This standard provides the requirements for qualification for welding thermoplastic materials. It addresses requirements for procedure and performance qualifications. This standard is intended for use where referenced by product or fabrication code, specification, contract document, or internal documents such as quality control or quality assurance manuals. The requirements imposed by the Referencing Document supersede the requirements of this standard.

This standard is intended for use with the following thermoplastic welding processes:

Socket Fusion Welding (SFW)¹

Heated Tool Butt Welding (HTW)²

Flow Fusion Welding (FFW)²

Infrared Welding (IRW)²

Hot Gas Welding (HGW)²

Speed Welding²

Fan Welding²

Extrusion Welding (EXW)²

Solvent Cement Welding (SCW)¹

Electrofusion Welding (EFW)¹

This standard is intended for use with new construction but may be applicable for retrofit, reconstruction, or repair procedures. Thermoplastic applications that are bonded to backing materials are not addressed in this standard.

Materials.

These guidelines apply to welded joints on components and systems made from the engineering thermoplastics shown in Table 1.1.

Responsibilities

Employers shall be responsible for the welding performed by their organization, including the use of the general provisions of this standard, the use of qualified welding procedures, and the use of qualified welders.

It is the employer’s responsibility to assure that Welding Procedure Specifications meet all requirements of the Referencing Document.

Effective Date.

When not otherwise specified by the Referencing Document, the edition of this specification to be used should be established in accordance with the following:

(1) Editions may be used at any time after the effective date of issue;

(2) Latest edition of this document should be used for new contracts; and

(3) Editions established by contract date may be used during the entire term of the contract, or the provisions of later editions may be used when agreed upon by the contracting parties.

¹Welding process applies to pipe.

²Welding process applies to pipe and sheet.