Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is used for the conveyance

of potable water, slurries and chemicals. Most commonly used for

DWV (drain-waste-vent) applications. It has a wide temperature
range, from -40 °C to +60 °C.
ABS is a thermoplastic material and was originally developed in
the early 1950s for use in oil fields and the chemical industry. The
variability of the material and its relative cost effectiveness has
made it a popular engineering plastic. It can be tailored to a range
of applications by modifying the ratio of the individual chemical
components.
They are used mainly in industrial applications where high impact
strength and rigidity are essential.
This material is also used in non-pressure piping systems for soil
and waste.

Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride Pipe for underground water

mains. uPVC is a thermoplastic material derived from common salt
and fossil fuels. The pipe material has the longest track record of
all plastic materials. The first uPVC pipes were made in the 1930s.
Beginning in the 1950s, uPVC pipes were used to replace corroded
metal pipes and thus bring fresh drinking water to a growing rural
and later urban population. uPVC pipes are certified safe for
drinking water per NSF Standard 61 and used extensively for water
distribution and transmission pipelines throughout North America
and around the world. uPVC is allowed for waste lines in homes
and is the most often used pipe for sanitary sewers.
Further pressure and non-pressure applications in the field of
sewers, soil and waste, gas (low pressure) and cable protection
soon followed. The material's contribution to public health,
hygiene and well-being has therefore been significant.
Polyvinyl chloride or uPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) pipes
are not well suited for hot water lines and have been restricted
from inside water supply line use in the USA for homes since
2006. Code IRC P2904.5 uPVC Not listed.
CPVC (post chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) CPVC is
resistant to many acids, bases, salts, paraffinic hydrocarbons,
halogens and alcohols. It is not resistant to solvents, aromatics
and some chlorinated hydrocarbons. It can carry higher
temperature liquids than uPVC with a max operating
temperature reaching 200°F. Due to its greater temperature
threshold and chemical resistance, CPVC is one of the main
recommended material choices in residential, commercial, and
industrial water and liquid transport. is resistant to many acids,
bases, salts, paraffinic hydrocarbons, halogens and alcohols. It
is not resistant to solvents, aromatics and some chlorinated
hydrocarbons. It can carry higher temperature liquids than
uPVC with a max operating temperature reaching 200°F. Due to
its greater temperature threshold and chemical resistance,
CPVC is one of the main recommended material choices in
residential, commercial, and industrial water and liquid
transport.

PB (polybutylene) PB is used in pressure piping systems for hot

and cold potable water, pre-insulated district heating networks,
and surface heating and cooling systems. Key properties are
weldability, temperature resistance, flexibility and high hydrostatic
pressure resistance. One standard type, PB 125, has a minimum
required strength (MRS) of 12.5 MPa. It also has low noise
transmission, low linear thermal expansion, no corrosion and
calcification.
PB-1 piping systems are no longer sold in North America. Market
share in Europe and Asia is small but steadily growing. In some
markets, e.g. Kuwait, UK, Korea and Spain, PB-1 has a strong
position.

PP (polypropylene) Polypropylene is suitable for use with

foodstuffs, potable and ultra pure waters, as well as within the
pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
PP is a thermoplastic polymer made from polypropylene. It was
first invented in the 1950s and has been used for pipes since
the 1970s. Due to the high impact resistance combined with
good stiffness and high chemical resistance makes this material
suitable for sewer applications. A good performance at
operating temperature range from up to 60 °C (continuous)
makes this material suitable for in-house discharge systems for
soil & waste. A special PP grade with high temperature
behaviour up to 90 °C (short-term) makes that material a good
choice for in-house warm water supply
PEX or XLPE (Cross-linked polyethylene) commonly referred to as
XLPE or PEX. It is a thermoplastic material that can be made in
three different ways depending how the cross-linking of the
polymer chains is being made. PEX was developed in the 1950s. It
has been used for pipes in Europe since the early 1970s and has
been gaining rapid popularity over the last few decades. Often
supplied in coils, it is flexible and can therefore be led around
structures without fittings. Its strength at temperatures ranging
from below freezing up to almost boiling makes it an ideal pipe
material for hot and cold water installations, radiator and under
floor heating, de-icing and ceiling cooling applications