Fibre-cement piping

This was formerly the most widely-used type of pipe, but the advent of PVC has totally replaced it. Fibre-cement piping is a material made up of asbestos (a mineral that it is presently forbidden to use), cement and water. It is compressed by setting. It is highly resistant to corrosion but has low mechanical resistance to knocks. These pipes, with special joints, were used to supply drinking water, withstanding up to 30 kg/cm² pressure. For run-off and evacuation they are made with cup-shaped ends, to facilitate joining them together. As of 2002 the use and commercialization of asbestos in the fibrocement industry is banned in Spain (Order of the Ministry of the Presidency, December 7, 2001). The fibrocement products with asbestos are considered hazardous wastes.