ASTM F2786-16(2021)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F2786 − 16 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Practice for
Field Leak Testing of Polyethylene (PE) Pressure Piping
Systems Using Gaseous Testing Media Under Pressure
(Pneumatic Leak Testing)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2786; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 1.5 This practice does not address leak testing using pres-
surizedliquids(hydrostatictesting).Forfieldleaktestingusing
1.1 This practice provides information on apparatus, safety,
pressurized liquids, see Practice F2164.
pre-testpreparationandproceduresforconductingfieldtestsof
polyethylene pressure piping systems after installation using
1.6 This practice does not apply to leak testing of non-
gaseous testing media such as unodorized inert non-toxic gas
pressure, negative pressure (vacuum), or non-PE piping sys-
or air, and applying pressure to determine if leaks exist in the
tems.Forfieldacceptancetestingofplasticnon-pressuresewer
system (pneumatic leak testing). This practice applies only to
lines, see Test Method F1417.
testing to discover leakage. Testing for other purposes such as
1.7 This practice does not apply to fuel gas piping systems
testing to establish operating pressure is beyond the scope of
that extend from the point of delivery to the appliance
this practice.
connections. For other than undiluted liquefied petroleum gas
1.2 Leak testing with pressurized gaseous testing media
(LP-Gas) systems, the point of delivery shall be considered to
shall be used only if one or both of the following conditions
be the outlet of the service meter assembly or the outlet of the
exists:
service regulator or service shutoff valve where no meter is
1.2.1 The piping system is so designed that it cannot be
provided. For undiluted LP-Gas, the point of delivery shall be
filled with a liquid, or
considered to be the outlet of the final pressure regulator,
1.2.2 The piping system service cannot tolerate traces of
exclusiveoflinegasregulators,inthesystem.Testingforthese
liquid testing fluid.
systemscanbefoundinNFPA54/ANSIZ223.1.Thispractice
does not apply to LP-Gas systems covered under NFPA 58.
1.3 Where hydrostatic testing is specified in contract docu-
ments or by the authority having jurisdiction, testing using
1.8 This practice is intended for use with polyethylene
pressurizedgaseoustestingmedia(pneumatic)testingshallnot
pressure piping that conveys gaseous media under pressure
besubstitutedwithouttheexpressconsentandauthorizationof
(compressed gas) if the owner or operator or installer of the
the authority having jurisdiction.
line does not have an established leak testing procedure that is
1.4 Some manufacturers prohibit or restrict testing of their acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.
products with pressurized gaseous testing media. Contact
1.9 Warning—Failure during a pressurized gaseous testing
component manufacturers for information. Where the manu-
media leak test can be extremely violent and dangerous
facturer of a test section component prohibits or restricts
because energy that is applied to compress the gaseous testing
testing with pressurized gaseous testing media testing in
media and to pressurize the system will both be suddenly
accordance with this practice shall not be used without the
released.
express consent and authorization of the authority having
jurisdiction and the component manufacturer.
NOTE 2—To illustrate the violent hazard of failure, assumea5Hp
compressorisusedtoraisethetestsectiontotestpressureandthatittakes
NOTE 1—Components that are not suitable for testing with gaseous
1 h to achieve test pressure. If sudden rupture occurs, energy release may
testingfluidmaynotbesuitableforservicewithpressurizedgaseousfluid.
occur in 2 s. Therefore, the horsepower of the energy release would be 5
HP × 1 h × 3600 sec/h / 2 s = 9000 Hp. Further, if diameter is doubled,
energy release is four times greater. For an example test section that is
twice the diameter, energy release would be 36000 Hp.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic
Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.40 on Test
1.10 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be re-
Methods.
garded as standard. The values given in parentheses are
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2021. Published February 2021. Originally
mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for
approved in 2010. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as F2786–16.
DOI:10.1520/F2786–16R21. information only and are not considered standard. Numbered
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2786 − 16 (2021)
notes and information in parentheses in the text of the practice department or individual such as a Fire Chief, Fire Marshall,
are non-mandatory information. Table notes are mandatory chief of a fire prevention bureau, labor department, building
information. official, or others having statutory authority. For insurance
purposes, an insurance inspection department, rating bureau or
1.11 This standard does not purport to address all of the
other insurance company representative may be the "authority
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
havingjurisdiction.Inmanycircumstances,thepropertyowner
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
or his authorized engineer or agent assumes the role of the
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
"authorityhavingjurisdiction";atgovernmentinstallations,the
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
commanding officer or departmental official may be the "au-
Additional safety information is presented in Section 7 and
thority having jurisdiction."
throughout this practice.
1.12 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.2.2 approve, v—Acceptable to or authorized by the au-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
thority having jurisdiction. (approved, approving, approval)
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.2.3 authorizedpersons,n—Personsthatarefullyinformed
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
of the testing procedure and hazards of field pressure testing,
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
and that are qualified to operate the onsite testing equipment,
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
and that are qualified to perform onsite leak detection.
3.2.3.1 Discussion—Authorized persons may be agents or
2. Referenced Documents
representatives or inspectors for the authority having
2.1 ASTM Standards:
jurisdiction, or may be employees of the party conducting the
D1600TerminologyforAbbreviatedTermsRelatingtoPlas-
test. Contract documents may identify responsibilities, but
tics
regardlessofassignedresponsibilities,onlyauthorizedpersons
F412Terminology Relating to Plastic Piping Systems
shallbeallowedinproximityoftestsectionswhentesting(per
F1417Practice for Installation Acceptance of Plastic Non-
Section 9) is underway.
pressure Sewer Lines Using Low-Pressure Air
3.2.4 gaseous testing media, n—anon-toxic,non-flammable
F2164Practice for Field Leak Testing of Polyethylene (PE)
fluid substance that is chemically compatible with piping
and Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Pressure Piping
system components, and at testing temperature, exists in a
Systems Using Hydrostatic Pressure
non-solid, non-liquid state.
2.2 Other Standard:
PPI TR-4PPI Listing of Hydrostatic Design Basis (HDB),
3.2.5 pressure piping system, n—Apiping system where all
Pressure Design Bases (PDB) and Minimum Required
components in the system are pressure rated and intended for
Strength (MRS) Ratings for Thermoplastic Piping Mate-
conveyingafluidundercontinuousinternalpressure.(Seealso
rials
Terminology F412, pressure pipe, and non-pressure pipe.) To
PPI Handbookof Polyethylene Pipe, Second Edition
verify suitability for pressure service, consult the component
2.3 NFPA Standards:
manufacturer.
NFPA 54 / ANSI Z223.1National Fuel Gas Code
3.2.5.1 Discussion—PPI TR-4 provides information about
NFPA 58Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code
stress ratings for some plastic materials and products.
3.2.6 restraint, n—Temporary or permanent structural mea-
3. Terminology
sures or devices that restrict, guide, prevent, or safely limit
3.1 Abbreviations and terms are in accordance with Termi-
disjoining and movement of the piping system and piping
nology D1600 and Terminology F412 unless otherwise indi-
components while the system is under pressure during testing
cated.
or service conditions. Restraint may include backfill, anchors,
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
thrust blocks, external clamps and tie rods (joint restraints),
3.2.1 authority having jurisdiction, n—The organization,
pipe guides, etc.
office or individual responsible for "approving" equipment and
3.2.6.1 Discussion—Restraint means that if violent separa-
installation, or a procedure.
tion or failure occurs during pressurization or testing, any
3.2.1.1 Discussion—The term "authority having jurisdic-
movementofcomponentsorpartsissufficientlyconstrainedor
tion" is used in this practice in a broad manner since jurisdic-
prevented such that damage or injury is prevented.
tions and "approval" agencies vary, as do their responsibilities.
3.2.7 system design pressure, n—The limiting continuous
Where public safety is concerned, the "authority having
internal pressure specified by the piping system designer.
jurisdiction" may be a federal, state, local or other regional
Systemdesignpressuremaybelessthanthepressureratingsof
components in the system. System design pressure may be
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
limited by component pressure ratings, by code or application
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
requirements, or by other restrictions.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
3.2.8 visible leakage, n—The visible escape (bubbles, drip,
Available from Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI), 105 Decker Court, Suite 825,
spray, stream, flow, etc.) of test fluid from the test section
Irving, TX 75062, http://www.plasticpipe.org.
through components, joints, connections, appurtenances and
Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org. the like in the test section. Visibility of gaseous media leakage
F2786 − 16 (2021)
is enhanced by the application of leak detection fluid at joints, 5.5 Poisson-Effect Expansion and Contraction—When test
seals or seams where leakage is likely. pressure is applied to plastic piping systems that have fully
restrained joints such as heat fusion, electrofusion, bolted
4. Summary of Practice flanges, etc., either reduction of overall pipe length or an
increase in longitudinal stress results from diametrical expan-
4.1 The section of the piping system to be tested shall be
sion of the pipe. Disjoining (pull-out) of partially restrained or
isolated from other parts of the system, and shall be restrained
non-restrained connections or joints such as bell-and-spigot
as described in 3.2.6. Components that are not to be subjected
joints having insufficient resistance to pull-out stress or length
to test pressure or that could be damaged by test pressure shall
reduction is possible when partially restrained or unrestrained
beremoved,orshallbeisolatedandventedtoatmosphere.The
joints are in-line with the fully restrained test section. To
test section is filled with the gaseous testing media, raised to
prevent Poisson-effect disjoining of partially restrained or
the test pressure and allowed to stabilize. The system is
non-restrained joints take measures such as installing external
inspected or monitored for leakage, and then test pressure is
joint restraints (diametrical clamps and tie-rods) on in-line
relieved. If repairs or corrections are necessary, they are
partially restrained or non-restrained joints, installing in-line
performed only when the test section is depressurized. If
thrust anchors at the ends of fully restrained piping sections to
necessary, retesting is performed after leak repairs or correc-
prevent end movement of the fully restrained section, or
tions and a relaxation period. At the conclusion of an accept-
isolating a fully restrained test section from piping with
able test (approval), the test section may be placed in service.
unrestrained or partially restrained joints.
Purging or disposal of the gaseous testing media from the test
section may be necessary.
NOTE 3—Atensile stress applied to a material will cause elongation in
the direction of the applied stress, and will cause a decrease in dimension
4.2 Test pressure and test duration are dependent on piping
at right angles to the direction of the applied stress. The ratio of decrease
system volume and piping system temperature. The volume of
to elongation is the Poisson ratio. Under test pressure, piping materials
compressed gaseous testing media available or compressor will expand slightly in diameter and contract in length slightly according
to the Poisson ratio of the material.
capacity will determine the test section length that can be
raised to test pressure within specified test duration and test
6. Apparatus and Equipment
pressure limits. Elevated temperatures anywhere in the test
section especially where test section areas are exposed to
6.1 Isolation and closure components such as caps, valves,
sunlight heating require reduced test pressure.
blind flanges, and other devices that are used to isolate and
close the test section from other parts of the system, and that
4.3 Acceptanceisdeterminedbytheapprovaloftheauthor-
are used to isolate components that are not to be subjected to
ity having jurisdiction.
test pressure from the test section are required.
4.4 If applicable, the authority having jurisdiction specifies
6.1.1 Test section isolation and closure components shall be
procedures or requirements for gaseous testing media disposal
rated for pressures equal to or greater than the test pressure
or containment during depressurizing or purging.
applied to the test section, and shall be restrained against
longitudinal separation (pull out or push off) such that the
5. Significance and Use
polyethylene pipe and the isolation or closure component shall
5.1 If required by the authority having jurisdiction, pressur-
not separate under the pressure forces and loads imposed
ized gaseous testing media leak testing is conducted after
during testing. Excessively worn, deteriorated or damaged
installation to discover and correct or repair leaks or faults in
equipment shall not be used. Equipment that is not capable of
a newly constructed or modified polyethylene pressure piping
proper operation shall not be used.
system before placing the system in service. Leakage or faults
6.1.2 Pipe squeeze-off shall not be used to isolate or
usually occur at connections, joints, and mechanical seals
sectionalize piping for test.
where sealing under pressure is required.
NOTE 4—Squeeze-off cannot always prevent gas flow.
5.2 Safety is of paramount importance when conducting
6.2 Gaseous Testing Media—An adequate supply of non-
pressurized gaseous testing media leak tests because testing
toxic and non-flammable gaseous testing media is required.
results include no leaks, leaks, sudden violent rupture, or
Gases such as natural gas, LP gas, propane, butane, hydrogen
catastrophic failure.
sulfide,andotherflammableortoxicgasesshallnotbeusedas
5.3 Systems that contain lower pressure rated or non-
testing media.
pressure rated components that cannot be isolated or removed
6.3 Leak Detection—Leak detection fluids shall be non-
from exposure to test pressure, or where temporary caps or
toxic and chemically benign to polyethylene piping material
closures are not practical, are not suitable for testing in
and other materials used in connections, joints and seals. Leak
accordance with this practice.
detection fluids shall not be injected into or added to the
5.4 Leakage Allowance—Leakage is not allowed for butt,
gaseous testing media.
socket and saddle fusion joints, electrofusion joints, and
NOTE 5—Leakage usually occurs at a connection, joint, or seal in the
restrained gas-tight mechanical joints. See 7.6. Contact the
system. Depending upon the type of connection, joint, or seal, leakage
joint, connection or component manufacturer for leakage
may be seepage, spray or a stream of gaseous testing media. Leak
correction information if leakage occurs at a joint, connection
detection fluids applied to the connection, joint or seal typically produce
or component having a mechanical seal. See 9.8. bubbles from leakage.
F2786 − 16 (2021)
sensing device error or failure.
6.4 Filling and Pressurizing Equipment—Filling and pres-
surizing equipment such as a compressor or pressurized
6.6 Temperature measuring equipment such as pyrometers
cylinders of gaseous testing media are required. Filling and
or infrared temperature gauges accurate to within 65.4°F
pressurizing equipment shall supply sufficient compressed
(63°C) to measure insitu temperature of exposed pipe in test
gaseous testing media so that test duration limits are not
sections is required for determination of maximum test pres-
exceeded.See8.2.3.Fillingequipmentandpressurizingequip-
sure. Temperature monitoring equipment that has not been
ment shall be the same or separate equipment. All gaseous
calibratedwithintwelve(12)monthspriortouseorisdamaged
testing media shall pass into the test section through a single
or otherwise incapable of proper operation shall not be used.
connection.
6.7 Timing equipment such as clocks, wrist watches, stop-
6.5 Pressure Monitoring and Regulating—Pressure moni-
watches or other devices that display time in hours and
toring and regulating equipment shall display, control and
minutes, the means to record beginning, intermediate and
maintain test pressure for the duration of the procedure, and
ending times and the means to determine the duration of
shall incorporate means to prevent overpressure.
applicable time periods are required. At least two timing
NOTE 6—Excessive test pressure can cause damage or test section devices shall be used. Timing equipment shall be accurate to
failure. One means to prevent overpressure is to install a calibrated
within 5 min in 24 h.
pressure relief valve in the test section that is set to relieve test section
6.8 Other equipment to connect a compressor or pressur-
pressure at a pressure that is not more than 5 psi (34.5 kPa) or 3 percent
above test pressure.
ized cylinders of gaseous testing media to the test section, to
control the flow of gaseous testing media, to power compres-
6.5.1 Use at least two calibrated pressure gauges or sensors
sors and other equipment, to connect pressure regulating and
that are properly s
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