PVC Handling and Storage
PVC pipe is very robust, but still can be damaged by rough handling. Pipes should not be thrown from trucks or dragged over rough surfaces. Plastic piping becomes more susceptible to damage in very cold weather so extra care should be taken when the temperature is low.
Since the soundness of any pipe joint depends on the condition of the spigot and the socket, special care should be taken not to allow them to come into contact with sharp edges or protruding nails.
Transportation of PVC Pipes
While in transit pipes should be well secured and supported. Chains or wire ropes may be used only if suitably padded to protect the pipe from damage. Care should be taken that the pipes are firmly tied so that the sockets cannot rub together.
Pipes may be unloaded from vehicles by rolling them gently down timbers, care being taken to ensure that the pipes do not fall onto one another or onto any hard or uneven surface.
Storage of Pipes
Pipes should be given adequate support at all times. Pipes should be stacked in layers with sockets placed at alternate ends of the stack and with the sockets protruding.
Horizontal supports of about 75 mm wide should be spaced not more than 1.5 m centre-to-centre beneath the pipes to provide even support.
Vertical side supports should also be provided at intervals of 3 m along rectangular pipe stacks.
For long-term storage (longer than 3 months) the maximum free height should not exceed 1.5 m. The heaviest pipes should be on the bottom.
Crated pipes, however, may be stacked higher provided that the load bearing is not taken directly by the lower pipes. In all cases, stacking should be such that pipes will not become distorted.
If it is planned to store pipes in direct sunlight for a period longer than one year, then the pipes should be covered with material such as hessian, placed so as to not restrict the circulation of air in the pipes which has a cooling effect. Coverings such as black plastic must not be used as these can greatly increase the temperatures within the stack.
Pipes should not be stored close to heat sources or hot objects, eg., heaters, boilers steam lines or engine exhaust, or against reflective metal fences which may concentrate heat.