More on plastic piping standards from ASTM, following my Friday post on underground mine leachate pipe. The international standards organization has proposed ASTM WK39660, Practice for Procedures to Prevent Contamination in Plastic Gas Pipe and Fittings, for development.
ASTM WK39660 “represents a forward move of quality practices for the production of new plastic piping systems.” Said Karen Lively, technical manager for Performance Pipe, a division of Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.: “The proposed new standard would provide specific guidance to manufacturers of new piping systems. It would also provide a tool for utilities to improve supplier quality requirements, and standardizes those requirements.”
The new standard would apply to gas distribution systems produced primarily from polyethylene (PE) as well as plastics that are used for fittings for PE pipelines.
Once it is approved, utility companies will be able to use it to specify requirements for piping system vendors. Lively said the standard could also be used by regulatory bodies.
ASTM is encouraging all parties to participate in the development of the standard. Visit www.astm.org for more.
