IRVING, TX, Aug. 13, 2008 -- The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) has announced that its webinar, "A Closer Look: HDPE and Fused PVC Pipelines," originally held on July 17, 2008, is now available for viewing by visiting the PPI website at: www.plasticpipe.org.
"Even with more than 400 industry professionals registered for the webinar, we continue to receive requests to make the presentation available," stated Tony Radoszewski, PPI executive director. "The purpose of our webinar is to emphasize that the fusion of thermoplastic pipe is a critical process that demands an open and full analysis by contractors, utilities, engineers and pipe manufacturers alike."
The 50-minute webinar offers a comparison between polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe while emphasizing the importance of a proper design basis to prevent rapid crack propagation (RCP) in fused, monolithic pipelines. Other topics covered include independent research on impact strength and material fatigue along with HDPE fusion and installation practices covered by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA).
"For nearly sixty years, the PPI has and will continue to engage the standards community in creating transparent criteria and test methods that provide the specifier and end-user with the most up to date technical information available. We believe the presence of these industry standards provides assurance that the technology and process for fusing plastic pipe are proven and reliable," Radoszewski stated. "Too many times end-users make the assumption that all plastics are alike and we are concerned that failures in one type of plastic can affect the reputation of other plastics," he added.
The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. is a Texas-based, not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1950. It is the major trade association representing all segments of the plastic piping industry and provides educational sessions, materials and expert testimonials.
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