1. National Standard Basis for the PE Pipe Specification Table
The PE pipe specification table is legally governed by GB/T 13663.2-2018 "Polyethylene (PE) piping systems for water supply — Part 2: Pipes", which replaces the 2000 version. The new standard organizes dimensions by SDR series and aligns with ISO 4427-2. Mastering the PE pipe specification table is the foundation of municipal water supply, rural drinking water, and chemical transport engineering design and procurement.
1.1 Key Terminology
- dn: nominal outside diameter (mm), the pipe outer diameter
- en: nominal wall thickness (mm)
- SDR: Standard Dimension Ratio = dn ÷ en
- PN: nominal pressure (MPa), the maximum allowable working pressure at 20°C for a 50-year design life
- MRS: Minimum Required Strength (MPa); PE80 = 8.0, PE100 = 10.0
- SDR-PN relationship: PN ≈ 2 × MRS ÷ (SDR - 1)
1.2 PE80 vs PE100 Grades
| Grade | MRS (MPa) | Wall at Same PN | PN at Same Wall | Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE80 | 8.0 | Thick | Low | Low pressure, rural water |
| PE100 | 10.0 | Thin (saves 15-25%) | High | Medium-high pressure, municipal main |
| PE100-RC | 10.0 | Same as PE100 | Same as PE100 | Complex geology, pipe jacking |
2. PE Pipe Specification Table (PE100, Mainstream)
The table below, compiled per GB/T 13663.2-2018, lists nominal outside diameter, wall thickness, and nominal pressure for PE100 SDR series.
| dn (mm) | SDR 11 PN1.6 en (mm) | SDR 13.6 PN1.25 en (mm) | SDR 17 PN1.0 en (mm) | SDR 21 PN0.8 en (mm) | SDR 26 PN0.6 en (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.5 | - |
| 25 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.5 | - |
| 32 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.6 |
| 40 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 1.9 |
| 50 | 4.6 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 2.0 |
| 63 | 5.8 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| 75 | 6.8 | 5.6 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 2.9 |
| 90 | 8.2 | 6.7 | 5.4 | 4.3 | 3.5 |
| 110 | 10.0 | 8.1 | 6.6 | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| 160 | 14.5 | 11.8 | 9.5 | 7.7 | 6.2 |
| 200 | 18.2 | 14.8 | 11.9 | 9.6 | 7.7 |
| 250 | 22.7 | 18.4 | 14.8 | 12.0 | 9.6 |
| 315 | 28.6 | 23.3 | 18.7 | 15.0 | 12.1 |
| 400 | 36.4 | 29.6 | 23.7 | 19.1 | 15.3 |
| 500 | 45.5 | 37.0 | 29.7 | 23.9 | 19.1 |
| 630 | 57.3 | 46.6 | 37.4 | 30.1 | 24.1 |
| 800 | 72.7 | 59.1 | 47.4 | 38.1 | 30.6 |
| 1000 | 90.9 | 73.9 | 59.3 | 47.7 | 38.2 |
| 1200 | 109.1 | 88.6 | 71.1 | 57.2 | 45.9 |
Data per GB/T 13663.2-2018; tolerance per standard (typically ±0.1-0.5mm).
3. PE80 Specification Table (Excerpt)
PE80 has thicker walls than PE100 at the same diameter, with slightly lower PN. Common specs:
| dn (mm) | SDR 11 PN1.25 en (mm) | SDR 13.6 PN1.0 en (mm) | SDR 17 PN0.8 en (mm) | SDR 21 PN0.63 en (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 10.0 | 8.1 | 6.6 | 5.3 |
| 160 | 14.5 | 11.8 | 9.5 | 7.7 |
| 200 | 18.2 | 14.8 | 11.9 | 9.6 |
| 315 | 28.6 | 23.3 | 18.7 | 15.0 |
| 400 | 36.4 | 29.6 | 23.7 | 19.1 |
PE80 wall thickness equals PE100 numerically, but allowable PN is lower due to lower MRS.
4. Unit Weight Reference (PE100)
Procurement budgets require unit weight estimation. Approximate values for PE100 SDR 11 and SDR 17:
| dn (mm) | SDR 11 Weight (kg/m) | SDR 17 Weight (kg/m) | SDR 21 Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 3.08 | 2.05 | 1.66 |
| 160 | 6.45 | 4.27 | 3.45 |
| 200 | 10.1 | 6.69 | 5.40 |
| 250 | 15.7 | 10.4 | 8.42 |
| 315 | 24.8 | 16.5 | 13.3 |
| 400 | 40.2 | 26.7 | 21.5 |
| 500 | 62.8 | 41.7 | 33.6 |
| 630 | 99.5 | 66.1 | 53.3 |
Estimated at density 0.953 g/cm³ for budgeting only. Actual weight per manufacturer spec sheet.
5. SDR Lookup and Diameter Selection
5.1 SDR Quick Lookup
Given operating pressure P and material MRS, use SDR = (2 × MRS ÷ P) + 1. Example: PE100 at 1.0MPa gives SDR ≈ (2×10÷1.0)+1 = 21; select SDR 21.
5.2 Diameter Selection Advice
| Application | Recommended dn (mm) | Recommended SDR |
|---|---|---|
| Household inlet | 25-32 | SDR 11 |
| Unit entry | 40-63 | SDR 11-13.6 |
| Residential community | 110-200 | SDR 13.6-17 |
| Rural drinking water | 63-160 | SDR 17-21 |
| Municipal main | 200-630 | SDR 11-17 |
| Large water transmission | 630-1200 | SDR 17-21 |
5.3 Velocity Check
Economic flow velocity for PE water pipe is 1.0-1.5 m/s, with a maximum of 2.5 m/s. Too small a diameter raises velocity and energy cost; too large wastes material. Refer to the Water & Wastewater Design Handbook for hydraulic calculation.
6. FAQ
Q1: Where is the authoritative PE pipe specification table?
Consult GB/T 13663.2-2018 directly, or the National Standard Full Text Public System (openstd.samr.gov.cn). Third-party testing labs also provide spec sheets.
Q2: Which is more expensive, SDR 11 or SDR 17?
At the same diameter, SDR 11 (thicker wall) uses more material and is 30%-50% more expensive per meter. However, SDR 11 supports higher pressure and may allow a smaller diameter, so total cost is not necessarily higher.
Q3: Why does PE pipe use dn instead of DN?
dn denotes nominal outside diameter (PE pipe convention); DN is the metal pipe convention denoting nominal diameter (approximately inner diameter). GB/T 13663 uses dn to avoid confusion.
Q4: Is the PN in the PE pipe specification table based on 20°C?
Yes. GB/T 13663.2 PN values are based on 20°C 50-year life. For each 10°C rise, derate by a correction factor: 0.87 at 30°C, 0.74 at 40°C.
Q5: Can non-standard diameters be custom-ordered?
Some manufacturers support DN 355, 450, 560, 710 non-mainstream diameters, but MOQ is higher and price is 15%-25% higher. Standard diameters are preferred where possible.
7. Summary and Action
The PE pipe specification table spans multiple dimensions—dn, SDR, PN, wall, and weight. We recommend selecting SDR by operating pressure, then diameter by flow, and finally verifying PE80/PE100 grade. All data must be grounded in GB/T 13663.2-2018, and the contract should specify the standard and tolerance.
As a professional engineering plastics supplier, huagong offers one-stop procurement and technical support for GB/T 13663-compliant PE pipes with matching fusion fittings. Contact huagong for complete spec sheets and the latest quotations.
Related:
- Browse the Engineering Plastics Center for PE/PVC/PP specs
- Read PE Water Supply Pipe Selection Guide for grades and joining
- Read PE vs PPR Heat Fusion Analysis to avoid joining errors