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Hydrostatic vs Pneumatic Test of UG CHW Piping?

Hydrostatic vs Pneumatic Test of UG CHW Piping?

Hydrostatic vs Pneumatic Test of UG CHW Piping?

(OP)
The customer requested by what authority are we air testing PVC joints before backfilling the pipe installation? He accepts the fact we will conduct hydrostatic testing once the full pipe branch assemblies are complete. My subcontractor indicates the initial air testing of joints to be common practice and acceptable. Is their a technical explanation to support this approach?

RE: Hydrostatic vs Pneumatic Test of UG CHW Piping?

Under what code is the piping being constructed?

Its possible that some codes permit leak testing by air, typically at low pressure only.  Its also possible that your code prohibits the procedure your sub is using, so its important that you verify the procedures allowed by the particular construction code that you are using and that your sub strictly follows those procedures.

**********************
"The problem isn't working out the equation,
its finding the answer to the real question." BigInch
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RE: Hydrostatic vs Pneumatic Test of UG CHW Piping?

Since this pressurization of at least some part of this pvc piping is apparently to be done "before backfilling" and with compressed air, this could be considered by some to be aboveground or exposed (at least at that time it is exposed to the air pressure) piping.  If you are in the United States (and maybe not bad reading for elsewhere), you might want to read carefully all parts of the OSHA and manufacturers' advisories at http://www.osha.gov/dts/hib/hib_data/hib19880520.html before you put compressed air pressure in exposed pvc piping.  Some of these references/citations could be at least part of the reason for this questioning.  If  there is more uptodate information from any of these authorities, maybe they will be forthcoming with better information.

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