Many commercial, industrial, and governmental standards or specifications are available to assist the design engineer in specifying plastic piping systems. Standards most frequently referenced in plastic piping specifications are ASTM Standards. These standards also often form the bases of other standards in existence. Below is a list and description of those standards most typically applied to industrial plastic piping.

 
ASTM Standard D-1784
(American Society for Testing and Materials)

This standard covers PVC and CPVC compounds used in the manufacture of plastic pipe, valves, and fittings. It provides a means for selecting and identifying compounds on the basis of a number of physical and chemical criteria. Conformance to a particular material classification in this standard requires meeting a number of minimum physical and chemical properties.

ASTM Standard D4101 (formerly was D-2146)

This standard covers the polymeric content and physical characteristics of PP (polypropylene) plastic materials for injection molding and extrusion.

ASTM Standard D-3222

This standard covers the polymerization method and physical properties of PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) fluoroplastic materials for molding and extrusion.

ASTM Standards D-1785 and F-441

　　
These standards cover the definition and quality aspects of Schedule 40, 80, and 120 PVC (D-1785) and CPVC (F-441) pressure pipe. Outlined in these standards are dimensional requirements, minimum burst and sustained pressure requirements, maximum operating pressure, and test procedures for determining pipe quality with respect to workmanship and materials.

ASTM Standard D-2466

This standard covers Schedule 40 PVC threaded and socket pressure fittings. The standard stipulates thread and socket specifications as well as minimum lengths, wall thicknesses, burst pressures, material classification, quality, and requirements for
marking identification.

ASTM Standards D-2464 and F-437

Until recently, these standards covered PVC (D-2464) and CPVC (F-437) Schedule 80 threaded pressure fitting. Thread dimensional specifications, minimum wall thickness and burst pressure, material classification, and requirements for marking identification were stipulated. However, the requirements for Schedule 80 threaded fittings have now been rolled into the respective standards for Schedule 80 Socket Type Pressure Fittings, and the threaded-only standards will be deleted.

ASTM Standards D-2467 and F-439

These standards now cover Schedule PVC (D-2467) and CPVC (F-439) Socket Type, as well as Threaded Pressure Fittings. They formerly covered only Socket Type fittings. Dimensions, thread gaging, minimum wall thickness and burst pressure, material classification, various quality aspects and requirements for marking identification are stipulated.

ASTM Standard F-1970

This specification covers special engineered fittings or appurtenances for use in PVC or CPVC systems. Flanges, unions, and valves not included in the scope of other ASTM specifications are specifically referenced. Minimum requirements are identified for testing, materials, dimensions, marking, and in-plant quality control.

ASTM Standard F-1498

This specification adapts the General Purpose American Pipe Thread Specification, ASME B1.20.1, to taper pipe threads for use on plastic pipe and fittings with machined or molded threads. The standard covers dimensions and gaging of plastic tapered National Pipe Threads (NPT) for leak-tight joints, and it is now referenced in all ASTM Standards for plastic piping products.

ASTM Standard D-2855

This standard describes the procedure for making joints with PVC pipe and fittings by means of solvent cementing.

ASTM Standard D-2657

This standard covers the procedures for the heat joining of pipe and fittings made from polyolefin materials utilizing either the socket or butt fusion methods.

ASTM Standard F-656

　
This standard covers the requirements for primers to be used in conjunction with solvent cement for the chemical fusion of PVC pipe and fitting joints.

ASTM Standards D-2564 and F-493

These standards set forth requirements for PVC (D-2564) and CPVC (F-493) Solvent Cement. The specification identifies the resin compound to be used and stipulates minimum resin content, solution viscosities, and physical performance qualities.

ASTM Standard D-1599

This standard covers the test method for establishing the short-term hydraulic failure pressure of thermoplastic pipe, tubing, and fittings under specific temperature, time, and method of loading conditions. These test techniques are normally used for quality control.

ASTM Standard D-2837

This standard describes the procedure for obtaining the Hydrostatic Design Stress (maximum working strength) for any thermoplastic pipe material at any practical temperature. This is accomplished by evaluating long-term stress rupture data, tested in conformance with ASTM D-1598, on pipe made from the material. It also specifies the methods for mathematical analysis and treatment of the data.

Organizations other than ASTM issue standards that are commonly encountered in industrial thermoplastic piping design. The most important of these are described below.

ASME B1.20.1 (formerly American Standards Association B2.1)
(American Society of Mechanical Engineers)

This specification details the dimensions and gaging methods for tapered pipe threads. It was originally developed for metallic joints, but it is now also referenced in the ASTM standard for plastic fittings cited above.

ASME B16.5

This specification sets forth the dimensional requirements for 150# steel flanges and flanged fittings. The bolt hole pattern and outside diameter dimensions were adopted for plastic flanges manufactured in the U.S.A. 

ANSI/NSF STANDARD 14
(American National Standards Institute/National Sanitation Foundation International)

This standard establishes minimum physical and performance requirements for plastic piping components and associated materials. It provides definitions and requirements for materials, ingredients, products, quality assurance, marking, and record keeping. Products that are tested and certified by NSF, except those specifically exempted by policy, must bear an NSF listing mark which identifies the intended application. The NSF listing marks for plastic piping components certified under Standard 14 include: potable water (NSF-pw), corrosive waste (NSF-cw), tubular continuous waste (NSFtubular), and drain, waste & vent (NSF-dwv). The “NSF-pw” mark denotes certification to Standard 14 for both performance and health effects (ANSI/NSF 61).

ANSI/NSF Standard 61

This standard was developed to establish minimum requirements for the control of potential adverse health effects from chemical contaminants and impurities that are indirectly imparted to drinking water systems from products, components, and materials used in these systems. It is intended that this standard cover specific materials or products that come into contact with drinking water, treatment chemicals for drinking water, or both. The products and materials covered include, but are not limited to: process media (carbon, sand, etc.), protective materials (coatings, linings, liners, etc.), joining and sealing materials (solvent cements, welding materials, gaskets, etc.), pipes and related products (pipes, tanks, fittings, etc.), mechanical devices used in treatment/transmission/distribution systems (valves, chlorinators, separation membranes, etc.), and mechanical plumbing devices (faucets, endpoint control valves, etc.). To show compliance to this standard, a manufacturer must allow third-party certification by an ANSI-recognized testing laboratory. Chemtrol products have been tested by NSF International. Products that have been approved to the requirements of ANSI/NSF 61 display the “NSF-61” or “NSF-pw” mark on the product, packaging, or both.