HDPE MS

Flexibility * Excellent Rigid (Not flexible)

Density Lightest (955 kg/m3) Heavy (7900 kg/m3) Brittle
Ductility/Brittleness Ductile Ductile
Resistance to Chemical Not Affected Affected
Buoyancy Highly Buoyancy Least Buoyancy
Inside/Outside Coating Does not Require Protection coating is require
Anchoring on seabed Requiring heavy anchor weight By concrete weight coating
HDPE pipes are flexible and can bent up to 25
times the nominal pipe diameters. This can
eliminate many fittings and required for directional
changes in the piping system. This flexibility
makes its well suited for dynamic soils, including
areas prone to earthquake.
Steel pipes has no flexibility, therefore, very
hard to handle and require fittings at every
angle.
Reliable and durable Very Stiff
100% leak poof butt welding without any
extra material
Need extra material for joining and very
specialized welding
No effect on environment
Corrosion may create environment
concern
No concern of heal hazards Might be affected
NO fumes
Can create health problems to
applications
Light weight, easy to handle
Heavy pipes required specialist
equipment to handle
Fittings of all varieties are available & fittings
can be fabricated to any angle. Small
diameters doesn't need any sort of fittings.
The pipe can take the angle at certain
bending radius
Even the smallest change in the
direction, a fitting is required as pie
cannot take the angle being rigid.
HDPE pipes can be welded out side the trench
and then dropped into the narrow trench,
where the installation cost is much less and
being a light weight pipe, heavy equipment is
not required.
Can not welded inside to the trench &
narrow trench, therefore, require to be
welded outside the trench which require
special arrangement for proper welding.
Repairing is easy as all sorts of mechanical
fittings and repair clamps are available
Specialized skill is required to make pipe
long term effective
No maintenance is required Maintenance is needed
100 Years Not predictable, around 25~35 years
PE is resistant to thousands of chemical and it
compositions, even PE is being used for
transportation of hydro carbons.
Steel pipes will be damaged by both
externally because of aggressive soils
and hence coated with HDPE. However,
for Cement Mortar Lining as per AWWA/C-
205 is not available in Pakistan.
PE has memory effect. It goes to its original
position even after expansion and contraction.
In practices the pipes are being laid between
to connections and once the connection is
completed it takes its own position, besides it
can sustained twice of surge pressure.
Naturally the steel pipes cannot absorb
surge it has to be designed for maximum
surge.
Flow capacity for the same internal diameter
of PE is much high as PE is much smoother
than Steel. C factor in HDPE is 155. More
over it remains same throughout the service
life of the pipeline.
Flow capacity for the same internal
diameter of Steel is much lower than PE
where the C factor in Steel is 100-
110, where as it will be reduced
gradually in Steel Pipes.
Handling very easy, as the pipe is light
weight. Can be used for no dig applications.
Pipes can be welded and then put into the
trench
Prior trenching is to be prepared as
material is rigid. Special
No Special bedding is required Special bedding is required
Fumes during Jointing are health
Hazarded
COMPARISON B/W HDPE & MS PIPES
Products/Properties
Advantages
Reliability/durability
Hindrance during installation
Bedding
Surge Pressure
Degraded by certain organic
compound and hydrocarbons
Flow Capacity
Welding/ Jointing
* Flexibility
Products life
User Friendly
Fittings
Repairing Cost
Maintenance Cost
Jointing Techniques
Environment friendly
Health Hazarded