{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-95-001","title":"Memo: Internal — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1995-01-13","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-95-001 response to Memo: Internal concerning 192.273, 192.283.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-95-001.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-95-001.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-95-001","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1995/PI95001.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nMemorandum\nDate: Jan 13, 1995\nSubject: INFORMATION: Sidewall fusion joints\nFrom: Cesar De Leon, DPS-2\nTo: Richard Sanders, DTI-60\nThis responds to your memo of December 12, 1994, concerning the plastic pipe safety\nregulations in 49 CFR 192.283 and 192.285. You suggested we amend these regulations\nto require the use of a joining device in making a sidewall fusion joint. You are worried\nthat sidewall fusion joints made by hand without a device to provide the proper pressure\nand set time will fail in the future.\nWe already have several regulations that provide for the safety of sidewall fusion joint:\nUnder § 192.273, sidewall fusion joints must be designed and installed to sustain\nanticipated longitudinal pullout or thrust forces, must be made in accordance with written\nprocedures that have been proven by test or experience to produce strong gas tight joints,\nand must be inspected to insure compliance with applicable Part 192 joining requirements.\nSection 192.281(a) provides that sidewall fusion joints may not be disturbed until properly\nset. Procedures for making sidewall fusion joints must be qualified by physical testing\nunder § 192.283(a). And, under § 192.285, persons who make sidewall fusion joints must\nbe qualified by training or experience in use of the joining procedure and by visual and\nphysical testing of a sample sidewall fusion joint.\nAlthough we share your concern that operators should use proper joining techniques for\nsidewall fusion joints, we believe the existing regulations are adequate to assure that\nproper techniques are used. Under those regulations, adequate joining procedures for\nhand held sidewall fusion joints would have to provide the hold time and pressure that\nhave been proven necessary to make sound joints. Those procedures also would have to\nprovide a way for the person making the joint to know that the correct pressure is being\napplied.\nIf a hand sidewall fusion joint is not held in place long enough and with enough pressure\nto set properly, the resulting joint would be an infraction of the joining procedures as well\nas §§ 192.273 and 192.281(a).\n#\ndal 192.273\n95-01-13","truncated":false,"body_characters":2147}