PVC-U socketed pipe

PVC-U socketed pipe is the most common form of plastic underground drainage in the UK, featuring an integral socket at one end and a chamfered spigot at the other. A rubber ring within the socket provides a watertight push-fit joint that accommodates limited thermal movement and minor ground shifts. Manufactured to BS EN 13476 with a typical 110mm or 160mm diameter, the system is widely used across post-1980s housing in Greater London. Socketed PVC-U is straightforward to lay, requires no chemical jointing and is identifiable on a CCTV survey by the consistent ring at each joint. Common defects include ring displacement during installation and joint pull-out where bedding has been inadequate, both of which can be remedied without full replacement.