ASTM F1417-92(2005)

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An American National Standard
Designation: F1417 – 92 (Reapproved 2005)
Standard Test Method for
Installation Acceptance of Plastic Gravity Sewer Lines Using
Low-Pressure Air
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1417; 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 D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to
Plastics
1.1 This test method provides procedures for testing plastic
D2122 Test Method for Determining Dimensions of Ther-
pipe sewer lines, using low-pressure air to prove the integrity
moplastic Pipe and Fittings
of the installed material and the construction procedures. Two
D3567 Practice for Determining Dimensions of “Fiber-
procedures are included to find the rate of air leakage—the
glass” (Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Thermosetting Resin) Pipe
constant-pressure method and the time-pressure drop method.
and Fittings
1.2 This test method shall be performed on lines after all
F412 Terminology Relating to Plastic Piping Systems
connections and service laterals have been plugged and braced
2.2 Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association Standard:
adequately to withstand the test pressure. The time between
UNI-B-6-90 Recommended Practice for Low-Pressure Air
completion of the backfill operation and low-pressure air
Testing of Installed Sewer Pipe
testing may be specified by the approving authority.
1.3 This test method also may be used as a preliminary test,
3. Summary of Test Method
which enables the installer to show the condition of a buried
3.1 Thesectionofthelinetobetestedisplugged.Air,atlow
line prior to final backfill, paving, and other construction
pressure, is introduced into the plugged line. The line passes
activities.
the test if the rate of air loss, as measured by pressure drop,
1.4 This test method is applicable to all gravity sewer lines
does not exceed a specified amount in a specified time.
made of thermoplastic pipe, reinforced thermosetting resin
Pressure drop may be determined by using Table 1 or Table 2,
(RTRP) pipe, and reinforced plastic mortar (RPM) pipe,
or calculated by use of the formulas in 9.1.
defined in Terminology D883, D1600, and F412.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4. Significance and Use
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.1 This low-pressure air test detects damaged piping or
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
improper jointing by measuring the rate at which air under
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
pressure escapes from an isolated section of sewer.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
4.2 The rate of air loss will indicate the presence or absence
precautionary statements, see Section 5.
of damaged piping or leaking joints. This test method is not
intended to show total system water leakage limits and cannot
2. Referenced Documents
2 be used as a quantitative measure of leakage under service
2.1 ASTM Standards:
conditions for infiltration or exfiltration.
C828 Test Method for Low-Pressure Air Test of Vitrified
Clay Pipe Lines
NOTE 1—A finding of acceptable air loss specified in this test method
C924 Practice for Testing Concrete Pipe Sewer Lines by can be interpreted as an installation acceptance test in lieu of infiltration
or exfiltration test.
Low-Pressure Air Test Method
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
4.3 This test method will ensure the best possible initial
condition and quality workmanship of all property-installed
sewer pipe.
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F-17 on Plastic
Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.62 on Sewer.
5. Apparatus
Current edition approved Mar. 1, 2005. Published March 2005. Originally
approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as F1417–92 (1998).
5.1 Plugs—Mechanical or pneumatic type.
DOI: 10.1520/F1417-92R05.
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 Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association, Suite 155, 2655 Villa Creek
the ASTM website. Drive, Dallas, TX 75234.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1417 – 92 (2005)
TABLE 1 Minimum Specified Time Required for a 1.0 psig Pressure Drop for Size and Length of Pipe Indicated forQ = 0.0015
NOTE 1—See Practice UNI-B-6-90.
NOTE 2—Consult with pipe and appurtenance manufacturer for maximum test pressure for pipe size greater than 30 in. in diameter.
Length Specification Time for Length (L) Shown, min:s
Pipe Minimum Time for
for
Diameter, Time, Longer
Minimum
100 ft 150 ft 200 ft 250 ft 300 ft 350 ft 400 ft 450 ft
in. min:s Length, s
Time, ft
4 3:46 597 0.380 L 3:46 3:46 3:46 3:46 3:46 3:46 3:46 3:46
6 5:40 398 0.854 L 5:40 5:40 5:40 5:40 5:40 5:40 5:42 6:24
8 7:34 298 1.520 L 7:34 7:34 7:34 7:34 7:36 8:52 10:08 11:24
10 9:26 239 2.374 L 9:26 9:26 9:26 9:53 11:52 13:51 15:49 17:48
12 11:20 199 3.418 L 11:20 11:20 11:24 14:15 17:05 19:56 22:47 25:38
15 14:10 159 5.342 L 14:10 14:10 17:48 22:15 26:42 31:09 35:36 40:04
18 17:00 133 7.692 L 17:00 19:13 25:38 32:03 38:27 44:52 51:16 57:41
21 19:50 114 10.470 L 19:50 26:10 34:54 43:37 52:21 61:00 69:48 78:31
24 22:40 99 13.674 L 22:47 34:11 45:34 56:58 68:22 79:46 91:10 102:33
27 25:30 88 17.306 L 28:51 43:16 57:41 72:07 86:32 100:57 115:22 129:48
30 28:20 80 21.366 L 35:37 53:25 71:13 89:02 106:50 124:38 142:26 160:15
33 31:10 72 25.852 L 43:05 64:38 86:10 107:43 129:16 150:43 172:21 193:53
36 34:00 66 30.768 L 51:17 76:55 102:34 128:12 153:50 179:29 205:07 230:46
TABLE 2 Minimum Specified Time Required for a 0.5 psig Pressure Drop for Size and Length of Pipe Indicated forQ = 0.0015
NOTE 1—Consult with pipe and appurtenance manufacturer for maximum test pressure for pipe size greater than 30 in. in diameter.
Length Specification Time for Length (L) Shown, min:s
Pipe Minimum Time for
for
Diameter, Time, Longer
Minimum
100 ft 150 ft 200 ft 250 ft 300 ft 350 ft 400 ft 450 ft
in. min:s Length, s
Time, ft
4 1:53 597 0.190 L 1:53 1:53 1:53 1:53 1:53 1:53 1:53 1:53
6 2:50 398 0.427 L 2:50 2:50 2:50 2:50 2:50 2:50 2:51 3:12
8 3:47 298 0.760 L 3:47 3:47 3:47 3:47 3:48 4:26 5:04 5:42
10 4:43 239 1.187 L 4:43 4:43 4:43 4:57 5:56 6:55 7:54 8:54
12 5:40 199 1.709 L 5:40 5:40 5:42 7:08 8:33 9:58 11:24 12:50
15 7:05 159 2.671 L 7:05 7:05 8:54 11:08 13:21 15:35 17:48 20:02
18 8:30 133 3.846 L 8:30 9:37 12:49 16:01 19:14 22:26 25:38 28:51
21 9:55 114 5.235 L 9:55 13:05 17:27 21:49 26:11 30:32 34:54 39:16
24 11:20 99 6.837 L 11:24 17:57 22:48 28:30 34:11 39:53 45:35 51:17
27 12:45 88 8.653 L 14:25 21:38 28:51 36:04 43:16 50:30 57:42 64:54
30 14:10 80 10.683 L 17:48 26:43 35:37 44:31 53:25 62:19 71:13 80:07
33 15:35 72 12.926 L 21:33 32:19 43:56 53:52 64:38 75:24 86:10 96:57
36 17:00 66 15.384 L 25:39 38:28 51:17 64:06 76:55 89:44 102:34 115:23
5.2 Air Compressor—A properly calibrated portable, oil- 6.1.2 Install and restrain all caps and plugs securely.
free air source with a singular control panel containing a main
6.1.3 When lines are tested, it is mandatory that all the caps
shut-off valve, pressure-regulating valve, 9 psig pressure-relief
and plugs be braced as an added safety factor.
valve, input pressure gage, and a continuous monitoring
6.1.4 Do not overpressurize the lines. Do not exceed 9.0
pressure gage having a pressure range from 0 psi to at least 10
psig.
psi with minimum divisions of 0.10 psi and an accuracy of 6
NOTE 2—The axial force on a plug at 4 psig internal pressure isF=P
0.04 psi.
p D /4 lb, where D is the inside diameter in inches. Thus, the axial force
5.3 Rotameter, standard CFM reading with an accuracy of
on an 8-in. plug at the start of a properly-conducted test is over 200 lb.
62%.
Restraint systems must be designed to handle these forces with adequate
safety factors. Every effort should be made to maintain backfill over the
6. Safety Precautions
pipe during air testing.
6.1 This low-pressure air test may be dangerous to person-
6.1.5 Aregulatororreliefvalvesetnohigherthan9psishall
nel if, through lack of understanding or carelessness, a line is
be included on all pressurizing equipment.
overpressurized or plugs/caps are installed or restrained im-
properly. It is extremely important that the various plugs be
7. Preparation of the Line
properly installed to prevent the sudden expulsion of a poorly
installed or partially inflated plug. Observe the following 7.1 Clean the section of sewer line to be tested by flushing
minimum safety precautions: or other means prior to conducting the low-pressure air test.
6.1.1 No one shall be allowed in the manholes during This cleaning serves to eliminate debris and produce the most
testing. consistent results.
F1417 – 92 (2005)
8. Procedures 8.3 Upon completion of the test, open the bleeder valve and
allowallairtoescape.Plugsshouldnotberemoveduntilallair
8.1 Isolatethesectionofsewerlinetobetestedbyinflatable
pressure in the test section has been reduced to atmospheric
stoppers or other suitable test plugs.
pressure.
8.1.1 Plug or cap the ends of all branches, laterals, tees,
wyes,andstubstobeincludedinthetesttopreventairleakage.
9. Test Time Calculations
All plugs and caps shall be securely braced to prevent
blow-out. One of the plugs or caps should have an inlet tap, or 9.1 Test Time Criteria—No test section shall be accepted if
air loss is more than a specified leakage rate (in cubic feet per
other provision for connecting a hose to a portable air control
source. minute per square foot) determined by the approving authority.
9.2 Calculate all test times by the following formula:
8.1.2 Connect the air hose to the inlet tap and portable air
control source. The air equipment shall consist of necessary
T 5 0.085DK/Q
valves and pressure gages to control an oil-free air source and
where:
the rate at which air flows into the test section to enable
T = shortest time allowed for the air pressure to drop 1.0
monitoring of the air pressure within the test section.
psig, s,
8.1.3 Add air slowly to the test section until the pressure
K = 0.000419 DL but not less than 1.0,
inside the pipe reaches 4.0 psig.
Q = leak rate in cubic feet/minute/square feet of internal
8.1.4 After the pressure of 4.0 psig is obtained, regulate the
surface = 0.0015 CFM/SF,
air supply so that the pressure is maintained between 3.5 to 4.0
D = measured average inside diameter of sewer pipe (see
psig for at least 2 min depending on air/ground temperature
Test Method D2122 and Practice D3567), in., and
conditions. The air temperature should stabilize in equilibrium
L = length of test section, ft.
with the temperature of the pipe walls. The pressure will
Table 1 contains the specified minimum times required for a
normally drop slightly until equilibrium is obtained; however,
1.00 psig pressure drop from a starting pressure of 3.5 psig to
a minimum of 3.5 psig is required.
a final pressure of 2.5 psig using a leakage rate of 0.0015
8.2 Determine the rate of air loss by either the constant 3 2
ft /min/ft of internal surface.
pressure method or the time-pressure drop method.
9.3 The total leakage from any test section shall not exceed
625Q.
NOTE 3—Alltestpressuresaremeasuredasgagepressure,whichisany
pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. Since water produces a 9.4 Ifthepressuredrops1.0psigbeforetheappropriatetime
pressure of 0.43 psi for every foot of depth, air test pressures must be
shown in Table 1 has elapsed, the air loss rate shall be
increased to offset the depth of ground water over the sewer line. If the
considered excessive and the section of pipe has failed the test.
groundwaterlevelis2ftormoreabovethetopofthepipeattheupstream
If the line fails the test, segmented testing may be utilized
end, or if the air pressure required for the test is greater than 9-psi gage,
solely to find the location of leaks. Once leaks are located and
the air test method should not be used. Before the air test method is used,
repaired, retest the completed pipe installation to requirements
the ground water level should be lowered by pumping or dewatering.
of this test method.
8.2.1 Constant Pressure Method—Add air until the internal
9.5 For testing of long sections or sections of larger diam-
air pressure of the sewer line is raised to 4.0 psig and the test
eter pipes, or both, a timed-pressure drop of 0.5 psig shall be
pipe section is stabilized as in 8.1. Release the pressure to 3.5
used in lieu of a 1.0 psig timed-pressure drop. If a 0.5 psig
psig to run the constant pressure test. The air-flow rate in
pressure drop is used, the appropriate required test time shall
standard cubic feet per minute is read directly by a rotameter.
be exactly one-half the values shown in Table 1. (See Table 2.)
Convert this air-flow rate to actual cubic feet per minute of air
NOTE 5—It is not necessary to hold the test for the entire period of time
leakingfromthetestsectionbyusingtheabsolutepressureand
in Table 1 or Table 2 when it is evident that the rate of air loss is zero or
temperature in the test section. The requirements for air loss
less than the allowable, and is authorized by the approving authority.
under the constant pressure method shall be considered satis-
fied if the air loss does not exceed the specified leakage rate in
9.6 If lateral or service lines are included in the test, their
cubic feet per minute per square foot of internal pipe surface
length may be ignored for computing required test time if the
area. test time requirements are met. The maximum permissible air
8.2.2 Time-Pressure Drop Method—Air is slowly intro- loss should not exceed 625Q. If the test section fails, time shall
be recomputed to include all the lateral lengths using the
duced into the section of pipe to be tested, until the air pressure
is raised to approximately 4.0 psi and the test pipe section is following formula:
stabilized as in 8.1. Disconnect the air supply and decrease the 2 2 2
D L 1D L 1. 1D L K
1 1 2 2 n n
pressure to 3.5 psi before starting the test. Determine the time T 5 0.085F G
D L 1D L 1. 1D L Q
1 1 2 2 n n
required for the pressure to drop from 3.5 psi to 2.5 psi, and
compare this interval to the required time to decide if the rate
where:
of air loss is within the allowable. Minimum holding times
T = shortest time allowed for the air pressure to
required by pipe diameter
...