ABS Pipe: Definition & Technical Guide
Call Now (855) 557-9600
ABS, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, is a rigid thermoplastic polymer used to manufacture drain, waste, and vent (DWV) piping in residential and commercial plumbing systems. ABS pipe is identifiable by its black color and is joined using solvent cement rather than primer, making it a single-step connection process that distinguishes it from the two-step primer-and-cement method required for PVC pipe.
Acrylonitrile, Butadiene & Styrene: Material Composition
ABS pipe gained widespread adoption in North American residential plumbing during the 1970s and 1980s as a lightweight, corrosion-resistant alternative to cast iron DWV piping. The material’s three chemical components each contribute a specific property: acrylonitrile provides chemical resistance and heat stability, butadiene contributes impact resistance and toughness, and styrene gives the material its rigidity and processability.
ABS pipe is manufactured in standard DWV sizes from 1-1/2 inches to 6 inches in diameter, with wall thicknesses specified by ASTM D2661 for building drain, waste, and vent applications. The pipe connects using ABS solvent cement, which chemically welds the pipe and fitting surfaces together. Unlike PVC, ABS does not require a separate primer application before cementing.
ABS pipe is permitted by the applicable state building codes for DWV applications but is less common than PVC in new construction. Homes built in the 1970s through 1990s often contain ABS drain lines, and plumbers encounter ABS regularly during renovation and repair work.
Schedule 40, Cellular Core & Sewer-Rated Variations
ABS DWV pipe is the standard product for drain, waste, and vent systems. It is manufactured in Schedule 40 wall thickness and cellular core configurations. Cellular core ABS has a foamed inner layer that reduces material weight while maintaining structural integrity.
ABS sewer pipe is manufactured to ASTM D2751 for underground building sewer applications. It features thicker walls and higher impact resistance than DWV-rated pipe.
ABS fittings include all standard DWV configurations: 90-degree elbows, 45-degree elbows, tees, wyes, couplings, cleanout adapters, and transition fittings for connecting to PVC or cast iron.
How ABS Pipe Relates to Plumbing Services
ABS pipe repair and replacement is common in homes where original DWV systems are 30 to 50 years old. Cracked ABS joints, failed cement bonds, and root intrusion into underground ABS sewer lines are frequent service calls. Bonded Plumbworks provides drain and sewer services that include ABS pipe repair, section replacement, and full DWV system repiping.
When remodeling or extending a drain system that contains existing ABS piping, code-compliant transition fittings are required to connect ABS to PVC. Direct solvent-cement joints between ABS and PVC are prohibited in most jurisdictions because the two materials have different chemical properties and the bond is unreliable. Bonded Plumbworks’ pipe repair and repiping team uses approved mechanical couplings or transition cement where permitted by the local authority having jurisdiction.
ASTM D2661, D3311 & Solvent Cement Standards
ABS DWV pipe must meet ASTM D2661 (Standard Specification for ABS Schedule 40 DWV Pipe). ABS fittings must comply with ASTM D2661 and ASTM D3311. ABS solvent cement must meet ASTM D2235. The applicable state building codes permits ABS for DWV applications and references these ASTM standards. The International Plumbing Code (IPC) Section 702 lists ABS as an approved DWV pipe material. Transition connections between ABS and PVC must use fittings compliant with ASTM D3138 or approved mechanical couplings.
Charlotte Pipe, Nibco & Oatey Product Examples
Charlotte Pipe manufactures ABS DWV pipe and fittings in sizes from 1-1/2 to 6 inches. Nibco produces ABS DWV fittings in hub-by-hub and hub-by-spigot configurations. Oatey manufactures ABS solvent cement in regular and medium-body formulations. Genova Products offers ABS cellular core DWV pipe for residential applications. Additional manufacturers in this category include IPEX and Fernco, both of which produce professional-grade products for ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) applications.