New for the plumbing and radiant in-floor heating industries is ASTM F 1974, Standard Specification for Metal Insert Fittings for Polyethylene/Aluminum/Polyethylene and Crosslinked Polyethylene/Aluminum/ Crosslinked Polyethylene Composite Pressure Pipe.

“F 1974 is the perfect companion to the composite pressure pipe standards,” says chemist Peter Cook, who is technical services manager of IPEX Inc., Montreal, Canada, and chairman of ASTM Subcommittee F17.11 on Composites. “F 1974 defines the fittings that are used with F 1281, Standard Specification for Crosslinked Polyethylene/ Aluminum/ Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX-AL-PEX) Composite Pressure Pipe and F 1282, Standard Specification for Polyethylene/ Aluminum/ Polyethylene (PE-AL-PE) Composite Pressure Pipe.

“It provides the user with a standard fitting that is designed to operate over the temperature ranges of these two pipe products,” he notes. “The standard provides for the rigorous testing of short- and long-term pressure resistance properties, and the ability of the pipe/ fitting joint to withstand an excessive temperature, such as might be encountered in the event of a water heater failure. The pipe/fitting joint must also resist cyclic testing between a cool temperature of 60° F and a hot water temperature of 180° F.”

A seven-member task group of pipe manufacturers developed the specification over a period of 18 months under the aegis of ASTM Subcommittee F17.11 in Committee F17 on Plastic Piping Systems.

For further technical information, contact Peter Cook, IPEX, Inc., 1st floor Wing 3, Port of Montreal Bldg., Montreal, PQ, Canada H3C 3R5 (514/861-7221). Committee F17 meets Nov. 13-16 in Orlando, Fla. For meeting or membership details, contact manager Pat Picariello, ASTM (610/832-9720). //

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