ASTM A674-22

Standard Practice for Polyethylene Encasement for Ductile Iron Pipe

ABSTRACT
This practice covers the standard materials and installation procedures for polyethylene encasement to be applied to underground installations of ductile iron pipe for water or other liquids. It may also be used for polyethylene encasement of fittings, valves, and other appurtenances to ductile iron pipe systems. Linear low-density and high-density cross-laminated polyethylene films shall be manufactured of virgin polyethylene material, and shall conform to the required group, density, dielectric strength, and volume resistivity specifications. The polyethylene encasement material shall also be in accordance to the tensile strength, elongation, dielectric strength, impact resistance, and propagation tear resistance requirements. The polyethylene encasement shall be installed in such a way that it shall prevent contact between the pipe and the surrounding backfill and bedding material without intending to be a completely airtight or watertight enclosure. The polyethylene film shall be fitted to the contour of the pipe with sufficient slack to prevent stretching the polyethylene bridging irregular surfaces. For installations below the water table or in areas subject to tidal actions, or both, it is recommended that tube-form polyethylene be used with both ends sealed as thoroughly as possible with adhesive tape or plastic tie straps at the joint overlap.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers materials and installation procedures for polyethylene encasement to be applied to underground installations of ductile iron pipe. It may also be used for polyethylene encasement of fittings, valves, and other appurtenances to ductile iron pipe systems.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.2.1 Important SI values are provided in brackets. Also, certain important SI values appear without brackets or parentheses.  
1.3 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 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.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2022
• ICS: 23.040.10 - Iron and steel pipes
• Technical Committee: A04 - Iron Castings
• Drafting Committee: A04.12 - Pipes and Tubes

Standards Content (Sample)

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: A674 − 22
Standard Practice for
1
Polyethylene Encasement for Ductile Iron Pipe
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A674; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope by the Free-Falling Dart Method
D1922 Test Method for Propagation Tear Resistance of
1.1 This practice covers materials and installation proce-
Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting by Pendulum Method
dures for polyethylene encasement to be applied to under-
D4976 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and
groundinstallationsofductileironpipe.Itmayalsobeusedfor
Extrusion Materials
polyethylene encasement of fittings, valves, and other appur-
3
2.2 ANSI/AWWA Standards:
tenances to ductile iron pipe systems.
C600 Installation of Ductile Iron Water Mains and Their
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
Appurtenances
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
C105/A21.5 Polyethylene Encasement for Ductile-Iron Pipe
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
Systems
and are not considered standard.
1.2.1 Important SI values are provided in brackets. Also,
3. Terminology
certain important SI values appear without brackets or paren-
3.1 Definitions:
theses.
3.1.1 high-density, cross-laminated polyethylene film—film
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
extruded from virgin high-density polyethylene raw material,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
which is then molecularly oriented by stretching. The final
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
product is then formed by two single-ply layers of the film that
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
arethenlaminatedtogetherwiththeirorientationsat90°toone
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
another using molten, high-density, virgin resin.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1.2 linear low-density polyethylene film—film extruded
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
from virgin linear low-density polyethylene raw material.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 3.1.3 polyethylene encasement—polyethylene material, in
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
tube or sheet form, that is used to encase ductile iron pipe.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.1.4 securing overlap—any one of various methods of
holding polyethylene encasement in place at the point of
2. Referenced Documents
overlapuntilbackfillingoperationsarecompleted.Thismaybe
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: accomplished with adhesive tape or plastic tie straps.
D149 Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage and
DielectricStrengthofSolidElectricalInsulatingMaterials 4. Requirements
at Commercial Power Frequencies
4.1 Materials:
D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
4.1.1 General—All films shall be manufactured of virgin
Sheeting
polyethylene material, as non-virgin polyethylene materials
D1709 Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Plastic Film
may be susceptible to accelerated environmental degradation.
4.1.1.1 Requirements—The sections that follow list the
material requirements for linear low-density and high-density,
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A04 on Iron
cross-laminated polyethylene film. In each category, the film
Castings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A04.12 on Pipes and
shall meet all of the listed requirements.
Tubes.
4.1.2 Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Film—Linear low-
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2022. Published October 2022. Originally
approved in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as A674 – 18. DOI:
density polyethylene film shall be manufactured of virgin
10.1520/A0674-22.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available fromAmerican Water WorksAssociation (AWWA), 6666 W. Quincy
the ASTM website. Ave., Denver, CO 80235, http://www.awwa.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
A674 − 22
TABLE 2 High-Density Cross-Laminated P
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: A674 − 18 A674 − 22
Standard Practice for
Polyethylene Encasement for Ductile Iron Pipe for Water or
1
Other Liquids
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A674; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers materials and installation procedures for polyethylene encasement to be applied to underground
installations of ductile iron pipe. It may also be used for polyethylene encasement of fittings, valves, and other appurtenances to
ductile iron pipe systems.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.2.1 Important SI values are provided in brackets. Also, certain important SI values appear without brackets or parentheses.
1.3 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D149 Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage and Dielectric Strength of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials at
Commercial Power Frequencies
D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting
D1709 Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Plastic Film by the Free-Falling Dart Method
D1922 Test Method for Propagation Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting by Pendulum Method
D4976 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
3
2.2 ANSI/AWWA Standards:
C600 Installation of Ductile Iron Water Mains and Their Appurtenances
C105/A21.5 Polyethylene Encasement for Ductile-Iron Pipe Systems
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A04 on Iron Castings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A04.12 on Pipes and Tubes.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2018Oct. 1, 2022. Published December 2018October 2022. Originally approved in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 20142018
as A674 – 10 (2014).A674 – 18. DOI: 10.1520/A0674-18.10.1520/A0674-22.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from American Water Works Association (AWWA), 6666 W. Quincy Ave., Denver, CO 80235, http://www.awwa.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
A674 − 22
3.1.1 high-density, cross-laminated polyethylene film—film extruded from virgin high-density polyethylene raw material, which
is then molecularly oriented by stretching. The final product is then formed by two single-ply layers of the film that are then
laminated together with their orientations at 90° to one another using molten, high-density, virgin resin.
3.1.2 linear low-density polyethylene film—film extruded from virgin linear low-density polyethylene raw material.
3.1.3 polyethylene encasement—polyethylene material, in tube or sheet form, that is used to encase ductile iron pipe.
3.1.4 securing overlap—any one of various methods of holding polyethylene encasement in place at the point of overlap until
backfilling operations are completed. This may be accomplished with adhesive tape or plastic tie straps.
4. Requirements
4.1 Materials:
4.1.1 General—All films shall be manufactured of virgin polyethylene material, as non-virgin polyethylene materials may be
susceptible to accelerated environmental degradation.
4.1.1.1 Requirements—The sections that follow list the material requirements for linear low-density and high-density,
cross-lamina
...