Does Sunlight Damage UPVC Drainage Pipe?

Anyone who has worked in the groundworks industry through a hot summer will be familiar with the effect of direct sunlight on plastic drainage pipes and fittings. The sun and hot weather have two main effects on exposed UPVC building materials. In this post, we will discuss both of these, the problems they might cause you, and the steps you can take to solve them.

The Effects of Exposure to Sunlight

The two main effects of sunlight exposure on plastic UPVC drainage pipes are that the heat makes the plastic more flexible, causing pipes to warp. The trouble is that banana-shaped pipes have the potential to cause blockages later.

Secondly, UV radiation can cause discolouration of the plastic, also known as bleaching.

So let’s take a look at each of these in a bit more detail.

What is Pipe Warp?

When drainage pipes are exposed to direct sunlight and hot weather, the pipes will become more flexible. If the pipes are not well supported - for example on uneven ground - they will warp to the shape of the ground. Then when the temperature drops (at night time for example) the pipe will set into that shape. This is the main problem that warm weather causes to plastic drainage pipes. These pipes can’t be installed as they will cause blockages.

Does UV Discoloration damage pipes?

The UV radiation in the suns rays causes discolouration (bleaching) of plastic pipes. While this looks According to Heritage Plastics, “the sole performance characteristic adversely affected by sunlight exposure is impact resistance” and therefore once the pipes are installed “there will be no effect on the pipe’s pressure capacity and external load capacity”. So clearly, the pipe warp is the worse of the two issues.

How to store drainage materials

The best way to prevent pipes from warping and going to waste is to store them properly prior to installation. We’ve written before about the best way to store underground drainage products, we talk a lot about this, unsurprisingly as our system is designed to solve this issue. SiteStak workstations support 60% to 80% of the length of the pipes across their centre.

Try SiteStak today

If you’re ready to try our professional storage solution then get in touch today. Hundreds of other sites nationwide use SiteStak to prevent wasted materials and save time.