Buried Pipe

[Trevelyan]

I've got to start replacing my fence this weekend and want to take the opportunity of making a mess of the lawn to run a water pipe up the garden at the same time. I've used the normal blue plastic MDPE waterpipe before but I'm not a fan of the stuff - I seem to remember it's like wrestling a snake most of the time. As the fence will be replaced in sections over a few weeks I need something which is flexible and can be coiled up out of the way easily. This set me to wondering whether the more flexible polyplumb type of pipe (normally used with pushfit fittings) is suitable for being buried, either directly or in conduit. Any comments?

[iiyama]

Needs to be at minimum depth of 750mm if memory serves and Im not sure the softer pipe would be very good at resisting crush forces that it will be subjected to in the ground.

[jagnet]

You may be ok to use it provided it's in a conduit, but is it worth risking? As mentioned above, it needs to be a minimum of 750mm (max 1350mm) below ground, and as such any small leaks from it over time are going to be very difficult to spot.

For the sake of a little inconvenience during installation, I'd use the MDPE pipe and know that the job has been done properly.

Also consider any backflow prevention requirements for the installation (Water Supply Regulations 1999).