Cautions and regulations for the correct use of the PVC pipes for sewage systems

Loading and Unloading

The operations must be carried out with the greatest of care to avoid blows or compression that could damage the pipes. The pipes must not be dragged or thrown, but always lifted and laid carefully.

Transportation

Support the entire length of the segment in order to avoid stress and/or vibrations that could damage the pipes during transit. Take care to ensure that the joint located at one end of the pipe does not rest directly on any surface, object or other pipe, in order to avoid ovalisation or inflection of the same. Attach the pipes to the means of transport, in order avoid dangerous blows, with ropes, straps made of hemp or of one of the many synthetic materials available. If you are using steel cables, avoid contact between the cables and the pipes by placing shims made of soft material and/or of appropriate shapes between the two in order to avoid damaging abrasions during transportation.

Piling and storage

Store the pipes on flat surfaces free from pointed areas or sharp edges and if possible on wooden beams, taking care to place the spigot joints alternately on either side of the pile in order to avoid damaging deformations. Do not pile the pipes to heights of over 1.5 metres in order to prevent the excessive weight from ovalising the bottom rows. If the pipes are likely to remain in piles for a long period, it is good practice to cover these piles with a breathable material that will shade them from prolonged exposure to sunlight.

Laying

Scrupulously follow the excavation procedures required by the project in order to avoid hazardous risks to the operators during the laying of the pipes. Spread an even, continuous layer of sand on the bottom of the trench in order to support the entire length of the pipe and ensure that it lies at the correct gradient. During laying, check the entire length of each pipe, its ends and sealing gaskets. Everything must be perfectly intact in order to avoid leaks once they have been installed. Once laying has been completed, backfill the pipes by hand with additional layers of sand, taking care not to leave any spaces empty and to pack down carefully always and only on the outer sides of the pipe until the pipe has been covered and buried 15 – 20 cm deep. All the sand used during this operation must be free from stones and any other materials that could damage the pipes. Continue to fill the trench with the excavated material taking care to do it in layers of 20 – 30 cm each, packing them down each time until the trench has been completely filled.