Index of Joint Condition for PVC push-fit joints

The Index of Joint Condition (IJC) for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) push-fit joints, discussed in this article, was derived from installation guidelines and from destructive laboratory tests. The IJC is presented in a graphical framework and is a powerful tool to employ in order to visualize and compare, in situ, results obtained during condition assessment of PVC joints. The graphical results can also be translated into a numerical grade that allows comparing the conditions of various pipes and of individual joints. The applicability of the IJC is demonstrated in the condition assessment of 222 joints inspected in eight different sessions that encapsulate more than 2 km of older (more than 40 years) and newer pipes (less than 2 months). While, for the new pipe, all joints were considered to be in good condition – low replacement priority –, several joints in older pipes were considered to have high replacement priority.