How to Guide

104
Plastics Technical Manual
successfully tested, it should be drained and the next section
prepared for testing.
6. Once an installation is completed and cured the system
should be filled with water and pressure tested in
accordance with local code requirements.
7. Any leaking joints or pipe must be cut out and replaced
and the line recharged and retested using the same
procedure.
INSTALLATION PROCEDURES
Entrapped Air
• Pressure surges associated with entrapped air may
result in serious personal injury, system failure, and
property damage.
• Install air relief valves at the high points in a system to
vent air that accumulates during service.
• Failure to bleed trapped air may give faulty test results
and may result in an explosion.
Do not exceed the maximum working pressure of any
system components including pipe, fittings, valves, molded
or cut threads, unions, mechanical coupling or flanges.
• The pressure rating of all components must be reduced at
temperatures above 73 degrees F. Refer to de-rating table
in this manual.
• Exceeding the maximum working temperature or
pressure of the system may result in system failure and
property damage.
Testing with or use of compressed air or gas in PVC / ABS
/ CPVC pipe or fittings can result in explosive failures and
cause severe injury or death.
• NEVER test with or transport/store
compressed air or gas in PVC / ABS / CPVC
pipe or fittings.
• NEVER test PVC / ABS / CPVC pipe or
fittings with compressed air or gas, or air
over water boosters.
• ONLY use PVC / ABS / CPVC pipe for water
or approved chemicals.
• Refer to warnings in PPFA User Bulletin
4-80 and ASTM D 1785.
Testing with or use of compressed air or gas in PVC / ABS
/ CPVC pipe or fittings can result in explosive failures and
cause severe injury or death.
• NEVER test with or transport/store
compressed air or gas in PVC / ABS / CPVC
pipe or fittings.
• NEVER test PVC / ABS / CPVC pipe or
fittings with compressed air or gas, or air
over water boosters.
• ONLY use PVC / ABS / CPVC pipe for water
or approved chemicals.
• Refer to warnings in PPFA User Bulletin
4-80 and ASTM D 1785.
Testing Pressure System
1. Prior to testing, safety precautions should be instituted to
protect personnel and property in case of test failure.
2. Conduct pressure testing with water.
3. The piping system should be adequately anchored to limit
movement.Waterunderpressureexertsthrustforcesin
piping systems. Thrust blocking should be provided at
changesofdirection,changeinsizeandatdeadends.
4. The piping system should be slowly filled with water,
taking care to prevent surge and air entrapment. The flow
velocity should not exceed 5-feet per second for PVC and
8-feet per second for CPVC CTS (see Friction Loss and
Flow Velocity charts in this manual).
5. All trapped air must be slowly released. All valves and air
relief mechanisms should be opened so that the air can be
vented while the system is being filled.