ASTM F876-22

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, UV resistance, 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 either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions that may not be exact equivalents to either SI units or inch-pound units and that are provided for information only.  
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-Jan-2022
• 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 −22 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* standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
1.1 This specification covers crosslinked polyethylene
of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and
(PEX) tubing that incorporates an optional polymeric inner,
environmental practices and determine the applicability of
middle or outer layer and that is outside diameter controlled,
regulatory limitations prior to use.
made in nominal SDR9 tubing dimension ratios except where
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
noted, and pressure rated for water at three temperatures (see
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Appendix X1). Included are requirements and test methods for
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
material,workmanship,dimensions,burstpressure,hydrostatic
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
sustained pressure, excessive temperature and pressure, envi-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
ronmental stress cracking, stabilizer functionality, bent-tube
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
hydrostatic pressure, oxidative stability in potable chlorinated
water, UV resistance, and degree of crosslinking. Require-
2. Referenced Documents
ments for tubing markings are also given. The components
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
covered by this specification are intended for use in, but not
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
limited to, residential and commercial, hot- and cold-potable
D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
water distribution systems, reclaimed water, fire protection,
tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
municipal water service lines, radiant heating and cooling
D1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-
systems, hydronic distribution systems, snow and ice melting
Gradient Technique
systems, geothermal ground loops, district heating, turf
D1598 Test Method for Time-to-Failure of Plastic Pipe
conditioning, compressed air distribution and building services
Under Constant Internal Pressure
pipe, provided that the PEX tubing covered herein complies
D1599 Test Method for Resistance to Short-Time Hydraulic
with applicable code requirements.
Pressure of Plastic Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings
1.2 Thetextofthisspecificationreferencesnotes,footnotes,
D1600 TerminologyforAbbreviatedTermsRelatingtoPlas-
and appendixes which provide explanatory material. These
tics
notesandfootnotes(excludingthoseintablesandfigures)shall 3
D1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics (Withdrawn 1998)
not be considered as requirements of the specification.
D2122 Test Method for Determining Dimensions of Ther-
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
moplastic Pipe and Fittings
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in D2765 Test Methods for Determination of Gel Content and
each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to
Swell Ratio of Crosslinked Ethylene Plastics
ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be D2837 Test Method for Obtaining Hydrostatic Design Basis
used independently of the other, and values from the two
forThermoplasticPipeMaterialsorPressureDesignBasis
systems shall not be combined. The values given in parenthe- for Thermoplastic Pipe Products
ses are mathematical conversions that may not be exact
D3895 Test Method for Oxidative-Induction Time of Poly-
equivalents to either SI units or inch-pound units and that are olefins by Differential Scanning Calorimetry
provided for information only. F412 Terminology Relating to Plastic Piping Systems
F877 SpecificationforCrosslinkedPolyethylene(PEX)Hot-
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the
and Cold-Water Distribution Systems
test methods portion, Section 7, of this specification: This
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 Feb. 1, 2022. Published February 2022. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved
...

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 − 20b F876 − 22 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, UV resistance, 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 either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used
independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined. The values given in parentheses are
mathematical conversions to SI units that may not be exact equivalents to either SI units or inch-pound units and that are provided
for information only and are not considered standard.only.
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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
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 Dec. 15, 2020Feb. 1, 2022. Published January 2021February 2022. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved 2020 as
F876 – 20a.F876 – 20b. DOI: 10.1520/F0876-20B.10.1520/F0876-22.
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.
*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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F876 − 22
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 Res
...