Pipeline Safety Interpretation PI-95-007

Page 1OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY REGULATION INTERPRETATION March 6, 1995 Date of Issue: 49 CFR Section(s): 192.283(a) Subject: Heat fusion joining procedures I am replying to your letter of January 9, 1995, concerning heat fusion joining procedures that have been qualified for use on pipe made by a particular manufacturer from an ASTM classified material with a certain melting index. You asked if these procedures may be used without further qualification on similar pipe of other manufacturers. According to your letter, the Maryland Public Service Commission has advised you that joining procedures must be separately qualified for each manufacturer. Under 192.283(a), heat fusion joining procedures must be qualified by performing certain physical tests on pipe specimens. Because these tests are based on particular pipe characteristics, a qualified procedure may be used only to join pipe that has those same characteristics. As your letter indicates, the characteristics of similar pipe may vary somewhat from manufacturer to manufacturer. In these circumstances, a single joining procedure may be used to join similar pipe of different manufacturers, but the procedure must be qualified by testing samples of each manufacturer's pipe. Sincerely, Cesar De Leon Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety#