scope:

This standard describes the requirements for composite polyethylene-aluminum- polyethylene pipe (hereinafter referred to as PE-AL-PE) in metric nominal inside diameter (ID) sizes 12 mm (½ in.) through 51 mm (2 in.). The pipe described by this standard is intended to be used for potable cold water supply outside buildings as buried water main and service pipeline.

This standard specifies the general requirements, material requirements, process fabrication processes, test requirements, and performance requirements. PE-AL-PE pipe is based on five layers consisting of pipe-grade polyethylene thermoplastics adhesively bonded to the seam-welded aluminum tube of specified alloy, composition, and temper.

The typical PE-AL-PE construction, illustrated in Figure 1, is composed of five-layers consisting of (layer 1) a thick stress-bearing inner liner layer of extruded polyethylene fused to (layer 2) a thin melt-laminated or co-extruded maleic-anhydride modified linear low-density (LLD) polyolefin adhesive material layer that melt bonds the inner PE layer to (layer 3) the aluminum core tube, which is made from flat aluminum sheet formed into a lap-joint or butt-joint tube that is continuously seam welded by ultrasonic, tungsten insert gas (TIG), or laser methods; the subassembly of the type is over-coated by (layer 4) using the same co-extruded or melt-laminated adhesive, with (layer 5) the external stress-bearing polyethylene outer diameter (OD) skin layer being co-extrusion melt bonded to the adjacent adhesive layer.

The pressure rating is determined using the PDB (pressure design basis) for each size of PE-AL-PE pipe in accordance with ASTM D2837 and PPI TR-3.

Purpose

The purpose of this standard is to provide the requirements for materials, design, testing, marking, verification and inspection, and shipping of PE-AL-PE pipe for use as service lines for underground potable water distribution systems.