Installation Standard
For
POLYETHYLENE (PE) FOR GAS YARD PIPING
IAPMO IS 12-2006
Note:
SCOPE
This standard shall govern the installation
of polyethylene (PE) natural and liquified
petroleum gas yard piping. Installation,
material and inspection shall comply with
the current edition of the Uniform
Plumbing Code [UPC]TM published by the
International Association of Plumbing and
Mechanical Officials and shall also
comply with this standard.
The following sections of the Uniform
Plumbing Code apply to PE gas piping:
Definition of PE
Workmanship
Protection of Piping, Materials,
and Structures
314.0
Hangers and Supports
315.0
Trenching, Excavation, and
Backfill
316.2.3
Plastic Pipe to Other Materials
Chapter 12 Fuel Piping
1204.3.2
Final Piping Inspection
1211.0
Gas Piping Installation
1211.1.7
Tracer Wire
1213.0
Liquified Petroleum Gas
Facilities and Piping
Table 14-1 Materials:
Pipe and Tube:
PE3408
PE2406
ASTM D 2513
Fittings:
Copper Alloy ANSI B16.26
PE3408
PE2406
ASTM D 2513
Plastic Mechanical
ASTM F 1924
Metallic Mechanical
ASTM F 1948
PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS
2.1
Minimum Standards
2.1.1
Materials. Pipe, tubing and fittings shall
conform to the appropriate standards in
Table 14-1 of the Uniform Plumbing Code.
See note ahead of Chapter 2 of this standard. [UPC 301.1]
2.2
Pipe. PE pipe is plastic of 1/2 inch (12.7
mm) or larger size. One-half inch (12.7
mm) pipe shall be SDR 9. Pipe sizes less
than 3 inches (76 mm) shall be SDR 11.
Pipes 3 inches (76 mm) and larger shall be
SDR 11.5 or lower*.
2.13
Tubing. PE tubing is plastic and shall be
limited to the following:
Tubing Size
Inches
(mm)
SDR*
1/4
(6.4)
6
3/8
(9.5)
8
1/2
(12.7)
7
*Note: The lower the SDR number, the
thicker the wall.
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218.0
310.0
313.0
2.0
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1.0
1.1
ABBREVIATIONS
ANSI
ASTM
IAPMO
UPC
American National Standards
Institute
American Society for Testing
and Materials
International Association of
Plumbing and Mechanical
Officials
Uniform Plumbing Code
published by IAPMO
2.1.4
Fittings. Heat fusion fittings shall be PE
2406, PE 3408, or other listed materials.
Mechanical connectors for PE pipe and
tubing and for transition fittings shall be
approved compression type couplings or
other special listed joints.
2.2
2.2.1
Markings
Pipe and Tubing. Pipe and tubing markings shall be in accordance with ASTM
D2513. [UPC 301.1.2]
Fittings. Fitting markings shall be in
accordance with ASTM D1924, ASTM
D1948, ASTM D2513 or ASME B16.26.
[UPC 301.1.2]
Position of Markings. The identifying
markings on pipe, tubing and fittings
shall be visible for inspection without
moving materials.
2.2.2
2.2.3
2.3
2.3.1
Protection of Piping
Storage. Unprotected pipe should not be
stored in direct sunlight. The pipe shall
be stored in a way to protect it from
mechanical damage (slitting, puncturing,
etc.). Exposure to sunlight during normal
construction periods is not harmful.
381
IS 12
2.4.2
shall be made with listed mechanical
fittings. [UPC 1209.5.9]
2.7
Special Joints
2.7.1
Listed transition fittings or listed mechanical fittings shall be used when making
joints between PE and steel or PE and
copper.
2.7.2
Transition fittings shall be installed
outside of meter vaults with metallic
piping extending into the vaults a sufficient distance to permit the use of backup
wrenches.
2.8
Inspections
2.8.1
Temperature. Pipe temperatures shall be
stabilized before testing. See Section 2.4.2.
[UPC 1214.0]
2.8.2
Piping shall be subjected to the pressure
test required in Section 1214.0 of the
Uniform Plumbing Code. [UPC 1214.0]
2.9
Materials
2.9.1
Location. PE pipe and tubing shall be
installed only outside the foundation of
any building or structure or parts thereof.
It shall be buried in the ground for its
entire length with cover as provided in
Section 2.5.1. It shall not be installed
within or under any building or structure
or mobile home or commercial coach or
parts thereof. The term "building or structure or parts thereof" shall include structures such as porches and steps, whether
covered or uncovered, roofed portecocheres, roofed patios, carports, covered
walks, covered driveways and similar
structures or appurtenances. [UPC 1211.0]
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2.5
2.5.1
Thermal Expansion
Snaking. The pipe and tubing shall be
“snaked” in the trench bottom with enough
slack to provide for thermal expansion and
contraction before stabilizing. The normal
slack created by residual coiling is generally
sufficient for this purpose. If, however, the
pipe has been allowed to straighten before
it is placed in the trench, 6 inches (152 mm)
per 100 feet (30,480 mm) of pipe length
shall be allowed for this purpose.
Stabilizing. Pipe and tubing temperature
shall be stabilized by one of the following
methods:
(a) Shade backfill. Leave all joints
exposed so they can be examined
during the pressure test.
(b) Allow to stand overnight.
Trenching and Backfill
Trenching. Trenching bottoms shall be
smooth and regular of either undisturbed
soil or a layer of compacted backfill so
that minimum settlement will take place.
Pipe or tubing shall not be wedged or
blocked. Voids shall be filled and
compacted to level of trench bottom. The
minimum cover shall be 18 inches (457
mm) below finish grade. [UPC 315.0,
1211.1.2]
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2.4
2.4.1
IDAHO STATE PLUMBING CODE
Exceptions:
(1) Tubing for gas lights shall be buried a
minimum of 12 inches (305 mm) below finish
grade where gas flow is restricted to 10 cubic
feet per hour (8 x 10-5m3/s) at its source by a
mechanical means or a fixed orifice.
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Note: Local climatic conditions may affect
required burial depth.
2.5.2
2.6
2.6.1
2.6.2
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(2) Piping may terminate a maximum of one
foot above ground when encased in a listed
anodeless transition riser.
Backfill. The pipe and tubing temperature shall be stabilized before backfilling.
See Section 2.4.2. [UPC 315.4, 1211.1.2]
Types of Joints
PE joints shall be made as follows:
Heat Fusion Joints. Heat fusion joints
shall be made according to the manufacturer's procedures using recommended
heat times, temperature and joining pressures. [UPC 1209.5.9]
Mechanical Joints. Mechanical joints
shall be assembled in an approved
manner with tools recommended by the
fitting manufacturer. Mechanical joints
Exception: Tubing may extend into gas
light support columns provided it is not
exposed to external damage.
2.9.2
Maximum Working Pressure. Gas pressure shall not be more than 5 psi (34.5
kPa) for natural gas nor more than 10 psi
(69 kPa) for liquified petroleum gas.
2.9.3
Gas Supplier. Installation shall be
acceptable to the serving gas supplier.
2.10
Installation of Gas Piping
2.10.1
Types of Joints. See Sections 2.6 and 2.7
of this standard. [UPC 1209.5.9]
2.10.2
Prohibited Joints. PE pipe shall not be
joined by a threaded joints. Joints made
with adhesives or solvent cement shall be
prohibited.
PE FOR GAS YARD PIPING
IS 12
2.10.3
Identification. Plastic gas yard piping
shall be permanently identified by
attaching a metal tag to the meter end of
the piping system stating, "Plastic Yard
Piping".
2.11
Sizing
2.11.1
Pipe. Pipe shall be sized as required by
Section 1211.16 or 1217.0 of the UPC. [UPC
1211.16, 1217.0]
2.11.2
Tubing. Tubing shall be sized from Table 1.
[UPC 1217.0]
ADOPTED: 1971
REVISED: 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981,1983, 1985,
1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2003, 2006
0.250
0.375
20
12
35
30
10
28
40
8
24
Length in Feet
50 60 70 80 90 100 125
7 7
6
6
5
5
4
21 19 18 16 16
15 13
150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
12 10
9
8
7
7
6
6
6
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1/4
3/8
10
18
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Nominal
Tubing Internal
Size Diameter
Inches Inches
1/4
0.250
3/8
0.375
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TABLE 1
SIZE OF PLASTIC GAS TUBING
Maximum Delivery Capacity in Cubic Feet of Gas per Hour (CFH)
of Tubing Carrying Natural Gas of 0.60 Specific Gravity
TABLE 1 (Metric)
SIZE OF PLASTIC GAS TUBING
3
Maximum Delivery Capacity in Cubic Meters of Gas per Second (m /s)
of Tubing Carrying Natural Gas of 0.60 Specific Gravity
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Nominal
Tubing Internal
Size Diameter
mm
mm
6.4
6.4
9.5
9.5
3.0
1.4
4.1
6.1
1.0
2.8
Length in Meters
9.1
12.2
0.8
0.6
2.2
1.9
15.2
0.56
1.7
18.3
0.56
1.5
21.3
0.5
1.4
6.4
9.5
6.4
9.5
24.4
0.5
1.3
27.4
0.4
1.2
30.5
0.4
1.2
38.1
0.3
1.0
45.7
0.3
0.96
61.0
0.2
0.8
76.2
0.2
0.7
6.4
9.5
6.4
9.5
91.4
0.2
0.6
106.7
0.2
0.56
121.9
0.16
0.56
137.2
0.16
0.5
152.4
0.16
0.5
167.6
0.16
0.5
182.9
0.16
0.5
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IDAHO STATE PLUMBING CODE
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