ASTM F1734-03

Standard Practice for Qualification of a Combination of Squeeze Tool, Pipe, and Squeeze-Off Procedures to Avoid Long-Term Damage in Polyethylene (PE) Gas Pipe

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Squeeze-off is widely used to temporarily control the flow of gas in PE pipe. Squeeze tools vary depending on the size of the pipe and the design of the tool. Squeeze-off procedures vary depending on the tool design, pipe material, and environmental conditions.
Experience indicates that some combinations of polyethylene material, temperature, tool design, wall compression percentage and procedure can cause damage leading to failure.
Studies of polyethylene pipe extruded in the late 1980s and thereafter show that damage typically does not develop when the wall compression percentage is 30 % or less, when temperatures are above 50°F (10°C), and when closure and release rates are typical of field conditions for screw-driven tools.4 With tools meeting Specification F 1563, acceptable flow control at typical gas service pressures is achieved at wall compression percentages between 10 and 20 % for pipe diameters less than 6 in.4 ,5 Because damage does not develop in these materials at such squeeze levels, the references cited indicate that squeeze-off flow control practices using tools meeting Specification F 1563 and qualified procedures meeting Practice F 1041 are effective for smaller pipe sizes.4 ,5  
Note 3—Specification F 1563 provides a procedure for evaluating tool flow control performance.
This practice provides a method to qualify a combination of squeeze tool, pipe size and material, and squeeze-off procedure to ensure that long-term damage does not occur. This practice is useful for polyethylene gas pipe manufactured before 1975, for new or revised polyolefin gas pipe materials, for pipe diameters of 8 in. or above, for new or revised squeeze tool designs, and for new or revised squeeze-off procedures.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the qualification of a squeeze process consisting of a combination of a squeeze tool, pipe, and squeeze-off procedures to avoid long-term damage in polyethylene gas pipe. This practice examines the inside and outside surfaces of the pipe near the squeeze to determine the existence of features indicative of long-term cracking. The occurrence of these features depends on the squeeze tool design, the pipe being squeezed, and the squeeze procedures being used. This practice is particularly appropriate for pre-1975 Polyethylene (PE) pipe, and for pipe with diameter greater than or equal to 8 in., because of the greater possibility of long term damage.  
1.2 After the visual screening identifies a viable squeeze process, a sustained pressure test in accordance with Specification D 2513 should be used to conform the viability.  
1.3 This practice is for use by squeeze-tool manufacturers and gas utilities for all squeeze tools made in accordance with Specification F 1563; pipe manufactured in accordance with Specification D 1513, up to and including pipe diameters of 12 in.; and squeeze procedures in accordance with Guide F 1041.  
1.4 Governing codes and project specifications should be consulted. Nothing in this practice should be construed as recommending practices or systems at variance with governing codes and project specifications.  
1.5 Where applicable in this Guide, "pipe" shall mean "pipe and tubing."
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Aug-2003
• ICS: 23.040.20 - Plastics pipes
• Technical Committee: F17 - Plastic Piping Systems
• Drafting Committee: F17.60 - Gas

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F1734-96 - Standard Practice for Qualification of a Combination of Squeeze Tool, Pipe, and Squeeze-Off Procedures to Avoid Long-Term Damage in Polyethylene (PE) Gas Pipe
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM F1734-03(2009) - Standard Practice for Qualification of a Combination of Squeeze Tool, Pipe, and Squeeze-Off Procedures to Avoid Long-Term Damage in Polyethylene (PE) Gas Pipe (Withdrawn 2018)
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F1041-20 - Standard Guide for Squeeze-Off of Polyolefin Gas Pressure Pipe and Tubing
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
An American National Standard
Designation: F 1734 – 03
Standard Practice for
Qualification of a Combination of Squeeze Tool, Pipe, and
Squeeze-Off Procedures to Avoid Long-Term Damage in
1
Polyethylene (PE) Gas Pipe
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1734; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This practice covers qualifying a combination of a 2.1 ASTM Standards:
squeeze tool, a polyethylene gas pipe, and a squeeze-off D 2513 Specification for Thermoplastic Gas Pressure Pipe,
2
procedure to avoid long-term damage in polyethylene gas pipe. Tubing, and Fittings
Qualifying is conducted by examining the inside and outside D 3350 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and
2
surfaces of pipe specimens at and near the squeeze to deter- Fittings Materials
mine the existence of features indicative of long-term damage. F 1041 Guide for Squeeze-Off of Polyolefin Gas Pressure
2
If indicative features are absent, sustained pressure testing in Pipe and Fittings
accordance with Specification D 2513 is conducted to confirm F 1563 Specification for Tools to Squeeze-Off Polyethylene
2
the viability of the squeeze-off process. For assistance with (PE) Gas Pipe or Tubing
specimen examination, an Adjunct, ADJF1734, is available ADJF1734 Adjunct: Interpretation Aid for Squeeze-Off
3
from ASTM. Damage
1.2 This practice is appropriate for any combination of
3. Terminology
squeeze tool, PE gas pipe and squeeze-off procedure, and is
3.1 Definitions:
particularly appropriate for pre-1975 Polyethylene (PE) pipe,
and for pipe sizes of 8 in. or above, because of a greater 3.1.1 squeeze-off, n—a technique used to temporarily con-
trol the flow of gas in a polyethylene gas pipe by flattening the
possibility of long-term damage.
1.3 This practice is for use by squeeze-tool manufacturers, pipe with a mechanical or hydraulic device.
3.1.2 squeeze process, n—the combination of the squeeze
pipe manufacturers and gas utilities to qualify squeeze tools
madeinaccordancewithSpecificationF 1563;andsqueeze-off tool, the pipe being squeezed, and the squeeze-off procedure
being used.
procedures in accordance with Guide F 1041 with pipe manu-
factured in accordance with Specification D 2513. 3.1.3 wall compression (WC), n—the percentage extent to
which the pipe walls are compressed when the pipe is
1.4 Governing codes and project specifications should be
consulted. Nothing in this practice should be construed as squeezed. (See Fig. 1.) It is defined as:
recommending practices or systems at variance with governing
L
WC,% 5 1 2 3 100 (1)
S D
codes and project specifications.
2t
1.5 Where applicable in this guide, “pipe” shall mean “pipe
where:
and tubing.”
L = distancebetweenthesqueezetoolbarsasshowninFig.
1.6 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be
1, and
regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are
t = uncompressed pipe wall thickness, expressed in the
mathematical conversions to SI units, which are provided for
same units as L.
information only and are not considered standard.
3.1.3.1 Discussion—When the distance between the
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
squeeze tool bars is greater than twice the wall thickness, the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
pipe walls are not compressed, which yields a negative value
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
for the wall compression percentage. The value becomes
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
positive when the L value is less than the 2t value. Typical
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
squeeze tool stops are set for 30 % or less wall compression
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic
Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.60 on Gas.
2
Current edition approved August 10, 2003. Published September 2003. Origi- Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.04.
3
nally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 1996 as F 1734 – 96. Available from ASTM Headquarters. Order Adjunct:ADJF1734.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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F1734–03
4.3 Where the results of the visual screening do not indicate
permanent damage, additional specimens are squeezed at the
WC level where damage is not indicated, and sustained
pressure tests in accordance with Specification D 2513 are
performed. When sustained pressure test
...