As Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) sanitary and storm drain pipes have evolved with the advent of profile walls, so too will PVC pressure pipe with the advent of orientation. This paper discusses the basic concepts of reorienting PVC pipe, the basic production technologies involved, and the research and experience which span the past two decades around the world.

The principal benefit of reorientation is increased tensile strength resulting in an increase in the Hydrostatic Design Basis (HDB). However, the improvements in fatigue resistance, impact resistance and crack growth resistance are offshoots of the orientation process which perhaps offer the most significant advantages for end-use applications. The practical affects of these material property improvements are longer life under dynamic pressure conditions and better handling ability than conventionally extruded PVC pipe.