ASTM F3190-21

Standard Practice for Heat Fusion Equipment (HFE) Operator Qualification on Polyethylene (PE) and Polyamide (PA) Pipe and Fittings

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This standard practice is designed to specify the minimum training and testing required of HFE operators trainees before they obtain a Heat Fusion Equipment Operator Qualification card. It will allow the industry to require the “HFE” operators be trained and qualified to an approved procedure before they can heat fuse PE or PA pipe in the field. The standard practice will bring more competency in the operators and more consistency in the training they receive.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes criteria for the training, assessment and qualification of heat fusion equipment (HFE) operators in, but not limited to, a field environment in order to establish and maintain competency in the joining of Polyethylene (PE) and Polyamide (PA) piping systems.  
1.2 This HFE operator training and qualification is applicable to heat fusion joining of PE pipe and fittings to other PE pipe and fittings of related polymer chemistry specified in the heat fusion procedures or standards used. It is also applicable to heat fusion joining of PA pipe and fittings to other PA pipe and fittings of the same polymer chemistry specified in the heat fusion procedures or standards used. The heat fusion between PE pipe and fittings to PA pipe and fittings is NOT allowed.  
1.3 The HFE operator training and qualification shall be for butt fusion for either PE or PA piping products, using the specific brand and size range of fusion machine to be used by the HFE operator and the heat fusion procedures or standards specified. If the HFE operator trainee requests, the training shall also include saddle and/or socket fusion of PE pipe and fittings of related polymer chemistry specified in the heat fusion procedures or standards used. This standard does not include training on the electro-fusion of these piping products.  
1.4 The HFE operator qualification shall be for one specific manufacturer’s fusion machine or a size range of that manufacturer’s hydraulic fusion machines or equipment that all operate in the same manner with the same hydraulic design and controls and the same heater and facer design. For smaller pipe sizes (6 in. and smaller), the qualification can be on a specific fusion machine or a combination of butt, saddle and/or socket fusion machines or equipment.  
1.5 The HFE operator qualification shall be on specific heat fusion procedures or standards specified for PE and PA pipes. For PE pipe and fittings, this shall include Practice F2620 or other company or pipe manufacturer’s procedures, or a combination thereof. For PA-11 pipe and fittings, this shall include Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) Technical Report TR-45 or other company or pipe manufacturer’s procedures. For PA-12 pipe and fittings, this shall include Practice F3372 or other company or pipe manufacturer’s procedures, or a combination thereof. For other PA pipe materials, use other company or pipe manufacturer’s procedures.  
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.8 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-Apr-2021
• ICS: 23.040.20 - Plastics pipes
• ICS: 23.040.45 - Plastics fittings
• Technical Committee: F17 - Plastic Piping Systems
• Drafting Committee: F17.20 - Joining

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:F3190 −21 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
Heat Fusion Equipment (HFE) Operator Qualification on
1
Polyethylene (PE) and Polyamide (PA) Pipe and Fittings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3190; 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* bination thereof. For PA-11 pipe and fittings, this shall include
Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) Technical Report TR-45 or other
1.1 This practice describes criteria for the training, assess-
company or pipe manufacturer’s procedures. For PA-12 pipe
ment and qualification of heat fusion equipment (HFE) opera-
and fittings, this shall include Practice F3372 or other company
tors in, but not limited to, a field environment in order to
or pipe manufacturer’s procedures, or a combination thereof.
establish and maintain competency in the joining of Polyeth-
For other PA pipe materials, use other company or pipe
ylene (PE) and Polyamide (PA) piping systems.
manufacturer’s procedures.
1.2 This HFE operator training and qualification is appli-
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
cable to heat fusion joining of PE pipe and fittings to other PE
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
pipe and fittings of related polymer chemistry specified in the
standard.
heat fusion procedures or standards used. It is also applicable
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
to heat fusion joining of PA pipe and fittings to other PA pipe
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
and fittings of the same polymer chemistry specified in the heat
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
fusion procedures or standards used. The heat fusion between
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
PE pipe and fittings to PA pipe and fittings is NOT allowed.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.3 The HFE operator training and qualification shall be for
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
butt fusion for either PE or PA piping products, using the
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
specific brand and size range of fusion machine to be used by
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
the HFE operator and the heat fusion procedures or standards
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
specified. If the HFE operator trainee requests, the training
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
shall also include saddle and/or socket fusion of PE pipe and
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
fittings of related polymer chemistry specified in the heat
fusion procedures or standards used. This standard does not
2. Referenced Documents
include training on the electro-fusion of these piping products.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.4 The HFE operator qualification shall be for one specific
F2620 Practice for Heat Fusion Joining of Polyethylene Pipe
manufacturer’s fusion machine or a size range of that manu-
and Fittings
facturer’s hydraulic fusion machines or equipment that all
F2634 Test Method for Laboratory Testing of Polyethylene
operateinthesamemannerwiththesamehydraulicdesignand
(PE) Butt Fusion Joints using Tensile-Impact Method
controls and the same heater and facer design. For smaller pipe
F3124 Practice for Data Recording the Procedure used to
sizes (6 in. and smaller), the qualification can be on a specific
Produce Heat Butt Fusion Joints in Plastic Piping Systems
fusion machine or a combination of butt, saddle and/or socket
or Fittings
fusion machines or equipment.
F3372 Practice for Butt Fusion Joining of PA12 Pipe and
Fittings
1.5 The HFE operator qualification shall be on specific heat
3
fusion procedures or standards specified for PE and PA pipes. 2.2 PPI Standards:
TR-45 Butt Fusion Joining Procedure For Field Joining of
For PE pipe and fittings, this shall include Practice F2620 or
other company or pipe manufacturer’s procedures, or a com- Polyamide-11 (PA-11) Pipe
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.20 on Joining. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved May 1,
...

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: F3190 − 16 F3190 − 21 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
Heat Fusion Equipment (HFE) Operator Qualification on
1
Polyethylene (PE) and Polyamide (PA) Pipe and Fittings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3190; 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 Scope*
1.1 This practice describes criteria for the training, assessment and qualification of heat fusion equipment (HFE) operators in, but
not limited to, a field environment in order to establish and maintain competency in the joining of Polyethylene (PE) and Polyamide
(PA) piping systems.
1.2 This HFE operator training and qualification is applicable to heat fusion joining of PE pipe and fittings to other PE pipe and
fittings of related polymer chemistry specified in the heat fusion procedures or standards used. It is also applicable to heat fusion
joining of PA pipe and fittings to other PA pipe and fittings of the same polymer chemistry specified in the heat fusion procedures
or standards used. The heat fusion between PE pipe and fittings to PA pipe and fittings is NOT allowed.
1.3 The HFE operator training and qualification shall be for butt fusion for either PE or PA piping products, using the specific
brand and size range of fusion machine to be used by the HFE operator and the heat fusion procedures or standards specified. If
the HFE operator trainee requests, the training shall also include saddle and/or socket fusion of PE pipe and fittings of related
polymer chemistry specified in the heat fusion procedures or standards used. This standard does not include training on the
electro-fusion of these piping products.
1.4 The HFE operator qualification shall be for one specific manufacturer’s fusion machine or a size range of that manufacturer’s
hydraulic fusion machines or equipment that all operate in the same manner with the same hydraulic design and controls and the
same heater and facer design. For smaller pipe sizes (6 in. and smaller), the qualification can be on a specific fusion machine or
a combination of butt, saddle and/or socket fusion machines or equipment.
1.5 The HFE operator qualification shall be on specific heat fusion procedures or standards specified for PE and PA pipes. For PE
pipe and fittings, this shall include Practice F2620 or other company or pipe manufacturer’s procedures, or a combination thereof.
For PA-11 pipe and fittings, this shall include Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) Technical Report TR-45 or other company or pipe
manufacturer’s procedures. For PA-12 pipe and fittings, this shall include Practice F3372other or other company or pipe
manufacturer’s procedures, or a combination thereof. For other PA pipe materials, use other company or pipe manufacturer’s
procedures.
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.20 on Joining.
Current edition approved April 1, 2016May 1, 2021. Published May 2016May 2021. Originally approved in 2016. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as F3190–16.
DOI: 10.1520/F3190–1610.1520/F3190–21
*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
1

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F3190 − 21
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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.8 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:
F2620 Practice for Heat Fusion Joining of Polyethylene Pipe and Fittings
F2634 Test Method for Laboratory Testing of Polyethylene (PE) Butt
...