Resources, Tools and Basic Information for Engineering and Design of Technical Applications!

mobile - visible on handheld devices - alternatively go to www.engineeringtoolbox.com!

Engineering ToolBox > Standard Dimension Ratio - SDR

It is common to use the "Standard Dimension Ratio" - SDR - as method of rating pressure piping

Many PE pipe manufacturers use the "Standard Dimension Ratio" - SDR - method of rating pressure piping. The SDR is the ratio of pipe diameter to wall thickness and the SDR can be expressed as

SDR = D / s (1)

where

D = pipe outside diameter (mm)

s = pipe wall thickness (mm)  

A SDR 11 means that the outside diameter - D - of the pipe is eleven times the thickness - s - of the wall.

• with a high SDR ratio the pipe wall is thin compared to the pipe diameter
• with a low SDR ratio the pipe wall is thick compared to the pipe diameter

As a consequence a high SDR pipe has a low-pressure rating and low SDR pipe has a high-pressure rating.