ASTM International Committee F17 on Plastic Piping Systems is currently developing an efficient means to standardize fabricated polyvinyl chloride pressure fittings that are used in a variety of piping applications. The proposed new standard, WK23931, Specification for Fabricated PVC Pressure Fittings, is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee F17.10 on Fittings.
Some of the applications that use fabricated PVC pressure fittings include the following:
- Buried water systems,
- Buried and above-ground irrigation systems,
- Process piping in industrial applications,
- Plumbing applications, and
- Vacuum and force-main sewer systems.
“In these applications, ordering the pipe is quite simple: call out the standard, the diameter, the pressure rating and the job of placing an order is done,” says Craig Fisher, vice president, technical and municipal services, S&B Technical Products, and an F17 member. “With fittings, this level of standardization has not yet been achieved in the United States for fabricated PVC pressure fittings. If a consensus standard is developed, all the parties in the supply chain will be able to speak a common language when it comes to calling out the fitting that is needed for the job.”
Consulting and municipal engineers, contractors, distributors and plumbers are all potential users of WK23931, according to Fisher.
Fisher notes that anyone involved in applications involving fabricated PVC pressure fittings is invited to join in the development of WK23931.
“Experienced end-users would be on the top of my list,” says Fisher. “They know firsthand how difficult it is to specify a particular product when no standard exists.” Fisher feels that end users would be particularly helpful in being able to tell the task group what a fitting needs to be capable of to perform in the end user’s piping system.
In addition, Fisher says, the task group would appreciate the assistance of anyone who fabricates large diameter plastic fittings. “Pipe is typically a highly automated process that produces extremely large volumes of product. Fabricated fittings, on the other hand, tend to be more customized and are more labor intensive. An appreciation of the differences in manufacturing processes is a critical starting point.”
For technical Information, contact Craig Fisher, S&B Technical Products, Fort Worth, Texas (phone: 817-921-8227; cfisher@sbtechprod.com). Committee F17 meets Nov. 9-12 during November committee week in Atlanta, Ga.
ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. ASTM’s open consensus process, using advanced Internet-based standards development tools, ensures worldwide access for all interested individuals. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, please contact Robert Morgan, ASTM International (phone: 610-832-9732; rmorgan@astm.org).
Release #8268/June2009
