Standard Practice for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of Plastic Pipe Used for Culverts, Storm Sewers, and Other Buried Conduits

1.1 This practice establishes a procedure for using life cycle cost (LCC) analysis techniques to evaluate alternative drainage system designs, using plastic pipe that satisfy the same functional requirements.

1.2 The LCC technique measures the present value of all relevant costs to install, operate, and maintain alternative drainage systems such as engineering, construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, or replacement over a specified period of time. The practice also accommodates any remaining residual or salvage value.

1.3 The decision maker, using the results of the LCC analysis, can then identify the alternative(s) with the lowest estimated total cost based on the present value of all costs.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.