Technical Papers
The Technical Committees of PIPA provides on this page test methods and technical reports on plastics pipeline systems which can be read on the screen or printed for future reference.
Industry Guidelines are listed on this web site on the Guidelines page.
On this page:
a Condition assessment of pipeline systems
a Pipeline Replacement using Relining
a Method for Assessing the Resin Dispersion in PVC Pipes
a Flexible Pipe Design
a PE Pipe System Maintenance Guide
a Horizontal Directional Drilling
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Low Pressure Air Testing of Pipelines
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Polyethylene Compressed Air Pipe Guidance Note
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PVC Pipes at Low Operating Temperatures
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Life Expectancy for Plastics Pipes
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Weathering of PE Pipes
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AS/NZS 4130 Commentary
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Temperature derating of PVC pipes for pressure applications
a Field Pressure Testing
a Electrofusion jointing of Polyethylene (PE) pipe and fittings for
pressure applications
a Polyethylene - The Optimum Gas Pipe Material?
a Explanation of Material / SDR relationship a Long Term Performance of PVC Pressure Pipes
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The resistance of elastomeric seal pipe joints to tree root penetration
Each paper is accessed by its grey button ( 
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PVC Pressure Pipe System Maintenance Guide
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Condition assessment of pipeline systems
PIPA has released a Technical paper, Plastics Pipe in Water and Waste Water Infrastructure, which looks at factors to consider when assessing the condition of plastics pipe systems in the water and waste water industry. These include pipeline life expectancy, fatigue, weathering and exposure to sunlight, deflection and flexibility, chemical resistance and mechanical damage.
Pipeline Replacement using Relining
Relining of old pipeline systems is becoming an increasingly attractive option to asset owners and operators as an effective alternative to open trench replacement. Relining options rely predominantly on plastics pipe systems for their success. Relining can take a variety of forms – slip lining, swage lining, pipe cracking, folded and formed are some of the popular options. The major material options are Polyethylene (PE) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) with application to water, sewer and gas pipeline renovation in both pressure and non pressure systems. In some cases the lining utilises strength from the host pipe and in others the new pipeline is completely stand alone.
Method for Assessing the Resin Dispersion in PVC Pipes
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This procedure describes a method for assessing the level of dispersion of the resin in PVC pipes. The method is applicable to PVC-U, PVC-M and PVC-O pipes for pressure applications. |
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The TEPPFA project focused on only one parameter of flexible pipe design, namely pipe deflection. The TEPPFA work highlighted the variability of different design approaches and the need to recognize that due mainly to the many parameters involved, no design method will give precise results. |
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PE Pipe System Maintenance Guide
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Polyethylene pipe forms the basis of Australia’s gas reticulation network, is widely used in the mining and irrigation industries and is used for the supply of water and disposal of wastewater in new and existing networks. PE pipe systems are also particularly suited for trenchless technology applications. With this increasing use there is a need to ensure that there are a suitable range of fittings which are readily available to allow changes to the pipeline systems and to carry out maintenance or repairs. This guide has been developed by PIPA to summarise the products that are readily available to the Australian market primarily for maintenance purposes. This Technical Manual is available here in PDF format |
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Horizontal Directional Drilling
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One such paper deals with Polyethylene Pipe For Horizontal Directional Drilling, reproduced here in PDF format, by the kind permission of PPI. |
Low Pressure Air Testing of Pipelines
This technical note is based on the low pressure air test nominated in the WSAA Sewerage Code of Australia (WSA 02-2002 V2.3). The purpose of the test is to identify leaks in non pressure pipe installations.
Polyethylene Compressed Air Pipe Guidance Note
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Polyethylene Compressed Air Pipe Guidance Note summarises the issues and relevant references related to the use of polyethylene (PE) pipe for compressed air applications. PE is an excellent pipe material for compressed air applications but there is some important information you need to understand before ordering or specifying your pipe. |
PVC Pipes at Low Operating Temperatures
This technical note on PVC pressure pipes operating at low temperatures tells us that although at temperatures above 20°C the strength is reduced and at temperature below 20°C the strength increases, the decrease in the impact resistance of PVC pipes at low temperatures is only a concern for those installations where impact might occur in service.
Life Expectancy for Plastics Pipes
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This technical note on life expectancy for plastics pipes dismisses the myth that plastics pipe systems have a life expectancy of 50 years. In reality, such systems can reasonably be expected to last 100 years or more. Provided that PE pipeline system components are appraised and supplied to nominated industry standards under third-party product certification systems, and provided pipelines are designed and constructed correctly, then the likelihood of failure is minimised. |
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This Technical Note addresses end-user performance requirements for short and long term exposure of PE pipes and the means of optimising compound performance. Protective additives such as carbon black and hindered amine light stabilisers (HALS) are used in order to minimise degradation. The use of carbon black optimises UV stabilisation and thus black pipes dominate general usage. |
AS/NZS 4130 Polyethylene (PE) pipes for pressure applications Commentary
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Temperature derating of PVC pipes for pressure applications
This technical note on temperature derating is based on ISO4422 but with these alterations:
- Temperature range extended from 45 to 50 degrees,
- derating factors nominated at 10° intervals and
- no factor to be specified for 25°.
Also provided is a table with both the numerical derating factors tabulated and a simple graph of derating factor versus temperature.
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Simple butt welders are now being offered to the farming market to weld rural or thin wall metric poly pipe and offer the promise of reducing the expenses associated with purchasing mechanical joiners/couplers. These butt welders run the risk of producing welds which may fail prematurely. Polyethylene pipe appears to be a very forgiving material initially, however, any polyethylene system is only as good as the joints. If the joints are not made with the correct equipment and procedures the joints have a much higher chance of premature failure. |
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It has long been recognised that for field pressure testing of PE pipelines it may be necessary to provide allowance for the fact that polyethylene pipes expand under pressure and are subject to creep. The Polyolefins Technical Committee has prepared a summary of recommended procedures for field pressure testing, as agreed by Standards Committee PL/6, for pipelines where visual inspection of joints is not practicable, for long pipelines, or for larger diameters. |
ELECTROFUSION JOINTING OF POLYETHYLENE (PE)PIPE AND FITTINGS FOR PRESSURE APPLICATIONS
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With electrofusion jointing, an electrical resistance element is incorporated in the socket of the fitting which, when connected to an appropriate power supply, melts and fuses the materials of the pipe and fitting together. The Polyolefins Technical Committee has prepared a summary note on electrofusion jointing for PE pipe for pressure applications. |
POLYETHYLENE - The Optimum Gas Pipe Material?
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Developments in polyethylene pipe and fitting materials continue to improve already outstanding properties and afford the asset owner confidence in long term durability and system life. ENA and PIPA members are at the forefront of technology in this area and continue to enable access to the latest developments and resulting economic efficiencies. |
Explanation of Material / SDR relationship
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To meet Contractors request for published explanation of PE pipe and SDR relationship, the Polyolefins Technical Committee has prepared a brief note on the subject. |
Long Term Performance of PVC Pressure Pipes
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After almost 30 years of successful operation, samples of PVC pipe were exhumed for testing, to determine whether there had been any deterioration in the quality of the pipes during their service life. |
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The resistance of elastomeric seal pipe joints to tree root penetration
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This paper reports and discusses current research on the factors that influence the ability of a pipe joint to resist tree roots. |
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Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia Limited
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