ASTM Int'l to Work on Proposed Plastic Piping Systems Standard for Low-Pressure Oxygen, Enriched Air - ASTM WK15105

October 19, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

Plastic pipe and components for low-pressure oxygen and enriched air are used for a variety of applications including medical and health care, agriculture (fish farming), welding and fabrication, wastewater treatment and others.

ASTM WK15105 - Guide for Design of Plastic Piping Systems for Low Pressure Oxygen and Enriched Air Services is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee G04.02 on Recommended Practices.

Joseph Slusser, Engineer Associate - Materials, Global Engineering Organization, Air Products and Chemicals Inc., said that the proposed standard is important because almost all plastics are flammable in oxygen and near-pure oxygen mixtures.

"This proposed standard is intended to give guidance to designers in terms of materials selection, fabrication issues such as cleanliness and joining and design features such as velocity, impingement points and personnel exposure to minimize the potential for ignition and combustion," said Slusser, who is also chair of Committee G04.

Slusser said that, while current G04 standards recommend limiting the use of plastics and elastomers to small components such as O-rings and valve seats, bulk plastic parts such as pipe and tubing are being used by industry in low-pressure applications.

"I think we have a responsibility to provide some guidance for these applications. I envision that [ASTM] WK15105 will be a short standard with concise do's and don'ts for use by the nonspecialist."

The subcommittee welcomes input on ASTM WK15105 from the medical/health care industry.

Source: ASTM International.