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