Organizers of PPXXII released a selection of latest developments to be presented during the Plastic Pipe Conference & Exhibition in Poland next year. Hosted by the Plastic Pipes Conference Association (PPCA), this international event will be held at the Hilton Warsaw Hotel, Poland, over 15-17 September 2025.
Sarah Patterson, Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee/Technical Program Chair, comments: “Our program comprises 98 presentations delivered by expert speakers to an audience of delegates from over 40 countries. R & D and the need for quality infrastructure continues to drive growth in an industry that typically invests a significant share of its turnover in innovation. Worldwide turnover of plastic pipe systems is expected to reach almost USD 100 billion by the end of the current year (The Plastic Pipes & Fittings Global Market Report 2025).”
Patterson emphasizes that the highlights below only constitute a selection. Conference speakers will announce further technical and business advances during the event.
LONGEVITY OF PLASTIC PIPE
Scientific Life Cycle Assessments on a wide variety of plastic pipe systems have indicated an expected service lifetime of at least 100 years. Professor Gerald Pinter (Montanuniversität Leoben – AUSTRIA) will review a recent meta-study commissioned by TEPPFA that actually points towards an expected lifetime of well above 100 years. This study was carried out on pressure and non-pressure pipes made from polyethylene, polypropylene, and unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U). Pinter points out that this new lifetime assessment holds true when all steps in the process of design, manufacturing, trenching, and operating conditions follow current EN and ISO standards for pipes, fittings and valves and installation of the plastic pipe systems.
PREPARING THE DUROPEAN DRINKING WATER INDUSTRY FOR IMPENDING REGULATION
Since the 1980s, European standardization of plastic pipe systems has been achieved with the exception of the hygienic requirements for products in contact with drinking water. Peter Sejersen, (The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA) – BELGIUM) will explain that a multitude of different national requirements exist and that the clock is ticking before the revision of the European Drinking Water Directive comes into force on 1 January 2027. Sejersen will review the status of impending regulation, the transition period and the content of the guidance documents. He will also address industry challenges and measures taken by TEPPFA to mitigate them.
STUDY CONFIRMS RESILIENCY OF HDPE AND PP DRAINAGE PIPES
Corrugated HDPE and PP pipe for gravity flow culverts is a growing trend in the USA as the need for more resilient stormwater infrastructure increases. The Ohio University and the University of Minnesota Duluth have completed a study investigating the behaviour of such pipe systems under shallow cover under heavy loads at elevated temperatures. Joseph Babcanec (Advanced Drainage Systems – USA) will report and discuss best installation practices and design guidelines for plastic pipes exposed to wildfire events.
CALLING ALL EARLY BIRDS
The plastic pipe conference typically attracts about 400 delegates. Registration for PPXXII participants is now open and those wishing to attend are reminded that early bird registration may be completed online before 1 May 2025 via: https://ppxxii.com/registration-info/.