ASTM F2164-02(2007)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
An American National Standard
Designation:F2164–02 (Reapproved 2007)
Standard Practice for
Field Leak Testing of Polyethylene (PE) Pressure Piping
Systems Using Hydrostatic Pressure
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2164; 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 F412 Terminology Relating to Plastic Piping Systems
F1417 Test Method for Installation Acceptance of Plastic
1.1 This practice provides information on apparatus, safety,
Gravity Sewer Lines Using Low-Pressure Air
pre-test preparation, and procedures for conducting field tests
2.2 Other Documents:
of polyethylene pressure piping systems by filling with a liquid
PPI TR-4-PPI Listing of Hydrostatic Design Basis (HDB),
and applying pressure to determine if leaks exist in the system.
Pressure Design Bases (PDB) and Minimum Required
1.2 This practice does not address leak testing using a
Strength (MRS) Ratings for Thermoplastic Piping Mate-
pressurized gas (pneumatic testing). For safety reasons, some
rials
manufacturers prohibit or restrict pneumatic pressure testing of
their products. Failure during a pressure leak test can be
3. Terminology
explosive, violent, and dangerous, especially if a compressed
3.1 Abbreviations and terms are in accordance with Termi-
gas is used. In a compressed gas test, both the pressure stress
nology D1600 and Terminology F412 unless otherwise indi-
on the system and the energy used to compress the gas are
cated.
released at a failure. Contact component manufacturers for
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
information about testing with gas under pressure.
3.2.1 authority having jurisdiction, n—the organization,
1.3 This practice does not apply to leak testing of non-
office, or individual responsible for “approving” equipment
pressure, gravity-flow, negative pressure (vacuum), or non-
and installation, or a procedure.
thermoplastic piping systems. For field-testing of plastic grav-
3.2.1.1 Discussion—The term “authority having jurisdic-
ity flow sewer lines, see Test Method F1417.
tion” is used in this practice in a broad manner since jurisdic-
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
tions and “approval” agencies vary, as do their responsibilities.
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
Where public safety is concerned, the “authority having
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
jurisdiction” may be a federal, state, local, or other regional
and are not considered standard.
department or individual such as a Fire Chief, Fire Marshall,
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
chief of a fire prevention bureau, labor department, building
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
official, or others having statutory authority. For insurance
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
purposes,aninsuranceinspectiondepartment,ratingbureau,or
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
other insurance company representative may be the “authority
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Additional safety
having jurisdiction.” In many circumstances, the property
information is presented in Section 7 and throughout this
owner or his authorized engineer or agent assumes the role of
standard.
the“authorityhavingjurisdiction”;atgovernmentinstallations,
2. Referenced Documents the commanding officer or departmental official may be the
2 “authority having jurisdiction.”
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.2 approved, vt—acceptable to the authority having ju-
D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to
risdiction.
Plastics
3.2.3 pressure piping system, n—a piping system where all
components in the system are pressure rated and intended for
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic
conveying a fluid under continuous internal pressure. (See also
Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.40 on Test
Terminology F412, pressure pipe and non-pressure pipe.) To
Methods.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2007. Published August 2007. Originally
verify suitability for pressure service, consult the component
approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as F2164–02. DOI:
manufacturer.
10.1520/F2164-02R07.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI), 105 Decker Court, Suite 825,
the ASTM website. Irving, TX 75062, http://www.plasticpipe.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F2164–02 (2007)
NOTE 1—PPI TR-4 provides information about stress ratings for some
system for pressure service and its pressure rating or operating
plastic materials and products.
pressure is determined solely by its design and its installed
components.
3.2.4 restraint, n—temporary or permanent structural mea-
5.3 Systems that are not suitable for pressure testing should
sures or devices which restrict, guide, prevent, or safely limit
not be pressure tested. Such systems may contain lower
disjoining or movement of piping system components while
pressure rated or non-pressure rated components that cannot be
the system is under pressure during testing or service condi-
isolated from test pressure, or temporary caps or closures may
tions. Restraint may include backfill, anchors, thrust blocks,
not be practical. In these systems, leak inspections should be
external clamps and tie rods (joint restraints), pipe guides, and
conducted during and after installation. Inspections typically
so forth. Restraint means that if violent separation or failure
include visual examination of joint appearance, mechanical
occursduringthetest,anymovementofcomponentsorpartsis
checks of bolt or joint tightness, and other relevant examina-
sufficiently constrained such that damage or injury is pre-
tions. See also Test Method F1417.
vented.
5.4 Leakage Allowance—There is no leakage allowance for
3.2.5 system design pressure, n—the limiting continuous
a section of heat-fusion joined polyethylene piping, because
internal pressure specified by the piping system designer.
properly made heat fusion joints do not leak. See 7.6.1.
Systemdesignpressuremaybelessthanthepressureratingsof
components in the system. System design pressure may be 5.4.1 Other types of joints or connections in the system may
have a leakage allowance. Contact the joint or connection
limited by component pressure ratings, by code or application
requirements, or by other restrictions. manufacturer for information.
5.5 Expansion Allowance—When test pressure is applied,
3.2.6 visible leakage, n—the visible escape (drip, spray,
polyethylene pipe will expand slightly due to elasticity and
stream, flow, and so forth.) of test liquid from the test section
Poisson effects. To compensate for expansion, make-up water
through components, joints, connections, appurtenances, and
the like in the test section. is added during the initial expansion phase. The amount of
make-up water (expansion allowance) will vary because ex-
pansion is not linear. This procedure compensates for expan-
4. Summary of Practice
sion with an initial expansion phase, followed by a test phase.
4.1 The section of the piping system to be tested is isolated
In the test phase, expansion is suspended by slightly reducing
fromotherpartsofthesystemandrestrainedagainstmovement
test pressure. See 9.6.
to prevent catastrophic failure. Components that are not to be
5.6 Poisson Effect—When test pressure is applied to plastic
subjected to test pressure or could be damaged by test pressure
piping systems that have fully restrained joints (joints such as
are isolated or removed as necessary. Isolated components are
heat fusion, electrofusion, bolted flanges, and so forth.),
vented to atmosphere. The test section is filled with the testing
diametricalexpansionofthepipemayreducetheoveralllength
liquid, raised to the test pressure, and allowed to stabilize. The
of the fully restrained section. Poisson-effect length reduction
system is inspected or monitored for leakage, and then test
may affect or cause disjoining in other contiguous sections that
pressureisrelieved.Ifrepairsorcorrectionsarenecessary,they
have partially restrained or non-restrained joints, such as
are performed only when the test section is depressurized. If
bell-and-spigot joints, when such joints are in-line with the test
necessary, a retest is performed after a relaxation period.At the
section. To prevent Poisson-effect disjoining, take measures
conclusion of an acceptable test, the test section may be placed
such as the installation of external joint restraints (diametrical
in service. Purging and disposal of the test liquid from the test
clamps and tie-rods) on in-line non-restrained joints, installing
section may be necessary.
in-line thrust anchors at the ends of the fully restrained section,
4.2 Acceptance is determined by the approval of the author-
or isolating the fully restrained test section from piping with
ity having jurisdiction.
non-restrained or partially restrained joints.
4.3 The authority having jurisdiction may specify proce-
NOTE 2—When a tensile stress is applied to a material, it will elongate
dures or requirements for test liquid disposal or erosion
in the direction of the applied stress, and will decrease in dimension at
control.
right angles to the direction of the applied stress. The ratio of decrease to
elongation is the Poisson ratio. Under test pressure, piping materials will
5. Significance and Use
expandslightlyindiameterandcontractinlengthslightlyaccordingtothe
Poisson ratio of the material.
5.1 If required by the authority having jurisdiction, hydro-
static pressure leak testing may be conducted to discover and
6. Apparatus and Equipment for Hydrostatic Procedures
correct leaks or faults in a newly constructed or modified
polyethylene pressure piping system before placing the system 6.1 General—Components such as caps, valves, blind
in service. Leakage or faults usually occur at connections, flanges, manual or automatic air release devices, vents, and
joints, and mechanical seals where sealing under pressure is other devices that are used to isolate the test section from other
required. (Warning—Safety is of paramount importance when parts of the system, to purge air from the system, and to isolate
conducting hydrostatic pressure leak tests because testing
components that are not to be subjected to test pressure are
under pressure may cause sudden violent rupture or failure.) generally needed.
5.2 This practice uses a pressurized liquid to test for leaks. 6.1.1 Test section isolation and closure components are to
It does not verify if a piping material or a piping system design be rated for pressures equal to or greater than the test pressure
is suitable for pressure service. The suitability of a piping applied to the test section.
F2164–02 (2007)
6.1.2 Although section isolation and closure components snubber, and a duplicate, back-up pressure gage are recom-
mayonlybeconnectedtothetestsectionforthedurationofthe mended. A continuous pressure-recording device may be re-
quired.
test, the joint between the test section and a closure or isolation
component should be at least as strong as joints in the test 6.4.1 Locate the test pressure gage or sensor to monitor test
section. Additional restraint may be required.
pressure at the lowest point in the test section. Pressure may be
monitored at other points in the test section as well.
6.1.3 Air release devices should be located at all high points
along the test section.
NOTE 3—Test pressure is a combination of pump pressure and the
6.1.4 Excessivelywornordeterioratedequipmentisunsuit-
height (head) of liquid in the pipeline. Therefore, test pressure is always
able and is not to be used. monitored at the lowest elevation point in the section where pressure is
highest. Test pressure will be lower at higher points in the section. If a
6.2 Test Liquid—An adequate supply of a safe test liquid,
minimum test pressure at higher elevations must also be met, select test
such as water, is necessary. The test liquid should be of
sections so that the minimum test pressure is met at the higher elevation,
appropriate safety and quality so that the environment, system,
but do not increase test pressure at the lowest point. Excessive test
pressure can cause damage or pipeline failure.
test equipment, and disposal (if necessary) are not adversely
affected.
6.5 Other equipment to connect the pump(s) to the test
6.2.1 Where an existing water supply is used to supply test
sectionandthetestliquidsupply,controltheflowoftestliquid,
water, protect the existing water supply from backflow con-
powerthepump(s),connectthepressuregage(s)orsensor(s)to
tamination in accordance with local codes or as required by the
the test section, monitor pressure, and drain or purge the test
authority having jurisdiction. Remove backflow protection and
liquid from the test section may also be necessary.
isolate the test section from the existing water supply before
testing.
7. Specific Safety Precautions
6.2.2 To estimate the quantity of test liquid needed to
7.1 This specific safety information is in addition to the
conduct the test, estimate the quantity of liquid needed to fill
safety information in other sections of this practice.
the test section, then add an appropriate excess quantity to
7.2 Always take precautions to eliminate hazards to persons
account for pipe expansion and the possibility or leakage or
nearlinesbeingtested.Fortheentiredurationoftheprocedure,
retesting. Up to 40 % additional test liquid may be needed to
including filling, initial pressurization, time at test pressure,
account for the possibility of leakage or retesting.
and depressurization, only persons conducting the test or
6.2.3 The quantity of liquid needed to fill the internal
inspecting the system being tested should be allowed near the
volume of the pipe test section may be estimated using:
section under test. These persons should be fully informed of
the hazards of field pressure testing. All other persons should
V 5 0.04 3 ID 3 L (1)
gal in. ft
be kept a safe distance away.
26 2
V 5 0.785 3 10 3 ID 3 L
m mm m
7.3 The test section is to be
...