Skip to Main Content
  • Home
  • About Us
  • My Account
  • ISO Certifications
  • View Cart (0 Items)
Plastic Pipe Shop
Feefo logo

01786 472850

[email protected]

Feefo logo
Search for product
0 Items
  • Delivery Info
  • Technical Info
  • Credit Account
  • Contact Us
  • Log In/Register
SEARCH
    Category
  • PVC Pipe and Fittings
  • Corzan CPVC Pipe and Fittings
  • ABS Pipe and Fittings
  • Ventilation Pipe and Fittings
  • Blue PE Pipe and Fittings
  • Black PE Pipe and Fittings
  • Industrial Suction and Delivery Hoses
  • Hose Fittings
  • Consumables and Tools
QUICK ORDER
QTY
Manuf. Model/Part #
Click here to add more items »

See our Technical Videos at:

Our YouTube channel has lots of technical videos

  1. Home
  2. Black PE Pipe and Fittings

MDPE, HDPE, HPPE - Polyethylene Pipe and FIttings

PLEASE NOTE: These products are price on application. Please get in touch with our sales team to request a quote for the items you require. This range has a potential for long lead times.

  • Coils Coils
  • Straight Pipe Lengths Straight Pipe Lengths
  • PE Electrofusion Fittings PE Electrofusion Fittings
  • Long Spigot Fittings Long Spigot 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.

Jointing Method
Compression Jointing Compression couplings incorporate a grip ring that holds the pipe firm once it has been pushed through an O-Ring. A compression ring is then turned, which tightens the grip. Compression fittings are usually made from Polypropylene (PP) with an EPDM O-Ring, although some metal fittings are occasionally used. Compression fittings can be installed by non-skilled persons without the need for special tools or equipment.
Electrofusion Jointing Electrofusion fittings (also called EF) have a copper coil wound through the inside of the fitting. The pipes are pushed into either side of the fitting and an electric current passed through the coil. The current heats the copper coil and melts the two surfaces together.
Butt Welding Butt welding uses specialist hydraulic clamping machinery to trim the ends of two pipes perfectly flat. A heat plate is then placed between the ends and after they have been heated for a preset period, the plate is removed and the machinery pushes the two ends together, causing them to melt into each other. A raised "bead" is formed as a result of the joint, running around the inside and outside of the join. This can cause issues if a smooth internal bore is required. Machinery can be used to remove the bead, but this adds another complication to the process. Butt welding is most commonly used on larger pipe bores, where the cost or availability of EF fittings prohibits their use.
Living Wage Employers ISO9001 Certificate for Plastic Pipe Shop Ltd ISO14001 Certificate for Plastic Pipe Shop Ltd ISO45001 Certificate for Plastic Pipe Shop Ltd Disability Confident Certificate for Plastic Pipe Shop Ltd
Pages
  • Technical Documents
  • Knowledge Base
  • Flow and Headloss Calculator
  • Residential Delivery
  • Digital Catalogue
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Account Application
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Returns
  • Complaints Policy and Procedure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Modern Slavery Act

Copyright Plastic Pipe Shop. All Rights Reserved. eCommerce Software by 3dcart.

TOP

Menu Links

  • Delivery Info
  • Technical Info
  • Credit Account
  • Contact Us
  • Log In/Register

Categories

  • PVC Pipe and Fittings
  • Corzan CPVC Pipe and Fittings
  • ABS Pipe and Fittings
  • Ventilation Pipe and Fittings
  • Blue PE Pipe and Fittings
  • Black PE Pipe and Fittings
  • Industrial Suction and Delivery Hoses
  • Hose Fittings
  • Consumables and Tools

Store Search