Explanation of Water Pressure Pipe Types & Materials

PIPE TYPES 

M10E Pipe has a 10% external colour indication layer.  This is used to identify the media inside the pipe, ie: Signal Blue (RAL 5005) for potable water or Purple (RAL 4004) for non-potable water. These pipes are co-extruded, using identical base compounds complying to BS EN 12201-1.  This produces a single homogeneous pipe wall, meaning the colour cannot be separated from the rest of the pipe.  M10E pipe is supplied in sizes from 90mm OD to 1600mm OD. For sizes below 90mm OD, we supply M100 solid colour pipe.

The colour thickness on M10E pipe is exactly 10% of the total wall thickness (+/-1.5%).  This provides a damage depth indicator meaning if the black inner colour is visible on the surface of the pipe, this indicates surface damage is deeper than 10% of the pipes wall thickness (10% is the accepted maximum depth for external damage), therefore the section of pipe where black is visible, must be replaced.

M100 / M100 Pipe is a 100% solid colour wall, the pipe is extruded from a single pre pigmented compound in either black, blue or Purple.

PIPE MANUFACTURING STANDARDS

All Mill-Pro pipes and fittings are manufactured in accordance with:

BS EN 12201-1 for Compounds,

BS EN 12201-2 for Pressure pipes

BS EN 12201-3 for Pressure fittings

Water Supplies Department Particular Specification Appendix 22.09

Mill-Pro Pipes and fittings also comply with ISO 4427-1/2 and AS/NZS 4130 for pipe, AS/NZS 4131 for PE Compounds, although are not marked as such.

PIPE COMPOUNDS

M10E / M100E - Extreme Pipes are manufactured ONLY using PE100 RC compounds for the pipe body and the colour layer.  PE100 RC compounds provide approximately 8000 hours slow crack growth resistance when compared to traditional PE100+ Compounds, for a negligible extra cost. All pipes supplied ex stock by Mill-Pro in Hong Kong are PE100 RC (M10E / M100E). 

M10 / M100 Pipes are manufactured from a PE100+ association approved compound www.pe100plus.com providing 1000 hrs slow crack growth resistance.  Since 2011 in Hong Kong, PE100 RC (Resistant to Crack) compounds have been required. These provide far superior performance and pipe life. Mill-Pro only supplies M10 / M100 pipes made from PE100+ compounds by special order.

Purple compounds are manufactured and type tested in accordance with WSD PS Appendix 22.09, Annex 1. Using a certified PE100 RC unpigmented compound, pigmenting is conducted by a third party to RAL 4004. Samples are sent for UV weathering and the weathered samples are then type tested by an ISO/IEC 71025 certified lab for conformance to Annex 1. This batch of certified purple PE100 RC compound is then used to manufacture M10 & M100 purple pipes.

• Certified Purple PE100 RC compound, complying with WSD PS Appendix 22.09 Annex A

PE100 RC (Resistant to Crack) sometimes known as Extreme Stress Crack Resistant (ESCR) or High Stress Crack Resistant (HSCR) compounds, are defined in the German publicly available standard: PAS 1075:2009-04. PE100 RC compounds are designed to provide lifelong resistance (>100 years) to traditional Slow Crack Growth (SCG) failures caused by rock impingement and point loading stress.

Designed for applications all commonly found in Hong Kong: Where sand bedding around the pipe is not used, where backfill material is ungraded and typically contains broken concrete or where secondary excavation (repeated excavation alongside the PE pipe, to access other services in close proximity) leaves the PE pipes without the required bedding around the pipe to prevent rocks or concrete point loading on the pipe surface.

Read more about PE100RC compounds or refer to the Borouge website on Borsafe™ HE3490-LS-H here.

All Mill-Pro Pipes and progressively our blue and black fittings are manufactured from PE100 RC compounds, download compound and technical data sheets below:

BorSafe^TM PE100 RC black HE3490LS-H

BorSafe^TM PE100 RC Blue HE3494LS-H 

BorSafe^TM PE100 RC Un-pigmented HE3493LS-H (for purple compound)

BoreSafe^TM PE100 RC Flexural Modulus

List of manufacturers of PE100 RC compounds – updated Q2 2021

Below is a complete list of approved PE100 RC compounds produced by PE100 Plus manufacturers worldwide.