ASTM F2159-23a

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: F2159 − 23 F2159 − 23a An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
Plastic Insert Fittings Utilizing a Copper Crimp Ring, or
Alternate Stainless Steel Clamps for SDR9 Crosslinked
Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing and SDR9 Polyethylene of
Raised Temperature (PE-RT) Tubing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2159; 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 specification establishes requirements for sulfone plastic insert fittings and copper crimp rings, or alternate stainless steel
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clamps for four sizes Nominal Tubing Sizes (NTS) ( ⁄8, ⁄2, ⁄4, and 1) of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing that meet the
requirements for Specification F876 or Specification F3253, or polyethylene of raised temperature (PE-RT) tubing that meet the
requirements of Specification F2623 or Specification F2769. These fittings are intended for use in 100 psi (690 kPa) cold- and
hot-water distribution systems operating at temperatures up to and including 180 °F (82 °C). Included are the requirements for
material, molded part properties, performance, workmanship, dimensions, and markings to be used on the fittings and rings.
1.1.1 When used with PEX tubing in accordance with Specification F876, the fittings covered by this specification are intended
for use in, but not limited to, residential and commercial, hot- and cold-potable water distribution systems, reclaimed water, fire
protection, municipal water service lines, building supply lines, radiant heating and cooling systems, hydronic distribution systems,
snow and ice melting systems, geothermal ground loops, district heating, turf conditioning, compressed air distribution, and
building services pipe.
1.1.2 When used with PEX tubing in accordance with Specification F3253, the fittings covered by this specification are intended
for use in residential and commercial hydronic heating and cooling systems.
1.1.3 When used with PE-RT tubing in accordance with Specification F2769, the fittings covered by this specification are intended
for use in residential and commercial, hot- and cold-potable water distribution systems, and building supply lines.
1.1.4 When used with PE-RT tubing in accordance with Specification F2623, the fittings covered by this specification are intended
for use in general fluid transport, including hydronics and irrigations systems.
1.2 Included are the requirements for material, molded part properties, performance, workmanship, dimensions, and markings to
be used on the fittings and rings.
1.3 The following is an index of the appendix in this specification:
GO/NO-GO Crimp Gauges Appendix X1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.10 on Fittings.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2023March 1, 2023. Published February 2023March 2023. Originally approved 2001. Last previous edition approved in 20212023 as
F2159-21. DOI: 10.1520/F2159-23.-23. DOI: 10.1520/F2159-23A.
*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
F2159 − 23a
1.4 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portions, Sections 11 and 12, of this specification. 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.
1.6 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:
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D1598 Test Method for Time-to-Failure of Plastic Pipe Under Constant Internal Pressure
D1599 Test Method for Resistance to Short-Time Hydraulic Pressure of Plastic Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings
D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plastics
D2122 Test Method for Determining Dimensions of Thermoplastic Pipe and Fittings
D2837 Test Method for Obtaining Hydrostatic Design Basis for Thermoplastic Pipe Materials or Pressure Design Basis for
Thermoplastic Pipe Products
D6394 Classification System for and Basis for Specification for Sulfone Plastics (SP)
F412 Terminology Relating to Plastic Piping Systems
F876 Specification for Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing
F1498 Specification for Taper Pipe Threads 60° for Thermoplastic Pipe and Fittings
F1807 Specification for Metal Insert Fittings Utilizing a Copper Crimp Ring, or Alternate Stainless Steel Clamps, for SDR9
Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing and SDR9 Polyethylene of Raised Temperature (PE-RT) Tubing
F2098 Specification for Stainless Steel Clamps for Securing SDR9 Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing and SDR9
Polyethylene of Raised Temperature (PE-RT) to Metal Insert and Plastic Insert Fittings
F2623 Specification for Polyethylene of Raised Temperature (PE-RT) Systems for Non-Potable Water Applications
F2769 Specification for Polyethylene of Raised Temperature (PE-RT) Plastic Hot and Cold-Water Tubing and Distribution
Systems
F3253 Specification for Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing with Oxygen Barrier for Hot- and Cold-Water Hydronic
Distribution Systems
2.2 ASME Standard:
B 1.20.1 Pipe Threads General Purpose Inch
2.3 NSF International Standard:
ANSI/NSF Standard No. 14 for Plastic Piping Components and Related Materials
ANSI/NSF Standard No. 61 for Drinking Water System Components-Health Effects
2.4 ISO Standards:
ISO 9080 Plastics piping and ducting systems -- Determination of the long-term hydrostatic strength of thermoplastics materials
in pipe form by extrapolation
ISO 12162 Thermoplastics materials for pipes and fittings for pressure applications –Classification, designation and design
coefficient
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Definitions are in accordance with Terminology F412 and abbreviations are in accordance with Terminology
D1600, unless otherwise indicated.
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 the ASTM website.
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Available from NSF International, P.O. Box 130140, 789 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48113-0140, http://www.nsf.org.
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva,
Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
F2159 − 23a
4. Classification
4.1 This specification governs one class of fittings and copper crimp rings or alternate stainless steel clamps suitable for use with
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nominal size ⁄8, ⁄2 , ⁄4 and 1 size PEX tubing that meets the requirements of Specification F876 or Specification F3253 and PE-RT
tubing that meets the requirements of Specification F2623 or Specification F2769.
5. Materials and Manufacture
5.1 Material—Fittings shall be molded from sulfone plastic (SP) as specified in Specification D6394. The material shall be
unreinforced polysulfone (group 01, class 1, grades 1 or 2) or polyphenylsulfone (group 03, class 1, grade 1 or 2) or unreinforced
polyphenylsulfone/polysulfone blends (group 04, Class 1, grade 2) or reworked plastic in accordance with 5.1.1.
NOTE 1—Since fittings specified by this standard will be used in hot-and-cold water plumbing systems, a material used to manufacture fittings in
accordance with this specification must demonstrate qualities consistent with that application in addition to the performance requirements of this
specification. Those qualifying characteristics include, but are not limited to, an established hydrostatic design basis (HDB) in accordance with Test
Method D2837 or ISO 9080/ ISO 12162 minimum required strength (MRS) and a demonstration of resistance to the long-term effects of those chemicals
normally found in potable water at the maximum temperature stated in this specification.
5.1.1 Rework Material—Clean rework material of the same commercial designation, generated from the manufacturer’s own
production may be used by the same manufacturer, provided the fittings meet all of the requirements of this specification.
Reworked material shall not be introduced at a ratio exceeding 25 %.
5.2 Potable Water Requirements—Products intended for the transport of potable water shall be evaluated, tested and certified for
conformance with ANSI/NSF Standard No. 61 or the health effects portion of ANSI/NSF Standard No. 14 by an acceptable
certifying organization when required by the regulatory authority having jurisdiction.
5.3 Crimp Rings—Crimp rings shall be manufactured and marked in accordance with the requirements of Specification F1807.
5.4 Alternate Stainless Steel Clamps—Clamps shall be made from stainless steel in conformance with all requirements of
Specification F2098.
6. Molded Part Properties
6.1 Insert Crush—The fitting insert shall not crack, split, or shatter when tested in accordance with 12.1.
6.2 Splay—The molded part shall be free of visible splay excepting some slight blushing at the gate location.
7. Performance Requirements
7.1 General—All performance tests shall be performed on assemblies of fittings, crimp rings, or alternate stainless steel clamps,
and PEX tubing or PE-RT tubing, or both. Fittings and crimp rings shall meet the material and dimensional requirements of this
standard. PEX tubing shall meet the requirements of Specification F876 or Specification F3253. PE-RT tubing shall meet the
requirements of Specification F2623 or Specification F2769. Assembly of test specimens shall be in accordance with Section 10.
Use separate sets of assemblies for each performance test requirement.
7.2 Hydrostatic Burst—Assemblies shall meet the minimum hydrostatic burst requirements shown in Table 1, when tested in
accordance with 11.5.
7.3 Hydrostatic Sustained Pressure Strength—Assemblies shall meet the hydrostatic sustained pressure requirements shown in
Table 2 when tested in accordance with 11.6.
7.4 Thermocycling—Assemblies shall not leak or separate when thermocycled 1000 cycles between the temperatures of 60 °F
(16 °C) and 180 °F (82 °C) when tested in accordance with 11.7.
7.5 Excessive Temperature-Pressure Capability:
F2159 − 23a
TABLE 1 Minimum Hydrostatic Burst Strength Requirements for
Fitting, Crimp Ring, or Alternate Stainless Steel Clamps, and PEX
Tubing or PE-RT Tubing Assemblies
Nominal Minimum Burst Pressures at
Tubing Size Different Temperatures
A A
(kPa) at (kPa) at
psig at psig at
in.
73.4 °F (23 °C) 180 °F (82.2 °C)
⁄8 620 (4275) 275 (1896)
⁄2 480 (3309) 215 (1482)
⁄4 and 475 (3275) 210 (1448)
larger
A
The fiber stress to derive this test pressure is: at 73.4 °F (23.0 °C) 1900 psi
(13.10 MPa) at 180 °F (82.2 °C) 850 psi (5.86 MPa).
TABLE 2 Minimum Hydrostatic Sustained Pressure Requirements
for Fitting, Crimp Ring, or Alternate Stainless Steel Clamps, and
A,B
PEX or PE-RT Tubing Assemblies
Nominal
Pressure Required for Test, psig (kPa)
Tubing Size
in. 180 °F (82.2 °C)
⁄8 250 (1724)
⁄2 195 (1344)
⁄4 and larger 190 (1310)
A
The fiber stress to derive this test pressure is: 770 psi (5.31 MPa) at 180 ° F
(82.2 °C).
B
Test duration is 1000 h.
7.5.1 General—Assemblies shall have adequate strength to accommodate short-term conditions, 30 days (720 h) of 210 ° F
(99 °C) and 150 psi (1034 kPa) when tested in accordance with 11.8.
8. Dimensions
8.1 Dimensions and Tolerances—The dimensions and tolerances of fittings shall be as shown in Fig. 1, when measured in
accordance with 11.4. When used, alternate stainless steel clamps shall conform to the dimensional specifications of F2098.
8.1.1 Alignment—The maximum angular variation of any opening shall not exceed 1° off the true centerline axis.
8.1.2 Tapered Threads—Fitting threads shall be American National Standard Taper Pipe Thread Form conforming to Specification
F1498.
8.1.3 Straight Threads—Straight pipe threads, intended for the making of a gasketed seal with taper pipe threads, shall be NPSM
and conform to ASME B 1.20.1.
9. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
9.1 The sealing surfaces of the insert shall be smooth and free of foreign material. The fitting walls shall be free of cracks, holes,
blisters, voids, foreign inclusions, or other defects that are visible to the unaided eye and that affect the wall integrity.
9.2 Except for the insert, the molded part shall be free of flash in excess of 0.005 in. Flash, mismatch, and witness mark
requirements for the insert shall be in accordance with Fig. 1.
10. Assembly
10.1 Crimp Joints—Insert fittings shall be joined to PEX tubing or PE-RT tubing by the compression of a copper crimp ring around
the outer circumference of the tubing forcing the tubing material into annular spaces formed by ribs on the fitting. Insert fittings
and crimp rings shall meet the dimensional and material requirements of this standard. PEX tubing shall meet the requirements
of Specification F876 or Specification F3253. PE-RT tubing shall meet the requirements of Specification F2623 or Specification
F2769. The dimensions and out-of-roundness of the crimp ring after it has been crimped shall be in accordance with Table 3.
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