Where is Vietnam in the pipeline development journey?

(Construction) - Over thousands of years of history, the Plumbing industry has developed through many stages with increasingly modern materials, containing interesting stories about the development of human civilization. .

(Construction) - Over thousands of years of history, the Plumbing industry has developed through many stages with increasingly modern materials, containing interesting stories about the development of human civilization.

Fired clay water pipes from the beginning (source: Internet).

From the ancient civilizations of Greece, Persia..., the plumbing system for living and irrigation was formed. Humans have known how to make water pipes from the most rudimentary materials such as hollow wood, bamboo, hollow stone, cement... Around 4000 BC, the ancient Egyptians used earth. calcined clay to make a water conduit system. Pipes are connected together and easy to disassemble and replace each segment. This primitive plumbing system helped divert water from rivers, streams, and lakes to public baths, fountains, and homes.

By about 2400 BC, copper pipes appeared in the Egyptian pyramid complex and became popular. This is a material with high heat resistance, antibacterial, earthquake and impact resistance very well. Although the material cost is very high, so far this product is still the top priority in European countries when making clean water pipes. This has partly confirmed the miraculous creativity of the ancient Egyptians, which so far still makes mankind wonder and admire.

Copper plumbing is still commonly used in Europe to this day (source: Internet).

By the time of the Roman Empire (about 27 BC), lead plumbing began to become popular due to its versatility and high durability. However, lead has no physiological role in the body and is completely harmful to health. Lead enters the body in many ways and harms people of all ages, especially young children. At high levels of exposure, lead attacks the brain and central nervous system causing coma, convulsions and even death. After becoming aware of the dangers of lead poisoning, a number of other materials were used instead when making water pipes.

Galvanized steel water supply pipes began to appear in the 1800s. The steel has undergone a galvanizing process that helps limit the formation of rust, while also resisting oxidation and wear to the effects of climate and weather. environment. However, there are now many studies showing that the treated water still contains certain levels of zinc and acids. This makes the pipeline very easy to oxidize and corrode, causing a fishy smell in the water, which directly affects human health.

Along with the brilliant development of the European-American economies, a series of changes in living habits and comfort levels in families have improved. In parallel with the use of metal water pipes such as copper, galvanized steel ..., many new inventions have brought more modern solutions to shorten construction time and reduce toxicity in the process. use, save investment costs and reduce system load.

PPR plastic plumbing system (source: Internet).

In 1932, the first water pipe made from synthetic plastic material was born in Germany - PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) pipe - marking a new era for the plumbing industry. By the 1940s, other plastic pipe products were also born, such as HDPE (Polyethylene) pipes. However, when the system uses hot water, PPR (Polypropylene Random) pipes are preferred because they are resistant to heat and high pressure, and do not deform when exposed to heat sources up to 110 degrees Celsius.

The first PPR plastic water pipe has been present in Vietnam since 1996, replacing traditional plumbing materials with bamboo pipes, wooden pipes, galvanized steel... Now this is also a popular choice of material. in most applications.

In recent years, at a number of forums about plumbing technology around the world, experts said that there is still no evidence to confirm the absolute safety of plastic pipes as advertised by suppliers. . And why is Germany the country that invented plastic pipes, but now German people still use copper pipes to make clean water pipes? The question that is being raised is whether or not lead exists in the plastic pipes that carry water every day? What will happen to the old plastic pipes? What are the impacts of plastic materials on the aquatic environment? We will have information about the current state of the water environment and the consequences of using plastic water pipes in the coming periods.