ASTM F1804-97

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An American National Standard
Designation: F 1804 – 97
Standard Practice for
Determining Allowable Tensile Load for Polyethylene (PE)
Gas Pipe During Pull-In Installation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1804; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D 2513 Specification for Thermoplastic Gas Pressure Pipe,
Tubing and Fittings
1.1 This practice provides a means to determine an allow-
F 412 Terminology Relating to Plastic Piping Systems
able tensile load (ATL) value for a polyethylene gas pipe that
is to be installed underground using methods that pull the pipe
3. Terminology
into a trench (cut or plowed), bore hole, casing pipe, or the like.
3.1 Unless otherwise indicated, abbreviations are in accor-
1.2 The ATL is used to set the break-away strength for a
dance with Terminology D 1600, and terms are in accordance
“weak-link” device, or as a limit setting for other devices that
with Terminology F 412.
control the maximum pulling force exerted by equipment used
3.2 allowable tensile load (ATL), n—The maximum tensile
to pull polyethylene gas pipe into an underground location. A
load applied to a polyethylene gas pipe during pull-in instal-
weak-link device is installed where the pipe pulling equipment
lation that does not result in an unrecoverable tensile elonga-
is connected to the polyethylene gas pipe. If pulling load
tion of the pipe.
exceeds the ATL limit, the device de-couples the pipe from the
pulling equipment. Other measures or equipment that limit the
NOTE 1—Polyethylene gas pipe materials are visco-elastic, that is, they
pulling force on the pipe are also used. exhibit properties associated with both elastic materials such as rubber,
and viscous materials such as wax or clay. When subjected to a tensile
1.3 This practice does not address weak-link device design
load that is significant, but less than the yield strength, polyethylene will
or requirements, nor does it address the design or requirements
elongate or stretch. If the load is then removed, polyethylene will, over
for other equipment or procedures used to limit the pulling
time, recover all or part of the elongation, depending upon the magnitude
force applied to polyethylene gas pipe during pull-in installa-
of the load, and the length of time the load was applied. For the purposes
tion.
of this practice, elongation that is not completely recovered in about 24 h
1.4 This practice does not address installation methods or
after the load is released, is considered unrecoverable.
procedures employed for pull-in of polyethylene gas pipe.
4. Significance and Use
1.5 Throughout this practice, inch-pound units shall be
regarded as standard with SI units in parentheses for informa- 4.1 The ATL value is used to set the break-away strength of
tional purposes. a weak-link device, or to set other equipment used to limit
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the pulling force during pull-in installation of polyethylene gas
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the pipe.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4.2 The ATL value is determined before gas pipe installa-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- tion.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Procedure
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 The following information about the polyethylene gas
2.1 ASTM Standards: pipe is required: size (outside diameter), dimension ratio,
D 638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics material tensile yield strength, the approximate temperature of
D 1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to the pipe at the time of installation, and the approximate time
Plastics under tension during installation.
5.1.1 Pipe size, dimension ratio, and material shall be in
accordance
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