| ABS | Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene |
| ACRR | Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling |
| APPRICOD | Assessing the Potential of Plastic Recycling in the construction and demolition sectors |
| BBP | Butylbenzylphthalate |
| Biodiversity | The variety of plant and animal life |
| BPF | British Plastics Federation |
| Br | Bromine |
| C4 | Canadian Chlorine Coordinating Committee |
| Ca-Zn | Calcium-zinc |
| CCC | Chlorine Chemistry Council (USA) |
| CDD | Chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin |
| CEFIC | European Chemical Industry Council |
| CEN | European Standardisation Committee |
| CFFA | Chemical Fabrics & Film Association |
| CI | Chlorine Institute, Inc |
| CMA | Chemical Manufacturers Association |
| CO2 | Carbon dioxide. This gas has a greenhouse effect, leading to global warming. |
| COD | Chemical oxygen demand – this is a laboratory test that mimics the way substances react with oxygen in water. Excessive removal of oxygen from rivers and streams harms water-born life. |
| Coupling | a fitting that slips over the ends of two pieces of pipe to join them together |
| CPD | Construction Products Directive |
| CPVC | Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride |
| CPVC | (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) a material similar to PVC in its rigidity, corrosion resistance, and chemical resistance. CPVC, however, has a higher temperature tolerance than PVC. The maximum working temperature of CPVC is 200F compared to 140F (standard PVC) |
| DBP | Di-n-butyl phthalate |
| DEHP | Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate |
| DIDP | Diisodecyl phthalate |
| DNA | Deoxyribonucleic acid |
| DOP | Di-octyl phthalate |
| DWV | stands for Drain Waste Vent . A system of PVC created to handle non-pressurized applications. |
| EAL | Enivironmental Assessment Limit |
| EAP | Environment Action Programme |
| EATS | European Automotive Trim Supplier Association |
| EC | European Community |
| ECA | European Collaborative Action |
| ECEH | European Centre for Environment and Health |
| ECPI | European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates |
| ECVM | European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers |
| ED | Ethylene dichloride |
| EDC | Ethylene dichloride (also known as 1,2 dichloroethane) |
| EDEFA | European Decorative Foils Association |
| EEC | European Economic Community |
| EGMA | European GeoMembranes Association |
| ELV | End of Life Vehicles Directive |
| EMPM | European Media Packaging Manufacturers Association |
| EPCOAT | European PVC Coated Fabrics Group |
| EPDM | (Ethylene Porpylene Diene Monomer) a type of rubber used for sealing PVC fittings and valves. |
| EPER | European Pollutant Emission Register |
| EPEX | European Performance co-Extruders Association |
| EPFLOOR | European PVC Floors Manufacturers Association |
| EPFMA | European Polyvinyl Film Manufacturers’ Association |
| EPPA | European PVC Window Profile and Related Building Products Association |
| EPSM | Engineering Polymer Shapes for Machining Association |
| EPVC | Emulsion process |
| ERFMI | European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers’ Institute |
| ERPA | European Rigid PVC-Film Association |
| ESPA | European Stabilisers Producers Association |
| ESWA | European Single ply Waterproofing Association |
| ETHIC | European Thermoplastics Independent Compounders Association |
| EuCIA | European Composites Industry Association |
| EuPC | European Plastics Converters Association |
| EuPF | European Plastic Films Association |
| EuPR | European Plastics Recyclers Association |
| Europa | European Institutions On Line |
| EVA | Ethylene vinyl-acetate copolymer |
| FDA | U.S. Food and Drug Administration |
| Fitting | part of a pipe line used to fit together sections of pipe. Fittings can come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. |
| FOE | Friends of the Earth |
| FPT | (FIPT) aka Female (Iron) Pipe Thread. This is a type of threading that is found on the inside lip of a fitting, allowing connection to a MPT or male pipe threaded end. FPT/FIPT threading is commonly used for PVC and CPVC piping systems. |
| Furniture Grade PVC | a type of pipe and fitting made especially for use in non-liquid handling applications. Furniture grade PVC is not rated for pressure and should only be used for structural/recreational applications. Unlike standard PVC, furniture grade PVC is made without any markings or obvious blemishes. |
| g | gram |
| Gasket | a seal that goes between two surfaces to create a water-tight seal that is leak-free. |
| GJ | Gigajoule – a measure of energy. |
| HCFC | Hydrochlorofluorocarbons – are refrigerant gases and are used in domestic refrigerator systems. They are ozone depleters. |
| HCl | Hydrogen chloride |
| HELCOM | Helsinki Commission |
| HPV | High Production Volume Chemicals |
| Hub | a type of DWV fitting end that allows pipe to slide into the end. |
| HWI | Hazardous Waste Incinerators |
| IARC | International Agency for Research on Cancer |
| ICCA | Int’l Council of Chemical Associations |
| ICDLI | International Committee of Decorative Laminates Institute |
| ID | (Inside Diameter) the greatest distance between the two inside walls of a piece of pipe. |
| IFCS | Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety |
| INDEX | Critical Appraisal of the Setting and Implementation of Indoor Exposure limits in the EU |
| IPC | Integrated Pollution Control |
| IPCS | International Programme on Chemical Safety |
| IPPC | Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control |
| IPS | (Iron Pipe Size) a common sizing system used for PVC pipe, also known as Ductile Iron Pipe Standard or Nominal Pipe Size Standard. |
| I-TEQ | International toxicity equivalents |
| JECFA | Expert Committee on Food Additives |
| JHPA | Japan Hygienic PVC Association |
| JPEC | Japan PVC Environmental Affairs Council |
| JPI | Japan Petroleum Institute |
| JPPFA | Japan PVC Pipe and Fittings Association |
| kg | kilogram |
| LCA | Life Cycle Assessment |
| LCI | Life Cycle Inventory |
| LDPE | Low density polyethylene |
| MBS | Methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymer |
| MEL | Maximum exposure limit. These limits are set by Health & Safety regulations |
| mg milligram | 10-3 g (one thousandth of a gram) |
| mg/l | Milligrammes per litre. For water one mg/l is one part per million. |
| MJ | Mega Joules |
| Modular Seal | a seal that can be put in place around a pipe to seal the space between the pipe and the surrounding material. These seals are commonly made up of links that are assembled and tightened to fill the space between the pipe and a wall, floor, etc. |
| MoE | Japanese Ministry of Environment |
| MP | Mixed plastic |
| MPT | aka MIPT, Male (Iron) Pipe Thread – a type of threaded end found on PVC or CPVC fittings where the outside of the fitting is threaded to facilitate connection with a female pipe threaded end (FPT). |
| MSDS | Material Safety Data Sheet |
| MSWI | Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators |
| ng | nanogram = 10-9 g (one billionth of a gram) |
| NOX | Oxides of nitrogen |
| NPT | National Pipe Thread – the US standard for tapered threads. This standard allows NPT threaded fittings to fit together in a water-tight seal. |
| NSF | (National Sanitation Foundation) a system of standards for public health and safety. |
| OD | Outside Diameter – the longest straight distance between the outside of a piece of pipe on one side to the outside of the pipe wall on the other side. A common measurement in PVC and CPVC piping. |
| OECD | The OECD Chemicals Programme |
| Operating Temperature | the temperature of the media and immediate surroundings of a pipe line. PVC has a maximum recommended operating temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| O-Ring | a ring shaped gasket usually made from an elastic material. O-rings are found in some PVC fittings and valves and are used a seal to create a water-tight joint between two (usually moving or removable) pieces. |
| OSPAR | Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (“Oslo and Paris Convention”) |
| OSPARCOM | Oslo and Paris Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution |
| PACIA | Plastics & Chemicals Industries Association |
| PAHs | Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons |
| PBDEs | Polybrominated diphenyl ethers |
| PCB | Polychlorinated biphenyls |
| PCDD | Polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins |
| PCDD/Fs | Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans |
| PE | Polyethylene |
| PeCDD | Pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin |
| PET | Polyethylene terephthalate |
| pg picogram | 10-12 g (one trillionth of a gram) |
| Pipe Dope | the slang term for pipe thread sealant. This is a pliable material that is applied to the threads of fittings before installation to ensure a water-tight and long-lasting seal. |
| Plain End | standard end type for pipe. Unlike belled end pipe this pipe is the same diameter the entire length of the pipe. |
| PlasFuelSys | European Plastic Automotive Fuel Systems Manufacturers |
| PLASTEUROPAC | European Plastics Packaging Association |
| PP | Polypropylene |
| ppb | part per billion |
| ppm | part per million |
| PPVC | Paste Polyvinyl chloride |
| PS | Polystyrene |
| PSI | Pounds per Square Inch – a unit of pressure used to describe the maximum recommended pressure to put on a pipe, fitting or valve. |
| PVC | (Polyvinyl Chloride) a rigid thermoplastic material that is corrosion and chemical resistant. Used commonly in a wide range of commercial and consumer products around the world, PVC is known for its use in media handling pipe. |
| PVC-U | Unplasticised Polyvinyl chloride |
| Recovinyl | European PVC recycling |
| REDOP | Reduction of iron ore in blast furnace plants |
| Saddle | a fitting used to create an outlet in pipe without cutting or removing the pipe. Saddles generally clamp on to the outside of a pipe allowing a hole to then be drilled for the outlet. |
| SCALE EU | programme on ‘Science; Children; Awareness-raising; |
| SCF EU | Scientific Committee for Food |
| Sch | abbreviation for Schedule – the wall thickness of a piece of pipe |
| Schedule 40 | usually white, this is a wall thickness of PVC. Pipe and fittings can come in various “schedules” or wall thicknesses. This is the most commonly used thickness for home projects and irrigation. |
| Schedule 80 | usually gray in color, schedule 80 PVC pipe and fittings have a thicker wall than schedule 40 PVC. This makes sch 80 able to withstand higher pressures. Sch 80 PVC is commonly used for commercial and industrial purposes. |
| SCHER | Scientific Committee for Health and Environmental Risks |
| Slip | See Socket |
| SM | Styrene monomer |
| SO2 | Sulphur dioxide. This gas can cause direct harm to plants and animals. It can develop into species that contribute to acid rain. |
| Socket | an end type on a pipe fitting that allows the pipe to slide into the fitting to create the connection. In the case of PVC and CPVC, a solvent cement is used to weld the two pieces together. |
| Solvent Weld | a method of joining pipe and fittings by applying a solvent chemical softener to the material. |
| Spigot (Sp or Spg) | a type of fitting end that fits inside of another socket fitting of the same size (Note: This fitting does NOT fit inside of pipe! No pressure fittings are designed to fit inside of pipe) |
| SPVC | Suspension Polyvinyl chloride |
| SVOC | Semivolatile organic compounds |
| TCDD | Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin |
| TDI | Tolerable Daily Intake |
| TEPPFA | European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association |
| TEQ | Toxic Equivalent Quotient |
| Threaded | a type of end on fittings in which a series of interlocking tapered groves come together to form a water-tight seal. |
| TOC | Total organic carbon |
| True Union | a style valve that has two union ends that screw off to allow the valve to be removed from the surrounding pipe line after installation. |
| TVOC | Total volatile organic compounds |
| UNDP | United Nations Development Programme |
| UN-ECE | (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) Chemical Industry Pages, including : -Sustainable Development -Assistance to countries in transition -Development on production and trade statistics |
| UNEP | United Nations Environment Programme |
| UNIDO | United Nations Industrial Development Organisation |
| Union | a type of fitting used to join two pieces of pipe. Unlike couplings, unions use a gasket seal to create a removable connection between pipe. |
| VCM | Vinyl chloride monomer |
| VEC | Japanese Vinyl Environmental Council |
| Vinyl2010 | Voluntary Commitement of the European PVC Industry |
| Vinyloop | Flexible PVC recycling system developed by SolVin |
| Viton | a brand name fluoroelastomer used in gaskets and o-rings to provide a seal. Viton is a registered trademark of DuPont. |
| VOC | Volatile organic compounds. Common general examples would be petrol, solvents and perfumes. Emissions from building products. |
| WACOA | Wall-coverings Association of Japan |
| WCC | World Chlorine Council |
| WEEE | Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Weight units |
| WHO | World Health Organisation |
| Working Pressure | the recommended pressure load on a pipe, fitting or valve. This pressure is usually denoted in PSI or pounds per square inch. |
| WTO | World Trade Organisation |
| WWF | World Wide Fund for Nature |
| μg microgram | 10-6 g (one millionth of a gram) |
