PVC-U or U-PVC stands for unplasticised PVC, which means no plasticiser (US: plasticizer) has been added to the PVC compound. Unplasticised PVC is also known as rigid PVC. PVC-U is the most common PVC type for pipes and fittings including transportation of drinking water, soil and waste, sewage and underground drainage and industrial applications.

Pipes and fittings made of PVC-U have many benefits. They are a safe choice for transportation of drinking water, light and easy to handle and affordable. Technical properties include high mechanical performance, high durability (at least 100 years for underground pipes), high chemical resistance and resistance to UV exposure. Moreover, PVC-U pipes have favorable environmental profiles and are 100% recyclable.

C-PVC or PVC-C stands for chlorinated PVC. Pipes and fittings made of C-PVC share many of PVC-U's advantages. Both are safe for use with drinking water, have high resistance to corrosion, high durability and excellent impact resistance. However, with its higher chlorine content than regular PVC-U, pipes and fittings made of C-PVC can withstand a wider range of temperatures. This has made C-PVC a popular choice for water piping systems in residential as well as commercial construction. C-PVC is also significantly more ductile than PVC-U. Pipes and fittings made of C-PVC are 100% recyclable.

Molecularly oriented PVC (PVC-O) is the result of a production process that turns the amorphous structure of unplasticised PVC (PVC-U) into a layered structure.

PVC-O enhances the many benefits of PVC-U such as resistance to corrosion, preservation of water quality, cost-efficiency and recyclability and an unsurpassed balance between strength, stiffness and flexibility. Pipes made of PVC-O are especially advantageous when it comes to hydraulic capacity, ductility, crack propagation and impact and fatigue resistance.