Pvc Pipes Friction Loss
Reference data and engineering information about pvc pipes friction loss for fluid mechanics applications.
pvcpipesfrictionloss
Overview
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Friction loss and flow velocity data for PVC and CPVC pipes Schedule 80 with water are provided below. These values also apply to other thermoplastic pipes whose inner diameters correspond to Schedule 80 PVC dimensions. The data supports sizing decisions in plumbing and civil piping design.
Key Formulas
Hazen-Williams Equation
Estimates friction head loss (ftH₂O per 100 ft) for water at 60 °F. The Hazen-Williams roughness coefficient C is typically 150 for new PVC.
Darcy-Weisbach Equation
General-purpose pressure-drop equation applicable to any Newtonian fluid; requires determination of the Darcy friction factor f from the Moody chart or Colebrook equation.
Variables
| Symbol | Description | Typical Unit |
|---|---|---|
| h_f | Friction head loss | ftH₂O / 100 ft |
| Q | Volume flow rate | gal/min or m³/s |
| C | Hazen-Williams roughness coefficient | — (150 for PVC) |
| D | Internal pipe diameter | in or m |
| ΔP | Pressure drop | psi or Pa |
| f | Darcy friction factor | — |
| L | Pipe length | ft or m |
| ρ | Fluid density | kg/m³ |
| v | Flow velocity | ft/s or m/s |
Unit Conversions
Use these factors to convert between Imperial and SI units for flow and pressure loss.
6 rows
Quantity | Imperial Value | SI Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Volume Flow | 1 gal (US)/min | 6.309 × 10⁻⁵ m³/s |
| Volume Flow | 1 gal (US)/min | 0.0227 m³/h |
| Volume Flow | 1 gal (US)/min | 0.0631 dm³/s |
| Volume Flow | 1 gal (US)/min | 2.228 × 10⁻³ ft³/s |
| Friction Loss | 1 psi / 100 ft | 22.46 kPa / 100 m |
| Friction Loss | 1 psi / 100 ft | 2.3 ftH₂O / 100 ft |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
Friction Loss Data — PVC / CPVC Schedule 80
The table and chart below show friction loss and velocity for selected flow rates. At low flow rates PVC pipes exhibit very low friction loss; values rise steeply at higher flows due to the strong nonlinear relationship between velocity and head loss.
4 rows
Volume Flow(gal/min) | Volume Flow(gal/hr) | Velocity(ft/s) | Friction Head(ftH₂O/100 ft) | Friction Loss(psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 | 1.5 | 4 | 1.7 |
| 2 | 120 | 3 | 8 | 3.5 |
| 5 | 300 | 7.4 | 45.2 | 19.6 |
| 7 | 420 | 10.3 | 83.1 | 36 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
Friction Head vs Volume Flow — PVC Schedule 80
Flow Rate Converter
gal/min to m³/h Converter
PVC Friction Loss Flow and Pressure Unit Converter
Restored Original Source Tables
The following tables are restored from the original source page to preserve the complete reference data.
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 1/2"
4 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ftH2O/100 ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 | 1.5 | 4 | 1.7 |
| 2 | 120 | 3 | 8 | 3.5 |
| 5 | 300 | 7.4 | 45.2 | 19.6 |
| 7 | 420 | 10.3 | 83.1 | 36 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 3/4"
6 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.4 |
| 2 | 120 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.7 |
| 5 | 300 | 3.9 | 9.7 | 4.2 |
| 7 | 420 | 5.5 | 11.8 | 7.7 |
| 10 | 600 | 7.8 | 33.8 | 14.7 |
| 15 | 900 | 11.8 | 71.7 | 31.1 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 1"
8 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 120 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 |
| 5 | 300 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 1.2 |
| 7 | 420 | 3.3 | 5 | 2.2 |
| 10 | 600 | 4.7 | 9.6 | 4.2 |
| 15 | 900 | 7 | 20.4 | 8.8 |
| 20 | 1200 | 9.4 | 34.7 | 15 |
| 25 | 1500 | 11.7 | 52.4 | 22.7 |
| 30 | 1800 | 14 | 73.5 | 31.8 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 1 1/4"
12 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 120 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| 5 | 300 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| 7 | 420 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 |
| 10 | 600 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 1 |
| 15 | 900 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 2.1 |
| 20 | 1200 | 5.2 | 8.3 | 3.6 |
| 25 | 1500 | 6.5 | 12.6 | 5.4 |
| 30 | 1800 | 7.8 | 17.6 | 7.6 |
| 35 | 2100 | 9.1 | 23.4 | 10.1 |
| 40 | 2400 | 10.4 | 30 | 13 |
| 45 | 2700 | 11.7 | 37.3 | 16.1 |
| 50 | 3000 | 13 | 45.3 | 19.6 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 1 1/2"
13 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 120 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.04 |
| 5 | 300 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 7 | 420 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| 10 | 600 | 1.9 | 1 | 0.5 |
| 15 | 900 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 1 |
| 20 | 1200 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 1.6 |
| 25 | 1500 | 4.7 | 5.7 | 2.5 |
| 30 | 1800 | 5.6 | 8 | 3.4 |
| 35 | 2100 | 6.6 | 10.6 | 4.6 |
| 40 | 2400 | 7.5 | 13.6 | 5.9 |
| 45 | 2700 | 8.4 | 16.9 | 7.3 |
| 50 | 3000 | 9.4 | 20.5 | 8.9 |
| 60 | 3600 | 11.3 | 28.7 | 12.4 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 2"
17 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 300 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.04 |
| 7 | 420 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.07 |
| 10 | 600 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 15 | 900 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| 20 | 1200 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.5 |
| 25 | 1500 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 0.7 |
| 30 | 1800 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 1 |
| 35 | 2100 | 3.9 | 3 | 1.3 |
| 40 | 2400 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 1.7 |
| 45 | 2700 | 5 | 4.8 | 2.1 |
| 50 | 3000 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 2.5 |
| 60 | 3600 | 6.7 | 8.1 | 3.5 |
| 70 | 4200 | 7.8 | 10.8 | 4.7 |
| 75 | 4500 | 8.4 | 12.3 | 5.3 |
| 80 | 4800 | 8.9 | 13.8 | 6 |
| 90 | 5400 | 10.1 | 17.2 | 7.5 |
| 100 | 6000 | 11.2 | 20.9 | 9.1 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 2 1/2"
19 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 300 | 0.4 | 0.05 | 0.02 |
| 7 | 420 | 0.5 | 0.07 | 0.03 |
| 10 | 600 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.05 |
| 15 | 900 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 20 | 1200 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| 25 | 1500 | 2 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| 30 | 1800 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 |
| 35 | 2100 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.5 |
| 40 | 2400 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.7 |
| 45 | 2700 | 3.5 | 2 | 0.9 |
| 50 | 3000 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 1.1 |
| 60 | 3600 | 4.7 | 3.4 | 1.5 |
| 70 | 4200 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 2 |
| 75 | 4500 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 2.2 |
| 80 | 4800 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 2.5 |
| 90 | 5400 | 7 | 7.2 | 3.1 |
| 100 | 6000 | 7.8 | 8.7 | 3.8 |
| 125 | 7500 | 9.8 | 13.2 | 5.7 |
| 150 | 9000 | 11.7 | 18.5 | 8 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 3"
22 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 300 | 0.3 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| 7 | 420 | 0.4 | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| 10 | 600 | 0.5 | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| 15 | 900 | 0.8 | 0.09 | 0.04 |
| 20 | 1200 | 1 | 0.2 | 0.07 |
| 25 | 1500 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| 30 | 1800 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 35 | 2100 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| 40 | 2400 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 45 | 2700 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| 50 | 3000 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| 60 | 3600 | 3 | 1.1 | 0.5 |
| 70 | 4200 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.7 |
| 75 | 4500 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.7 |
| 80 | 4800 | 4 | 1.9 | 0.8 |
| 90 | 5400 | 4.5 | 2.4 | 1 |
| 100 | 6000 | 5 | 2.9 | 1.3 |
| 125 | 7500 | 6.2 | 4.4 | 1.9 |
| 150 | 9000 | 7.5 | 6.2 | 2.7 |
| 175 | 10500 | 8.7 | 8.3 | 3.6 |
| 200 | 12000 | 10 | 10.6 | 4.6 |
| 250 | 15000 | 12.5 | 16 | 6.9 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 4"
21 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 1200 | 0.6 | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| 25 | 1500 | 0.7 | 0.06 | 0.03 |
| 30 | 1800 | 0.9 | 0.08 | 0.04 |
| 35 | 2100 | 1 | 0.1 | 0.05 |
| 40 | 2400 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.06 |
| 45 | 2700 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.07 |
| 50 | 3000 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.09 |
| 60 | 3600 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 70 | 4200 | 2 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| 75 | 4500 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 80 | 4800 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 90 | 5400 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| 100 | 6000 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 |
| 125 | 7500 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 0.5 |
| 150 | 9000 | 4.3 | 1.6 | 0.7 |
| 175 | 10500 | 5 | 2.2 | 0.9 |
| 200 | 12000 | 5.7 | 2.8 | 1.2 |
| 250 | 15000 | 7.2 | 4.2 | 1.8 |
| 300 | 18000 | 8.6 | 5.8 | 2.5 |
| 350 | 21000 | 10 | 7.8 | 3.4 |
| 400 | 24000 | 11.5 | 9.9 | 4.3 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 5"
21 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1800 | 0.5 | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| 35 | 2100 | 0.6 | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| 40 | 2400 | 0.7 | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| 45 | 2700 | 0.8 | 0.06 | 0.03 |
| 50 | 3000 | 0.9 | 0.07 | 0.03 |
| 60 | 3600 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.04 |
| 70 | 4200 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.06 |
| 75 | 4500 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.06 |
| 80 | 4800 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.07 |
| 90 | 5400 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.09 |
| 100 | 6000 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| 125 | 7500 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| 150 | 9000 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 175 | 10500 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| 200 | 12000 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 |
| 250 | 15000 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 0.6 |
| 300 | 18000 | 5.4 | 1.9 | 0.8 |
| 350 | 21000 | 6.3 | 2.5 | 1.1 |
| 400 | 24000 | 7.2 | 3.2 | 1.4 |
| 450 | 27000 | 8.1 | 4 | 1.7 |
| 500 | 30000 | 9 | 4.8 | 2.1 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 6"
19 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 3000 | 0.6 | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| 60 | 3600 | 0.8 | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| 70 | 4200 | 0.9 | 0.05 | 0.02 |
| 75 | 4500 | 0.9 | 0.06 | 0.03 |
| 80 | 4800 | 1 | 0.07 | 0.03 |
| 90 | 5400 | 1.1 | 0.08 | 0.04 |
| 100 | 6000 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.04 |
| 125 | 7500 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.07 |
| 150 | 9000 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| 175 | 10500 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 200 | 12000 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| 250 | 15000 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| 300 | 18000 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 |
| 350 | 21000 | 4.4 | 1 | 0.5 |
| 400 | 24000 | 5 | 1.3 | 0.6 |
| 450 | 27000 | 5.6 | 1.7 | 0.7 |
| 500 | 30000 | 6.3 | 2 | 0.9 |
| 750 | 45000 | 9.4 | 4.3 | 1.8 |
| 1000 | 60000 | 12.5 | 7.2 | 3.1 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 8"
14 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125 | 7500 | 0.9 | 0.05 | 0.02 |
| 150 | 9000 | 1.1 | 0.05 | 0.02 |
| 175 | 10500 | 1.3 | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| 200 | 12000 | 1.4 | 0.09 | 0.04 |
| 250 | 15000 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.06 |
| 300 | 18000 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.09 |
| 350 | 21000 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 400 | 24000 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| 450 | 27000 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| 500 | 30000 | 3.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 750 | 45000 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 0.5 |
| 1000 | 60000 | 7.1 | 1.8 | 0.8 |
| 1250 | 75000 | 8.9 | 2.8 | 1.2 |
| 1500 | 90000 | 10.7 | 4 | 1.7 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 10"
13 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 | 12000 | 0.9 | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| 250 | 15000 | 1.1 | 0.05 | 0.02 |
| 300 | 18000 | 1.4 | 0.07 | 0.03 |
| 350 | 21000 | 1.6 | 0.09 | 0.04 |
| 400 | 24000 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.05 |
| 450 | 27000 | 2 | 0.1 | 0.06 |
| 500 | 30000 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 0.07 |
| 750 | 45000 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| 1000 | 60000 | 4.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| 1250 | 75000 | 5.7 | 0.9 | 0.4 |
| 1500 | 90000 | 6.8 | 1.3 | 0.6 |
| 2000 | 120000 | 9.1 | 2.2 | 1 |
| 2500 | 150000 | 11.3 | 3.3 | 1.4 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 12"
13 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 350 | 21000 | 1.1 | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| 400 | 24000 | 1.3 | 0.05 | 0.02 |
| 450 | 27000 | 1.4 | 0.06 | 0.03 |
| 500 | 30000 | 1.6 | 0.07 | 0.03 |
| 750 | 45000 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.07 |
| 1000 | 60000 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 1250 | 75000 | 4 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| 1500 | 90000 | 4.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| 2000 | 120000 | 6.4 | 0.9 | 0.4 |
| 2500 | 150000 | 8 | 1.4 | 0.6 |
| 3000 | 180000 | 9.6 | 2 | 0.9 |
| 3500 | 210000 | 11.2 | 2.7 | 1.2 |
| 4000 | 240000 | 12.8 | 3.4 | 1.5 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 14"
16 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 30000 | 1.3 | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| 750 | 45000 | 2 | 0.09 | 0.04 |
| 1000 | 60000 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.07 |
| 1250 | 75000 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 1500 | 90000 | 3.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| 2000 | 120000 | 5.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| 2500 | 150000 | 6.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 |
| 3000 | 180000 | 7.9 | 1.2 | 0.5 |
| 3500 | 210000 | 9.2 | 1.7 | 0.7 |
| 4000 | 240000 | 10.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 |
| 4500 | 270000 | 11.8 | 2.6 | 1.1 |
| 5000 | 300000 | 13.1 | 3.2 | 1.4 |
| 5500 | 330000 | 14.4 | 3.8 | 1.7 |
| 6000 | 360000 | 15.7 | 4.5 | 2 |
| 6500 | 490000 | 17 | 5.2 | 2.3 |
| 7000 | 420000 | 18.3 | 6 | 2.6 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
PVC Pipes Schedule 80 - Friction Loss - 16"
20 rows
Volume Flow (gal/min) | Volume Flow (gal/hr) | Velocity (ft/sec) | Friction Head (ft/100ft) | Friction Loss (psi/100 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 30000 | 1 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| 750 | 45000 | 1.5 | 0.05 | 0.02 |
| 1000 | 60000 | 2 | 0.08 | 0.04 |
| 1250 | 75000 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 0.05 |
| 1500 | 90000 | 3 | 0.2 | 0.08 |
| 2000 | 120000 | 4 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 2500 | 150000 | 5 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 3000 | 180000 | 6 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| 3500 | 210000 | 7 | 0.9 | 0.4 |
| 4000 | 240000 | 8 | 1.1 | 0.5 |
| 4500 | 270000 | 9 | 1.4 | 0.6 |
| 5000 | 300000 | 10 | 1.7 | 0.7 |
| 5500 | 330000 | 11 | 2 | 0.9 |
| 6000 | 360000 | 12 | 2.3 | 1 |
| 6500 | 490000 | 13 | 2.7 | 1.2 |
| 7000 | 420000 | 14 | 3.1 | 1.3 |
| 7500 | 450000 | 15 | 3.5 | 1.5 |
| 8000 | 480000 | 16 | 4 | 1.7 |
| 8500 | 510000 | 17 | 4.4 | 1.9 |
| 9000 | 540000 | 18 | 4.9 | 2.1 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
Engineering Notes
- Velocity limit: Keep flow velocity at or below 5 ft/s in building supply and distribution piping. Exceeding this threshold causes noise, water hammer, and accelerated wear of fittings and pipe walls.
- Minor losses: The table values cover straight-pipe friction only. For elbows, tees, valves, and other fittings, add equivalent lengths of pipe or apply a loss-factor method.
- Temperature effects: Published values are for water near 60 °F (15.6 °C). Higher temperatures reduce water viscosity and slightly lower friction losses; consult adjusted charts for hot-water lines.
- Pipe aging: The Hazen-Williams C factor of 150 applies to new PVC. Over time, biofilm or deposits can reduce C; a conservative design value of 140 is sometimes used for long-life systems.
- Pressure rating: Schedule 80 PVC has thicker walls than Schedule 40, reducing the inner diameter. Friction loss values from this table apply specifically to Schedule 80 dimensions; do not apply them directly to Schedule 40 pipes of the same nominal size.
References
- Original source: Engineering ToolBox — PVC Pipes Friction Loss