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 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. 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.