ASTM F876-17

Standard Specification for Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing

ABSTRACT
This specification covers crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing that is outside diameter controlled, made in standard thermoplastic tubing dimension ratios, and pressure rated for water at three temperatures. This specification covers one PEX tubing material in one standard dimension ratio and having pressure ratings for water of three temperatures. The pressure ratings decrease as the temperature is increased. PEX tubing shall be made from polyethylene compounds which have been crosslinked by peroxides, Azo compounds, or silane compounds in extrusion, or by electron beam after extrusion, or by other means such that the tubing meets the performance requirements. The following tests shall be performed: dimensions and tolerances; density; sustained pressure test; burst pressure; environmental stress cracking test; degree of crosslinking; stabilizer functionality; and oxidative stability in potable chlorinated water applications.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing that incorporates an optional polymeric inner, middle or outer layer and that is outside diameter controlled, made in nominal SDR9 tubing dimension ratios except where noted, and pressure rated for water at three temperatures (see Appendix X1). Included are requirements and test methods for material, workmanship, dimensions, burst pressure, hydrostatic sustained pressure, excessive temperature and pressure, environmental stress cracking, stabilizer functionality, bent-tube hydrostatic pressure, oxidative stability in potable chlorinated water, and degree of crosslinking. Requirements for tubing markings are also given. The components covered by this specification are intended for use in, but not limited to, residential and commercial, hot- and cold-potable water distribution systems, reclaimed water, fire protection, municipal water service lines, radiant heating and cooling systems, hydronic distribution systems, snow and ice melting systems, geothermal ground loops, district heating, turf conditioning, compressed air distribution and building services pipe, provided that the PEX tubing covered herein complies with applicable code requirements.  
1.2 The text of this specification references notes, footnotes, and appendixes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the specification.  
1.3 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.  
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 7, of this specification:  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.  
1.5 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: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2017
• ICS: 23.040.20 - Plastics pipes
• Technical Committee: F17 - Plastic Piping Systems
• Drafting Committee: F17.26 - Olefin Based Pipe

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
Designation:F876 −17 An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
1
Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF876;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This specification covers crosslinked polyethylene
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
(PEX) tubing that incorporates an optional polymeric inner,
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
middle or outer layer and that is outside diameter controlled,
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
made in nominal SDR9 tubing dimension ratios except where
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
noted, and pressure rated for water at three temperatures (see
Appendix X1). Included are requirements and test methods for
2. Referenced Documents
material,workmanship,dimensions,burstpressure,hydrostatic
2
sustained pressure, excessive temperature and pressure, envi- 2.1 ASTM Standards:
ronmental stress cracking, stabilizer functionality, bent-tube D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
hydrostatic pressure, oxidative stability in potable chlorinated
water, and degree of crosslinking. Requirements for tubing tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
D1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-
markings are also given. The components covered by this
specification are intended for use in, but not limited to, Gradient Technique
D1598 Test Method for Time-to-Failure of Plastic Pipe
residential and commercial, hot- and cold-potable water distri-
bution systems, reclaimed water, fire protection, municipal Under Constant Internal Pressure
D1599 Test Method for Resistance to Short-Time Hydraulic
water service lines, radiant heating and cooling systems,
hydronic distribution systems, snow and ice melting systems, Pressure of Plastic Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings
D1600 TerminologyforAbbreviatedTermsRelatingtoPlas-
geothermal ground loops, district heating, turf conditioning,
compressed air distribution and building services pipe, pro- tics
3
D1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics (Withdrawn 1998)
vided that the PEX tubing covered herein complies with
applicable code requirements. D2122 Test Method for Determining Dimensions of Ther-
moplastic Pipe and Fittings
1.2 Thetextofthisspecificationreferencesnotes,footnotes,
D2765 Test Methods for Determination of Gel Content and
and appendixes which provide explanatory material. These
Swell Ratio of Crosslinked Ethylene Plastics
notesandfootnotes(excludingthoseintablesandfigures)shall
D2837 Test Method for Obtaining Hydrostatic Design Basis
not be considered as requirements of the specification.
forThermoplasticPipeMaterialsorPressureDesignBasis
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
for Thermoplastic Pipe Products
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
D3895 Test Method for Oxidative-Induction Time of Poly-
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
olefins by Differential Scanning Calorimetry
and are not considered standard.
F412 Terminology Relating to Plastic Piping Systems
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the F1281 Specification for Crosslinked Polyethylene/
test methods portion, Section 7, of this specification: This Aluminum/Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX-AL-PEX)
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, Pressure Pipe
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user F2023 Test Method for Evaluating the Oxidative Resistance
of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and of Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Pipe, Tubing and
environmental practices and determine the applicability of Systems to Hot Chlorinated Water
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F17 on Plastic For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.26 on Olefin contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Based Pipe. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2017. Published September 2017. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved 2015 as F876 – 15a. DOI: The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
10.1520/F0
...

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: F876 − 15a F876 − 17 An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
1
Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F876; 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 specification covers crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing that incorporates an optional polymeric inner, middle or
outer layer and that is outside diameter controlled, made in nominal SDR9 tubing dimension ratios except where noted, and
pressure rated for water at three temperatures (see Appendix X1). Included are requirements and test methods for material,
workmanship, dimensions, burst pressure, hydrostatic sustained pressure, excessive temperature and pressure, environmental stress
cracking, stabilizer functionality, bent-tube hydrostatic pressure, oxidative stability in potable chlorinated water, and degree of
crosslinking. Requirements for tubing markings are also given. The components covered by this specification are intended for use
in, but not limited to, residential and commercial, hot- and cold-potable water distribution systems, reclaimed water, fire protection,
municipal water service lines, radiant heating and cooling systems, hydronic distribution systems, snow and ice melting systems,
geothermal ground loops, district heating, turf conditioning, compressed air distribution and building services pipe, provided that
the PEX tubing covered herein complies with applicable code requirements.
1.2 The text of this specification references notes, footnotes, and appendixes which provide explanatory material. These notes
and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the specification.
1.3 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.
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 7, of this specification: 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 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:
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement
D1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-Gradient Technique
D1598 Test Method for Time-to-Failure of Plastic Pipe Under Constant Internal Pressure
D1599 Test Method for Resistance to Short-Time Hydraulic Pressure of Plastic Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings
D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plastics
3
D1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics (Withdrawn 1998)
D2122 Test Method for Determining Dimensions of Thermoplastic Pipe and Fittings
D2765 Test Methods for Determination of Gel Content and Swell Ratio of Crosslinked Ethylene Plastics
D2837 Test Method for Obtaining Hydrostatic Design Basis for Thermoplastic Pipe Materials or Pressure Design Basis for
Thermoplastic Pipe Products
D3895 Test Method for Oxidative-Induction Time of Polyolefins by Differential Scanning Calorimetry
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.26 on Olefin Based
Pipe.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2015Aug. 1, 2017. Published November 2015September 2017. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved 2015 as
F876 – 15.F876 – 15a. DOI: 10.1520/F0876-15A.10.1520/F0876-17.
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
...