Comparing Friction Loss in Steel, Copper and Plastic Pipes

Comparing friction head loss (ft/100 ft) for water flow in steel, copper and PVC plastic pipes

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Due to difference in inside cross sectional area, wet surface and roughness of the surface, there is significant difference in friction head loss in steel, copper and plastic PVC pipes. The difference will vary with the size of pipe and the flow rate.

The friction loss in feet of head per 100 feet of Steel pipes Schedule 40, Copper pipes Type L and thermoplastic PVC pipes Schedule 40 are compared below.

3 in.
Flow Rate
(gal/min)
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft)
Steel Pipe
Schedule 40
Copper Pipe
Type L
PVC Pipe
Schedule 40
50 0.7 0.8 0.6
60 1.0 1.1 0.9
70 1.3 1.5 1.2
80 1.7 1.8 1.5
90 2.1 2.3 1.8
100 2.5 2.7 2.2
150 5.3 5.7 4.8
200 9.1 9.5 8.1
250 13.6 14.2 12.8
300 19.8 19.8 17.1
400 34.2 33.4 29.0

4 in.
Flow Rate
(gal/min)
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft)
Steel Pipe
Schedule 40
Copper Pipe
Type L
PVC Pipe
Schedule 40
100 0.7 0.7 0.6
150 1.4 1.5 1.3
200 2.4 2.5 2.2
250 3.6 3.7 3.3
300 5.0 5.1 4.6
400 8.7 8.6 7.8

5 in.
Flow Rate
(gal/min)
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft)
Steel Pipe
Schedule 40
Copper Pipe
Type L
PVC Pipe
Schedule 40
150 0.5 0.8 0.4
200 0.8 0.8 0.7
250 1.2 1.3 1.1
300 1.6 1.8 1.5
400 2.8 2.9 2.6
500 4.3 4.4 3.9

6 in.
Flow Rate
(gal/min)
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft)
Steel Pipe
Schedule 40
Copper Pipe
Type L
PVC Pipe
Schedule 40
150 0.2 0.2 0.2
200 0.3 0.4 0.3
250 0.5 0.5 0.4
300 0.7 0.7 0.6
400 1.1 1.2 1.1
500 1.7 1.8 1.6
750 3.7 3.8 3.4
1000 6.3 6.5 5.8

8 in.
Flow Rate
(gal/min)
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft)
Steel Pipe
Schedule 40
PVC Pipe
Schedule 40
150 0.05 0.05
200 0.08 0.08
250 0.12 0.12
300 0.17 0.16
400 0.3 0.28
500 0.4 0.4
750 0.9 0.9
1000 1.6 1.5
1250 2.4 2.3
1500 3.5 3.2
2000 6.0 5.5

10 in.
Flow Rate
(gal/min)
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft)
Steel Pipe
Schedule 40
PVC Pipe
Schedule 40
200 0.03 0.03
250 0.04 0.04
300 0.06 0.05
400 0.1 0.09
500 0.15 0.14
750 0.3 0.3
1000 0.5 0.5
1250 0.8 0.8
1500 1.1 1.1
2000 1.9 1.8

12 in.
Flow Rate
(gal/min)
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft)
Steel Pipe
Schedule 40
PVC Pipe
Schedule 40
400 0.04 0.04
500 0.06 0.06
750 0.13 0.13
1000 0.2 0.21
1250 0.3 0.32
1500 0.5 0.45
2000 0.8 0.8
3000 1.7 1.6

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