ASTM_F_1734_-_03_2009.pdf

Designation:F173403(Reapproved 2009)Standard Practice forQualification of a Combination of Squeeze Tool,Pipe,andSqueeze-Off Procedures to Avoid Long-Term Damage inPolyethylene(PE)Gas Pipe1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1734;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This practice covers qualifying a combination of asqueeze tool,a polyethylene gas pipe,and a squeeze-offprocedure to avoid long-term damage in polyethylene gas pipe.Qualifying is conducted by examining the inside and outsidesurfaces of pipe specimens at and near the squeeze to deter-mine the existence of features indicative of long-term damage.If indicative features are absent,sustained pressure testing inaccordance with Specification D2513 is conducted to confirmthe viability of the squeeze-off process.For assistance withspecimen examination,an Adjunct,ADJF17342,is availablefrom ASTM.1.2 This practice is appropriate for any combination ofsqueeze tool,PE gas pipe and squeeze-off procedure,and isparticularly appropriate for pre-1975 Polyethylene(PE)pipe,and for pipe sizes of 8 in.or above,because of a greaterpossibility of long-term damage.1.3 This practice is for use by squeeze-tool manufacturers,pipe manufacturers and gas utilities to qualify squeeze toolsmade in accordance with Specification F1563;and squeeze-offprocedures in accordance with Guide F1041 with pipe manu-factured in accordance with Specification D2513.1.4 Governing codes and project specifications should beconsulted.Nothing in this practice should be construed asrecommending practices or systems at variance with governingcodes and project specifications.1.5 Where applicable in this guide,“pipe”shall mean“pipeand tubing.”1.6 UnitsThe values stated in inch-pound units are to beregarded as standard.The values given in parentheses aremathematical conversions to SI units that are provided forinformation only and are not considered standard.1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:3D2513 Specification for Polyethylene(PE)Gas PressurePipe,Tubing,and FittingsD3350 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and Fit-tings MaterialsF1041 Guide for Squeeze-Off of Polyolefin Gas PressurePipe and TubingF1563 Specification for Tools to Squeeze-off Polyethylene(PE)Gas Pipe or Tubing2.2 ASTM Adjuncts:Interpretation Aid for Squeeze-Off Damage23.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 squeeze-off,na technique used to temporarily con-trol the flow of gas in a polyethylene gas pipe by flattening thepipe with a mechanical or hydraulic device.3.1.2squeeze process,nthe combination of the squeezetool,the pipe being squeezed,and the squeeze-off procedurebeing used.3.1.3 wall compression(WC),nthe percentage extent towhich the pipe walls are compressed when the pipe issqueezed.(See Fig.1.)It is defined as:WC,%5S1 2L2tD3100(1)1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F17 on PlasticPiping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.60 on Gas.Current edition approved Aug.1,2009.Published September 2009.Originallyapproved in 1996.Last previous edition approved in 2003 as F1734 03.DOI:10.1520/F1734-03R09.2Available from ASTM International Headquarters.Order Adjunct No.ADJF1734.Original adjunct produced in 1995.3For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 where:L=distance between the squeeze tool bars as shown in Fig.1,andt=uncompressed pipe wall thickness,expressed in thesame units as L.3.1.3.1 DiscussionWhen the distance between the squeezetool bars is greater than twice the wall thickness,the pipe wallsare not compressed,which yields a negative value for the wallcompression percentage.The value becomes positive when theL value is less than the 2t value.Typical squeeze tool stops areset for 30%or less wall compression based on maximum wallthickness(a distance that is 70%of twice maximum wallthickness when the squeeze tool is closed to the stops).Maximum wall thickness is the minimum wall thickness plusthe wall thickness tolerance.4.Summary of Practice4.1 Pipe of the size and material of interest is cut intospecimens at least 1 ft long or 3 diameters long whichever isgreater,and attached to a supply of pressurized gas.Withpressurized ga