ASTM F2968/F2968M-21
(Specification)Standard Specification for Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Pipe for Gas Distribution Applications
Standard Specification for Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Pipe for Gas Distribution Applications
ABSTRACT
This specification covers the requirements and corresponding test methods for outside diameter controlled, black metric-sized and IPS-sized crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) pipe, fittings and joints, made in pipe dimension ratios ranging from 6 to 17, and pressure rated for gas distribution. Included are requirements and test methods for material, workmanship, dimensions, burst pressure, hydrostatic sustained pressure, stabilizer functionality, bent-pipe hydrostatic pressure, degree of crosslinking, chemical resistance, and squeeze-off. Requirements for pipe and fittings markings are also provided, along with quality assurance. The pipe, fittings and joints covered by this specification are intended for buried gas distribution pressure piping applications. Several tables list the PEX pipe material designation codes; metric-sized outside diameters and tolerances for PEX pipe; inch-sized outside diameters and tolerances for PEX pipe; metric-sized wall thickness and tolerances for PEX plastic pipe; inch-sized wall thickness and tolerances for PEX plastic pipe; and pipe category.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers outside diameter controlled, metric-sized and inch-sized black or yellow crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) pipe, made in pipe dimension ratios ranging from 6 to 17, and pressure rated for gas distribution. Included are requirements and test methods for material, workmanship, dimensions, burst pressure, hydrostatic sustained pressure, stabilizer functionality, bent-pipe hydrostatic pressure, degree of crosslinking, chemical resistance, minimum operating temperature and squeeze-off. Requirements for pipe markings are also given. The pipe covered by this specification is intended for buried gas distribution and gas transmission pressure piping applications.
1.2 This specification also includes requirements for joints made between PEX pipe and polyethylene electrofusion fittings (specified in Specification F3373). Fittings to be used with PEX pipe manufactured to this specification are in Specification F2829/F2829M. Installation considerations are in X3.2.
Note 1: Inch-sized fittings should not be used for metric-sized pipe, and metric-sized fittings should not be used for inch-sized pipe.
1.3 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.
1.4 Units—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.
1.5 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.
1.6 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
Relations
Buy Standard
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: F2968/F2968M − 21 An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Pipe for Gas Distribution
1
Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2968/F2968M; 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* 1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This specification covers outside diameter controlled,
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
metric-sized and inch-sized black or yellow crosslinked poly-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
ethylene (PEX) pipe, made in pipe dimension ratios ranging
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
from 6 to 17, and pressure rated for gas distribution. Included
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
are requirements and test methods for material, workmanship,
dimensions, burst pressure, hydrostatic sustained pressure,
2. Referenced Documents
stabilizer functionality, bent-pipe hydrostatic pressure, degree
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
of crosslinking, chemical resistance, minimum operating tem-
D543 Practices for Evaluating the Resistance of Plastics to
perature and squeeze-off. Requirements for pipe markings are
Chemical Reagents
also given. The pipe covered by this specification is intended
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
for buried gas distribution and gas transmission pressure piping
D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
applications.
tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
1.2 This specification also includes requirements for joints
D1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-
made between PEX pipe and polyethylene electrofusion fit-
Gradient Technique
tings (specified in Specification F3373). Fittings to be used
D1598 Test Method for Time-to-Failure of Plastic Pipe
with PEX pipe manufactured to this specification are in
Under Constant Internal Pressure
Specification F2829/F2829M. Installation considerations are in
D1599 Test Method for Resistance to Short-Time Hydraulic
X3.2.
Pressure of Plastic Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings
NOTE 1—Inch-sized fittings should not be used for metric-sized pipe, D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plas-
and metric-sized fittings should not be used for inch-sized pipe.
tics
D1603 Test Method for Carbon Black Content in Olefin
1.3 The text of this specification references notes, footnotes,
Plastics
and appendixes, which provide explanatory material. These
D2122 Test Method for Determining Dimensions of Ther-
notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall
moplastic Pipe and Fittings
not be considered as requirements of the specification.
D2290 Test Method for Apparent Hoop Tensile Strength of
1.4 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-
Plastic or Reinforced Plastic Pipe
pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The
D2565 Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics In-
values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equiva-
tended for Outdoor Applications
lents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each
D2765 Test Methods for Determination of Gel Content and
system shall be used independently of the other, and values
Swell Ratio of Crosslinked Ethylene Plastics
from the two systems shall not be combined.
D2837 Test Method for Obtaining Hydrostatic Design Basis
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
for Thermoplastic Pipe Materials or Pressure Design Basis
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
for Thermoplastic Pipe Products
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
D4218 Test Method for Determination of Carbon Black
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Content in Polyethylene Compounds by the Muffle-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Furnace Technique
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic
2
Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.60 on Gas. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved May 1, 2021. Published May 2021. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2014. Last previous edition approved in 2020 as D2968/D2968M–20a. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Su
...
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: F2968/F2968M − 20a F2968/F2968M − 21 An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Pipe for Gas Distribution
1
Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2968/F2968M; 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 outside diameter controlled, metric-sized and inch-sized black or yellow crosslinked polyethylene
(PEX) pipe, made in pipe dimension ratios ranging from 6 to 17, and pressure rated for gas distribution. Included are requirements
and test methods for material, workmanship, dimensions, burst pressure, hydrostatic sustained pressure, stabilizer functionality,
bent-pipe hydrostatic pressure, degree of crosslinking, chemical resistance, minimum operating temperature and squeeze-off.
Requirements for pipe markings are also given. The pipe covered by this specification is intended for buried gas distribution and
gas transmission pressure piping applications.
1.2 This specification also includes requirements for joints made between PEX pipe and polyethylene electrofusion fittings (such
as(specified in Specification F1055F3373). Fittings to be used with PEX pipe manufactured to this specification are in Specification
F2829F2829/F2829M. Installation considerations are in X3.2.
NOTE 1—Inch-sized fittings should not be used for metric-sized pipe, and metric-sized fittings should not be used for inch-sized pipe.
1.3 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.
1.4 Units—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.
1.5 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.
1.6 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.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.60 on Gas.
Current edition approved April 1, 2020May 1, 2021. Published April 2020May 2021. Originally approved in 2014. Last previous edition approved in 2020 as
D2968/D2968M–20.–20a. DOI: 10.1520/F2968/F2968M–20A.10.1520/F2968_F2968M–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
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F2968/F2968M − 21
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D543 Practices for Evaluating the Resistance of Plastics to Chemical Reagents
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
D1603 Test Method for Carbon Black Content in Olefin Plastics
D2122 Test Method for Determining Dimensions of Thermoplastic Pipe and Fittings
D2290 Test Method for Apparent Hoop Tensile Strength of Plastic or Reinforced Plastic Pipe
D2565 Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Outdoor Applications
D2765 Test Methods for Determination of Gel Content and Swell Ratio of Crosslinked Ethylene Plastics
D2837 T
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.