Document 91mqrkG9rnO8Xr8Rx60n6kr6p

CertairileedlH May 14, 1974 TO: ALL DISTRICT SALES MANAGERS ALL TERRITORY MANAGERS ALL CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGERS ALL PRODUCT MANAGERS ALL SALES SERVICE MANAGERS ALL QUALITY CONTROL MANAGERS ALL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS ALL SALES ENGINEERS ALL VF MARKETING & SALES PERSONNEL FM: E. J. LAWLESS RE: TESTING A-C AND PVC PRESSURE PIPE Our published literature is very explicit in that pressure pipe is not to be tested with air. Page 10 of the PVC Installation brochure No. 40-22-16H and PVC Solvent Weld General Specification brochure No. 40-34-05H, paragraph 6.00 states that air testing is not recommended. Further, the A-C Pressure Pipe Installation Guide, page 29, in bold-face type states that we do not recomnend air testing. Because of the potential danger to personnel (as well as property), we again want to emphasize that Certain-teed does not recommend nor condone nor can we be responsible for this type of testing. The only type of testing that we recommend for pressure pipe is with water. Some contractors still test with air despite the warnings because they are not familier with the potential danger. If they knew how dangerour it is, we feel that they would not continue to do so. To put it in an easily understood frame of reference, we have made some calcula tions. Specifically, if a 16" A-C pipe 1,000 ft. long is filled with compressed air to 25 psi, the stored energy is equivalent to 1,000,000 pounds lifted to a heiRht of 5 ft. With potential energy of this magnitude, it is quite possible to blow the pipe completely out the the ground even though it may be backfilled. Even though the danger is spelled out in our published literature and in this bulletin, we cannot assume that the contractor is aware of it. We must take every opportunity to tell those contractors who test with air--he may not have read the literature. CTD014433 Gen. 4 5-14-74 BULLETIN NO DATE: