MDPE, HDPE, HPPE - Polyethylene Pipe and FIttings

About PE (Polyethylene) Pipe

Polyethylene (PE) is a very robust and ductile pipe material. In its early days it was often referred to as "Alkathene", which was, in today's parlance, MDPE or Medium Density Poly-Ethylene. Although MDPE is still used for some smaller bore pipe systems, larger bore systems are HDPE (High Density Polyethylene).

PE pipe tends to come in three main colours;

• Blue - Approved for potable water systems
• Black - Used for non-potable systems
• Yellow - Used for gas, yellow PE pipe is, unlike standard PE, not gas permeable and is manufactured with a special lining.

We primarily supply black PE systems comprising of pipe, electrofusion and long spigot fittings. We also supply small bore blue MDPE pipe from stock, and can provide quotations for larger bore blue polyethylene pipe and fittings if required.

We do not supply yellow gas PE pipe and fittings.

Connecting PE pipes

Polyethylene cannot be glued or solvent welded (like PVC and ABS pipe). The jointing methods therefore need to either rely on mechanical or heat welded methods.