Engineers Reference

Typical Roughness Values for Pressure Pipes

Typical pipe roughness values are shown below. These values may vary depending on
the manufacturer, workmanship, age, and many other factors.

Comparative Pipe Roughness Values

Mannings Hazen-
Darcy-Weisbach
Material Coefficient Williams
Roughness Height
n C

k (mm) k (0.001 ft.)

Asbestos cement 0.011 140 0.0015 0.005

Brass 0.011 135 0.0015 0.005

Brick 0.015 100 0.6 2

Cast-iron, new 0.012 130 0.26 0.85

Concrete:

Steel forms 0.011 140 0.18 0.6

Wooden forms 0.015 120 0.6 2

Centrifugally spun 0.013 135 0.36 1.2

Copper 0.011 135 0.0015 0.005

Corrugated metal 0.022 45 150

Galvanized iron 0.016 120 0.15 0.5

Glass 0.011 140 0.0015 0.005

Lead 0.011 135 0.0015 0.005

Plastic 0.009 150 0.0015 0.005

Steel

Coal-tar enamel 0.010 148 0.0048 0.016

New unlined 0.011 145 0.045 0.15

Riveted 0.019 110 0.9 3

Wood stave 0.012 120 0.18 0.6

18-1154 Bentley WaterCAD V8i Users Guide