IS 12818: PVC Casing Pipe Standards in India

Mar 31, 2025
pvc casing pipes

Borewells and deep-soil water reserve extraction rely heavily on high-performance casing pipes, and PVC casing pipes have become the preferred choice due to their strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. Since borewells operate under extreme underground conditions, the risk of pipe deformation or collapse is high if substandard materials are used.

To ensure safety, performance, and long-term reliability, the Bureau of Indian Standards has established IS 12818, a standard that defines the quality and performance benchmarks for PVC casing pipes used in borewell and similar applications.

Whether you are involved in civil construction, agricultural water extraction, or borewell installation, understanding IS 12818 is essential. This standard directly impacts operational efficiency, pipe lifespan, cost-effectiveness, and overall water safety.

What is IS 12818 and Why It Matters

IS 12818 specifies the technical requirements for unplasticized PVC (UPVC) screen and casing pipes used in bore/tubewells. Compliance with this standard ensures:

  • High structural strength

  • Resistance to underground pressure

  • Reduced chances of collapse or deformation

  • Safe and contamination-free water extraction

Using IS 12818-compliant pipes also adds tangible value to projects by improving reliability and reducing long-term maintenance costs.

1. Categories of PVC Casing Pipes as per IS 12818

BIS classifies PVC casing pipes by the borewell depth and soil pressure they're built to handle. Here's how the four categories compare:

Category

Full Name

Depth Suitability

Size Range (Nominal Bore)

Wall Thickness Range

Best For

CS

Casing Shallow

Up to 80 m (262 ft)

150 mm – 200 mm (6″ – 8″)

5.7 mm – 7.6 mm

Shallow domestic and agricultural borewells in stable soil

CM

Casing Medium

80 m – 250 m (262 – 820 ft)

40 mm – 400 mm (1½″ – 16″)

3.5 mm – 14.5 mm (mid-range sizes)

The majority of municipal and agricultural borewells with moderate soil pressure

CD

Casing Deep

250 m – 450 m (820 – 1,476 ft)

250 mm – 400 mm (10″ – 16″)

16.5 mm – 24.2 mm

Deep borewells under high soil pressure — industrial and large municipal water projects

SC

Screen Casing (Ribbed Strainer)

Installed alongside CS/CM/CD at water-bearing strata

40 mm – 300 mm (1½″ – 12″) depending on ribbed vs. deepwell screen variant

Perforated/ribbed wall

Sandy or loose-soil aquifers — filters out sand while letting water through

As the table shows, the deeper the intended installation, the thicker the pipe wall needs to be to resist soil pressure — CD pipes run roughly 3x the wall thickness of CS pipes at comparable diameters. Choosing the correct category ensures borewell stability and uninterrupted water flow. For a deeper understanding of their advantages, explore the benefits of casing pipes in borewell installation.

2. Material and Durability Requirements

IS 12818 places strict emphasis on material quality to ensure long service life and consistent performance. Key requirements include:

  • High-quality virgin UPVC: Only unplasticized PVC is permitted to meet strength and rigidity standards.

  • Chemical resistance: Pipes must resist corrosion and chemical reactions from groundwater minerals.

  • High impact strength: Essential to withstand underground pressure and external loads.

  • UV resistance: Pipes exposed above ground must include UV stabilization to prevent degradation.

Manufacturing to this standard also typically means production is cross-verified against related specifications — for instance, Utkarsh's IS 12818 casing pipes are also referenced against ASTM D-1785 and DIN 4925, giving buyers an added dimensional cross-check beyond the Indian standard alone.

Meeting these criteria ensures low maintenance and extended borewell lifespan.

Also Read: Factors Affecting the Lifespan of PVC Casing Pipes

3. Threading and Jointing Specifications

Proper jointing is critical for maintaining borewell integrity and water quality. IS 12818-compliant casing pipes use:

Threaded terminals at each pipe end, which allow sections to be joined on-site without solvent cement — this is what makes casing pipe installation faster and more economical than plain-end alternatives.

Elastic, leak-proof threaded joints designed to flex slightly during installation, which is particularly useful when a pipe string has to be lowered into a bore that isn't perfectly straight.

Lightweight construction, since PVC casing weighs roughly a fifth of an equivalent steel casing pipe — this cuts transport cost and makes manual installation practical even at depth.

These features simplify installation while ensuring long-term reliability.

4. PVC Casing Pipe Price and Factors Affecting Cost

Based on current manufacturer price lists, IS 12818-compliant PVC casing pipe (ASTM D-1785 threaded, Schedule 40/Light) runs from roughly ₹56 per metre at ½″ (15 mm) up to ₹3,399 per metre at 12″ (300 mm). Moving to the thicker Schedule 80/Medium wall adds a premium — for example, a 4″ pipe runs about ₹681/metre in Schedule 40 versus ₹933/metre in Schedule 80.

For pipes made specifically to the IS 12818 CM/CS thread and dimension spec, indicative ex-factory rates look like this:

  • CM (Casing Medium): ~₹163/metre at 1½″ rising to ~₹4,938/metre at 12″

  • CS (Casing Shallow): ~₹965/metre at 6″ rising to ~₹3,980/metre at 12″

  • CD (Casing Deep): sold by length rather than per metre — a 4″ x 3 m deep-casing pipe runs around ₹4,583, scaling up to roughly ₹1,24,175 for a 16″ x 6 m length

Four factors mainly drive where a project lands within that range:

  • Pipe category: CD pipes cost more than CS at a comparable diameter, due to the extra wall thickness needed for deeper installation.

  • Diameter and wall thickness: Larger and thicker pipes use proportionally more raw material.

  • Brand and compliance: Certified manufacturers adhering strictly to IS 12818 may price at a premium over uncertified suppliers.

  • Market conditions: PVC resin prices and seasonal demand shift pricing over time.

Note: prices above are indicative, ex-works, and exclude GST and freight — always confirm current rates directly with the manufacturer, as PVC resin pricing shifts with the market.

Why Choosing the Right PVC Casing Pipe Is Crucial

Selecting the right casing pipe category isn't just a spec-sheet exercise — it has direct operational consequences:

  • Prevents borewell collapse: A CS-rated pipe used at CD-appropriate depth is under-specified for the soil pressure it will face.

  • Improves water flow efficiency: Mirror-smooth PVC bore reduces friction loss compared to older steel casing, which can scale internally over time.

  • Reduces contamination risk: Threaded, elastic joints seal more reliably than loose-fitting alternatives.

  • Long-term cost savings: Matching the category to the depth up front avoids the cost of pulling and replacing an under-specified casing string later.

Investing in quality pipes upfront significantly reduces operational issues later. When comparing suppliers, an established PVC casing pipe manufacturer such as Utkarsh Pipes and Fittings which holds a current BIS licence specifically for IS 12818 screen and casing pipes is a reasonable starting point for sourcing across all four categories.

Conclusion

IS 12818 plays a crucial role in defining the quality and performance of PVC casing pipes used in borewells across India. Understanding pipe categories, material requirements, joining specifications, and pricing factors helps in making informed decisions. Always verify BIS licence status and source from reliable, established manufacturers to ensure durability, safety, and value.

FAQs

Is the ISI mark mandatory for PVC casing pipes? 

Yes, the ISI mark is mandatory for PVC casing pipes used in borewells and drinking water applications, as it confirms compliance with BIS quality and safety standards.

What are the standard sizes of PVC casing pipes? 

As per IS 12818, sizes span four categories: CS pipes run 150–200 mm (6″–8″) with 5.7–7.6 mm walls; CM pipes span the widest range at 40–400 mm (1½″–16″) with walls from 3.5 mm up; CD pipes run 250–400 mm (10″–16″) with 16.5–24.2 mm walls; and SC (screen/strainer) pipes run 40–300 mm (1½″–12″) with a perforated wall design.

How do I select the right casing pipe size and category? 

Category depends primarily on planned borewell depth: CS for wells up to 80 m, CM for 80–250 m, and CD for 250–450 m. Within a category, pipe diameter should generally be 1–2 inches larger than the pump diameter to allow clearance.

What is the difference between CS, CM, CD, and SC casing pipes? 

CS is built for shallow wells (up to 80 m), CM for medium depths (80–250 m), and CD for deep wells under high soil pressure (250–450 m). SC (screen casing) is a perforated variant used alongside any of the three at the water-bearing strata, to let water in while filtering out sand and loose particles.

How long do IS 12818-compliant PVC casing pipes last? 

With correct category selection and installation, they typically last 30–50 years. Life expectancy at the lower or higher end of that range mainly comes down to two variables: groundwater mineral content (higher mineral/chemical exposure accelerates wear even on chemical-resistant UPVC) and whether the pipe category matched the actual soil pressure at installation depth (an under-specified casing degrades faster under sustained stress than a correctly matched one).