Are there any standards or codes of practice applicable to the assembly methods?
The major users of PE piping systems have developed codes of practice for fusion assembly. Many of these have become national standards.
Butt fusion
Butt fusion procedures require the application of temperature and pressure over time to the mated ends of the pipes or fittings. The procedures developed in different European countries are all similar in principle but different in detail. All have been tested and all produce satisfactory joints when the procedures are followed correctly.
The differences between the procedures are in the level of pressure to be applied and the time for which it is applied. All the procedures require a fusion temperature of 210°C to be applied. For the pressure/time regimes for the main procedures click the Fusion Cycles image.
The various national codes of practice on butt fusion are the following:
Belgium | Belgium Becetel NBNT 42-010 |
Germany | Germany DVS 2207-1 |
Netherlands | Netherlands NEN 7200 |
France | France DVS 2207-1 and NEN 7200 |
UK | UK WIS 4-32-08 |
Scandinavia | Scandinavia DS/INF 70-2 |
Italy | Italy UNI 10520 and UNI 10967 |
Spain | Spain ISO 11414 |
Electrofusion
There is less variation in electrofusion procedures. The barcodes on the fittings cause the electrofusion controller unit to be programmed with the necessary time and temperature cycle for that fitting.