255.283 Plastic pipe: qualifying joining procedures.

Before any written procedure established under section 255.273(b) of this Part is used for making plastic pipe joints by a heat fusion, solvent cement, or adhesive method, the procedure must be qualified by subjecting specimen joints that are made according to the procedure, to the following tests, as applicable:#

(1)The test requirements of:#

(i)in the case of thermoplastic pipe, the Sustained Pressure Test or the Minimum Hydrostatic Burst Pressure per the listed specification requirements. Additionally, for electrofusion joints, based on the pipe material, the Tensile Strength Test or the Joint Integrity Test per the listed specification;#

(ii)in the case of thermosetting plastic pipe, paragraph 8.5 (Minimum Hydrostatic Burst Pressure) or paragraph 8.9 (Sustained Static Pressure Test) of ASTM Specification D2517 (as described in section 10.3 of this Title);#

(iii)in the case of electrofusion fittings for polyethylene (PE) pipe and tubing, paragraph 9.1 (Minimum Hydraulic Burst Pressure Test), paragraph 9.2 (Sustained Pressure Test), paragraph 9.3 (Tensile Strength Test), or paragraph 9.4 (Joint Integrity Tests) of ASTM F1055 (as described in section 10.3 of this Title).#

(2)For procedures intended for lateral pipe connections, subject a specimen joint made by pipe sections joined at right angles according to the procedure to a force on the lateral pipe until failure occurs in the specimen. If failure initiates outside the joint area, the procedure qualifies for use.#

(3)For procedures intended for non-lateral pipe connections, perform testing in accordance with a listed specification. If the specimen elongates no more than 25 percent or failure initiates outside the joint area, the procedure qualifies for use.#

(b)Before any written procedure established under section 255.273(b) of this Part is used for making mechanical plastic pipe joints the procedure must be qualified in accordance with a listed specification based upon a pipe material.#

(c)A copy of each written procedure being used for joining plastic pipe must be available to the persons making and inspecting joints.#