ASTM F3124-23a

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F3124 − 23 F3124 − 23a An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
Data Recording the Procedure used to Produce Heat Butt
Fusion Joints in Plastic Piping Systems or Fittings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3124; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This practice specifies the data recording information that is recorded, when data recording equipment is used, on heat butt
fusion joints in a plastic piping system in order to compare the procedure used in making the joint to the heat butt fusion joining
procedure specified. This practice is suitable for use with all heat butt fusion joining procedures such as Practice F2620,
Specification F3372, Specification F2945 international standards or other qualified procedures. This practice primarily applies to
hydraulically operated heat butt fusion machines and can be utilized for documenting heat butt fusion joints completed with
manually-operated fusion machines.
1.2 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be
applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the
adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project’s
many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM
consensus process.
1.3 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
F2620 Practice for Heat Fusion Joining of Polyethylene Pipe and Fittings
F2945 Specification for Polyamide 11 Gas Pressure Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings
F3372 Practice for Butt Fusion Joining of PA12 Pipe and Fittings
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 Data Recording Device (“Device”)—This is an instrument that obtains and stores information.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.20 on Joining.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2023Nov. 1, 2023. Published September 2023November 2023. Originally approved in 2015. Last previous edition approved in 20152023
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as F3124–15–23. . DOI: 10.1520/F3124–15E01.10.1520/F3124–23A.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F3124 − 23a
3.1.1.1 Discussion—
This is generally an electronic device that accepts sensor input for pressure and time and manual input for other information. These
Devices are typically small, battery powered, portable, and equipped with a microprocessor, internal memory for data storage, and
connections for pressure sensors to the hydraulic fusion machine. Devices may interface with a personal computer and may utilize
software to activate the Device and to view and analyze the collected data. Other Devices may have a local interface device, such
as a keypad or touch sensing, LCD display, and can be used as a standalone device.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 The principle of heat butt fusion of plastic pipe is to apply heat, at a designated temperature, to two prepared pipe ends for
a heat soak period and then fuse them together by the application of a sufficient force, thereby resulting in fusion. This practice
identifies the information that is collected by the data recording device about the heat butt fusion joint.
4.2 The Device records the hydraulic pressures and times during the butt fusion process for individual joints and manual entries
as listed in 6.1.1.
4.3 The Device provides a reliable method for collecting and recording the parameters of the heat butt fusion process used to make
heat butt fusion joints. This data can be compared to the Specified Standard or Procedure to review conformance.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The Device record includes information about how the heat butt fusion joint was made (heater temperature, pressures and
times for the heating, fusion and cooling steps) and other important information about the process, job, equipment used, etc. The
Device record is compared to the specified heat butt fusion procedure parameters to determine if the procedure was followed
correctly. For comparison purposes, a graph of time versus pressure is generated from the data record to show pressure changes
that occur during the butt fusion process. Comparing the time versus pressure graph to the steps in the procedure helps determine
that the procedure parameters were observed, (Note 1). (See Appendix X1.) These records may be downloaded from the device
and stored.
5.2 When used in conjunction with manually-operated machines, the Device records information about the procedure used, the
operator, the equipment, and the piping material. The Device may capture photographs of the set up (alignment and cleanliness)
as well as the completed fusion bead. These records may be downloaded from the device and stored.
NOTE 1—The Device cannot show all aspects of the heat butt fusion conditions (such as wind, cold weather, blowing dust and sand, etc.) and does not
preclude periodic joint testing as described in the applicable fusion standard or procedure.
6. Apparatus—General Requirements
6.1 Data Recording Device:
6.1.1 The Device shall be capable of collecting the following information:
• the heater plate temperature at the beginning of the heat cycle and the pressures applied during the heating, fusing and cooling cycle (hydraulic machine fusions)
• time for each stage of the process from the beginning of the heat cycle through the end of the cool cycle
• the operators name or identification number, or both
• the job name and/or number
• joint number
• the date and time
• the location
• the equipment manufacturer
• equipment model and serial number used
• temperature measuring device serial number (if present)
• the heat butt fusion procedure or standard used
• angle of miter (as applicable)
• the pipe/fitting manufacturer
• the pipe OD and DR
• pipe material and material designation
• lot # for pipe material (if available)
• drag pressure (hydraulic machine fusions)
• the interfacial pressure used (unless already included in the gauge pressure determination) (hydraulic machine fusions)
• Photos, as applicable per 7.4 and 7.5
F3124 − 23a
• plus any notes about the job that would help evaluate the record such as:
o weather conditions: ambient temperature, wind speed
o job set-up issues
o use of an enclosure.
6.1.2 The Device shall be able to operate accurately under environmental conditions under which fusions may be accomplished.
6.1.3 The Device shall be able to output the data for the production of a time versus pressure graph of the fusion process when
using a hydraulically-operated machine. See Appendix X1 for an example of a time versus pressure graph that shows the pressures
and times of the different steps in the heat butt fusion process.
6.1.4 The Device shall be able to record and store at least 24 h of continuous operation of heat butt fusion joint data.
6.1.5 The records in the Device shall be downloadable to a computer or other data storage device. (see Note 2.)
NOTE 2—The records should not be overwritten prior to downloading without a warning message to the user. Records should be offloaded before deleting
the records from the Device.
6.1.6 Calibration requirements shall be followed per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
6.1.7 The Device shall be capable of connecting to the hydraulic system of the butt fusion machine in order to record the pressures
during the fusion cycle.
6.1.8 The Device, when used in conjunction with a hydraulically-operated machine shall calculate and recommend heat butt fusion
pressures based on entered/provided pipe size in
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