), by pressure duty (pressure or non-pressure), by wall rating (class, schedule or SDR) and by use (water main, sewer, duct, conduit or perforated). Match all four to the specification and you have the right type.
Types of PVC Pipes: Four ways to sort PVC pipes
A pipe line such as “uPVC pressure pipe, Class 4, SASO ISO 1452, 110 mm” answers four separate questions at once. Each comes from a different way of sorting the pipe, and mixing them up leads to wrong orders: Schedule 40 and Class 4 sound alike but rate the wall in different ways.
| Sorted by | Question it answers | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Material | What is the pipe made of, and how hot can the water be? | PVC-U (uPVC), CPVC |
| Pressure duty | Does the pipe hold pressure, or carry flow by gravity? | Pressure pipe; sewer and drain pipe |
| Wall rating | How thick is the wall for the job? | Class 4 and 5, Schedule 40 and 80, SDR, sewer Class 2 to 4 |
| Use | Where does the pipe go? | Water main, sewer, duct, conduit, perforated pipe |
By material: PVC-U, CPVC and the variants
For water, sewer and cable work the pipe is normally PVC-U, which is PVC with no plasticiser added. That is the material behind most of 4B Factory’s range, and 4B also makes CPVC. What is uPVC pipe covers its properties, and uPVC vs PVC explains the naming. For hot water, CPVC vs uPVC vs PVC shows where CPVC is the right pick. For PPR, copper, GI and PEX, see uPVC vs PPR, copper and GI pipes.
| Material | What it is | Continuous temperature limit | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC-U (uPVC) | Rigid PVC, no plasticiser | About 60 °C, with the pressure rating falling as water warms | Cold water mains, sewers, drainage, duct and conduit |
| CPVC | PVC that has been chlorinated further | About 93 °C | Hot and cold water, fire sprinkler lines, hot chemical service |
Limits as stated by a plastics supplier, Laird Plastics. Check the limit in the standard that applies to your product. Temperature derating shows how PVC-U pressure ratings fall with heat.
Two more variants turn up on international water-main specifications. PVC-M adds a toughness-enhancing agent, and PVC-O is oriented during manufacture, which ISO 16422 covers for pressure water pipe. They are different products from PVC-U, so do not substitute one for the other without the engineer’s approval.
By pressure duty: pressure and non-pressure pipe
Pressure pipe holds water under pump or head pressure, and its wall is sized to a pressure rating. Sewer and drain pipe carries flow by gravity and is sized for burial load instead. It is not a substitute on a pressure line, even when the diameter matches.
In 4B Factory’s range, pressure pipe is the Class 4 (10 bar) and Class 5 (16 bar) water main pipe made to SASO ISO 1452 in 50–315 mm, plus Schedule pipe to ASTM D 1785. Non-pressure pipe is the 110–710 mm sewer and drain pipe made to SAS 1395 / 1396.
By wall rating: class, schedule and SDR
Four rating systems appear on Saudi pipe lists. They describe the wall in different ways, so a number from one cannot be read as a number from another.
| System | Source standard | How the wall is described |
|---|---|---|
| Class (PN) | SASO ISO 1452, metric pressure pipe | Class 4 is PN 10 (10 bar); Class 5 is PN 16 (16 bar) |
| Schedule | ASTM D 1785, inch sizes | Schedule 40, 80 and 120: same outside diameter for a nominal size, thicker wall as the schedule rises |
| SDR | ASTM D 2241 | Ratio of outside diameter to wall thickness; a lower SDR means a thicker wall and a higher pressure rating |
| Sewer wall class | SAS 1395 / 1396 | Class 2 (light), 3 (medium) and 4 (heavy); heavier classes suit deeper burial and traffic loads |
Ratings as listed on 4B Factory product pages.
Compare pipes on pressure rating and outside diameter, not on the names. The pressure classes guide helps choose between Class 4 and Class 5, Schedule 40 vs 80 covers the ASTM series, and the sizes chart gives outside diameters and walls.
By use: the main types and where they go
This is the sort most buyers start from. Each row links to the product page with the full data table.
| Type | Standard | Colour | Typical use | Sizes listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water main pressure pipe | SASO ISO 1452, ASTM D 1785, DIN 8061/8062 | Blue (potable) or grey | Potable and utility water networks | 50–315 mm |
| Schedule 40 / 80 / 120 pipe | ASTM D 1785, ASTM D 2241 | White (Sch 40), dark grey (Sch 80) | Industrial and process lines | ½″–8″ |
| Sewer and drain pipe | SAS 1395 / 1396 | Terracotta | Gravity sewers and drainage | 110–710 mm |
| Duct | SAS 254 / 255 | Dark grey | Underground cable protection | 20–63 mm |
| Conduit | NEMA TC 2, UL 651, SEC TMSS 01 | Grey | Electrical wiring in and around buildings | ½″–6″ |
| Perforated pipe | DIN 4925 on a sewer or pressure parent pipe | Per parent pipe | Soil drainage and well screens | 75–500 mm |
Standards, colours and size ranges as listed on 4B Factory product pages. Confirm available sizes and lengths when you request a quote.
Fittings are a separate family: bends, tees and reducers are matched to the pipe’s size system and class, as the PVC pipe fittings guide explains. Duct has its own sizing, covered in D54 vs D56 duct pipe.
How each type is joined
Pressure pipe uses an integral socket with an EPDM rubber seal, or a solvent weld. Sewer pipe is joined with solvent cement or a rubber ring. Conduit has a factory-belled socket and takes solvent cement, and duct is a spigot-and-socket fit, dry or solvent welded. The installation and jointing guide covers the method for each.
When PVC is the wrong type
Hot water. Standard PVC-U softens above about 60 °C. Use CPVC or another material rated for the temperature.
Compressed air and gas. PVC should not carry them, because a ruptured line is a serious injury hazard. The uPVC guide gives the OSHA reference.
Choosing the type: four questions
- What is the pipe carrying, and at what temperature?
- Is it under pressure? If so, what is the working pressure, including surges?
- Which standard does the project specification name?
- Where is it laid, and what load does it carry: burial depth, traffic, or none?
Answer those four and the choice narrows to one row of the use table above.
Specifying pipe for a project?
Send the specification or bill of quantities with sizes and quantities. We confirm the type, class and sizes and quote factory-direct from our Al-Kharj plant.
Request a QuotePVC pipe types from 4B Factory
Four Brothers Industrial Co. makes PVC-U pipe at its Al-Kharj plant for water mains, sewers and drainage, cable duct and conduit. It also makes CPVC pipe, perforated pipe and fabricated fittings to project specifications. Browse the full range on the products page, or ask for the data sheet for the line you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pressure pipe, normally Class 4 or Class 5, made from a compound approved for drinking-water contact and to a potable-water standard such as SASO ISO 1452 or SAS 14/15. Ask for the certificate and data sheet for the exact product. Our lead-free uPVC pipe guide covers what to look for.
Only as a convention, and it differs between standards and makers. 4B Factory lists blue for potable-water pressure pipe, terracotta for sewer pipe, dark grey for duct and grey for conduit, but colour is never proof of rating. Read the marking on the pipe for the standard, nominal size and class, and check it against the certificate.
Duct, which is thin-walled pipe laid in trenches to protect telecom and power cables. Conduit is the heavier pipe used inside and around buildings for electrical wiring. The conduit vs duct selection guide explains how to choose between them.