Carlon Rodent Attack on PVC Conduit or Duct - Manual

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RODENT ATTACK ON PVC CONDUIT OR DUCT
At Carlon we are often questioned on the possibility of a rodent (groundhog, rat,
etc.) chewing through direct buried or exposed PVC conduit and duct. We have
responded to these questions by assuring our customers that PVC conduit or
duct is not a source of nutrition, therefore is not subject to the attack of rodents.
The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) conducted a series of tests designed
to determine the susceptibility of PVC sewer pipe to attack by rodents. 1 PVC
pipe was cut into sections and were installed in the openings of a rat enclosure
as a barrier between the rats and sources of food and water. The rats were
supplied with reduced rations of food calculated to maintain good health but
constant hunger. After one-month period of testing the PVC pipe sections
showed evidence of the rats’ attempts to gnaw through to obtain the additional
food, but there was no penetration of the pipe. There is no evidence of an
attempted attack on the pipe when it did not interfere with access to food.
It should also be noted that rodents will chew on anything to keep their teeth
sharp and to control the length of the teeth.
1 “A STUDY OF PLASTIC PIPE FOR POTABLE WATER SUPPLIES,” NATIONAL SANITATION
FOUNDATION, HEADQUARTERS: SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR, MI (JUNE 1955) PGS. 80-83
Gross Automation (877) 268-3700 · www.carlonsales.com · [email protected]