Pipe was first employed by the Romans to reticulate normal water in Rome. It was produced from lead as it was the most flexible metal obtainable that would allow leak free conveyance of water. Oddly enough the Romans experienced little lead poisoning as the water they used was calcium rich which produced a protective deposit between pipe and drinking water.

Consequently pipe was constructed from an array of materials like the utilization of timber logs with a hole drilled through the log and enclosed in a very long pipe with animal fat as water mains in Philadelphia. Currently, pipe might be made from numerous materials and to unique specifications in line with the expected use, e.g. ceramics, fibreglass, metals, strengthened concrete and PVC. Lead is no longer permitted due to the high likelihood of lead poisoning, even though it was popular in slightly older buildings. Pipe is tubular or a hollow cyndrical tube of various manufactured length and plenty of pipes may be connected together by the use of fittings and fastening materials. Pipe typically identifies a solid and or inflexible construction while flexible piping is known as a hose, like in hosepipe. The largest use of pipe is the conveyance of fluids or small solids, including water, petroleum, gasses, sludge and many others. Pipe may also be used in construction such as scaffolding. The definition of 'tube' could also be used to describe pipe, but will typically be generated from a material which will allow for twisting or forming of the pipe (e.g. copper), whereas 'pipe' will refer to strong lengths.

Pipe may be made of a wide variety of materials based on what the supposed use of the pipe. Pipes of significant diameter are manufactured from reinforced concrete to be used for the conveyance of masses of water, including storm water, or to be transferred over distance, for example where water is transported from dams to irrigation schemes, or city tanks. Copper pipe or tube normally have a thin 'skin' and is adaptable and may be bent to go around corners and is largely utilized in hot water applications. Pipe may be manufactured from such exotic materials as titanium where high pressure and high temperatures are involved. Aluminium, being light in weight is a well-liked material for the manufacturing of irrigation piping which should be moveable over distances by manual work. Pipe can even be constructed from carbon steel, stainless steel or galvanised steel based on the application.

Of distinct relevance to us today is pipe produced from PVC. Plastic pipe is commonly used for its characteristics of light weight, chemical amount of resistance and non-corrosive properties. It is additionally easily transportable in either lengths or rolls of piping. PVC pipes are easily connected, usually by using couplers or fittings and an adhesive, but there are other simple ways currently available as well. PVC pipes, in modern times, account for most pipes used in buried municipal uses for drinking water reticulation as well as wastewater or sewage removal. PVC, in fact is not a contemporary discovery, but was first discovered in 1835 and once again in 1872.

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