×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

leak testing sewer pipe

leak testing sewer pipe

leak testing sewer pipe

(OP)
New construction leak testing sewer pipe -> air testing or hydrostatic testing can be done for smaller diameter sewer pipes (<24"), but how would one go about testing or checking larger diameter sewer pipe (24" or larger)? Thanks

RE: leak testing sewer pipe

You may wish to refer to the latest version of the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction (Green Book), and/or other standards for similar work e.g. ASTM C924 as referenced/paraphrased? at  http://www.rinkerpipe.com/TechnicalInformation/InfoBriefs_Series/IS%20105%20Low%20Pressure%20Air%20Testings.pdf etc. You will notice the latter reference warns about safety concerns of very large diameter pipe air-testing e.g. with sewer plugs etc., and I guess same are legitimate.
I would caution however, that if testing of individual joints is used (an option it appears of at least the latest reference) this scheme does not test the installed condition of pipe barrels etc. Some folks apparently employ various schemes as well of water, as well as vacuum/external pressure testing of pipelines and manholes etc.
Everyone have a great Thanksgiving!   

RE: leak testing sewer pipe

Air testing is generally not used in civil projects.  Hydrotesting is used.  Vacuum testing is rare, at least in my area.
If you specify air testing and something goes wrong, you will not have followed the industry testing standard.
There are many debates in the Piping forum that air testing is sometimes the correct choice in process piping.  I am unaware of any reason to use air testing in civil works.

RE: leak testing sewer pipe

I would agree that hydrostatic testing is superior in many respects, including safety, to air-testing of installed pipelines in general/principle. I have noticed also that in http://www.uni-bell.org/resources/UNI-B-6-98.pdf , "RECOMMENDED PRACTICE FOR LOW-PRESSURE AIR TESTING OF INSTALLED SEWER PIPE" and also http://www.uni-bell.org/resources/sample_sanitary_spec.pdf , that Uni-Bell also appears to be currently providing some rather detailed history and direction for the latter. I guess I have to ask are you saying these folks are promoting an improper or inapplicable field test for their "civil works"?   

RE: leak testing sewer pipe

rconner,
Good point.
I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that the OP was testing sanitary force main at 100 to 150 psi, in which case air testing should not be used.
The articles you refer to are for testing at perhaps 10 psi, which can be used for gravity sanitary sewers.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources