A New Qualification Method for Butt Fusion Joining of PE Pipe and Fittings in the USA

Session 10B
2:40 pm

Steve D. Sandstrum, ISCO Industries, LLC

Historically, the procedure for butt fusion joining of polyethylene (PE) pipe in the United States has been qualified on the basis of two fundamental tests that are widely recognized within the North American industry. These are the tensile impact test method found in ASTM F 2634 and the bend-back (or reverse-bend) test as described in ASTM F 2620. Both of these test methods have been extensively utilized within the industry and both have some specific limitations as it relates to qualification of butt fusion joining conducting in the field. ASTM F 2634 is a highly sophisticated testing method involving precision instrumented laboratory equipment. This makes it somewhat impractical for an on-site qualification for butt fusion procedures in the field. The bend-back test, on the other hand, lends itself to field implementation but as the method is applied to larger diameter, heavy-walled pipe, safety considerations become a limiting factor.

This paper will examine a test method referred to as side bend testing that has been developed on an international scale that appears very promising as an alternative to the bend-back as described in ASTM F2620. The test method will be fully described and data will be presented comparing tensile impact results and traditional bend back results to those obtained using the side-bend test method. Discussion of the test results and safety considerations of the proposed test method will be addressed and conclusions drawn regarding its future applicability within the United States.