ASTM Int'l Plastic Piping Systems Standard Allows for Use of Recycled Material - ASTM F 2648/F 2648M

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

Subcommittee F17.65 on Land Drainage developed ASTM F 2648/F 2648M - Specification for 2 to 60 inch [50 to 1500 mm] Annular Corrugated Profile Wall Polyethylene (PE) Pipe and Fittings for Land Drainage Applications.

The need to provide a product for land drainage construction that is both environmentally friendly and cost effective was the driving force behind the standard approved by ASTM International Committee F17 on Plastic Piping Systems.

The requirements of ASTM F 2648/F 2628M provide nonpressure (gravity flow) pipe and fitting suitable for underground use for subsurface and land drainage systems.

"This standard allows the user to specify the use of blended or recycled materials for large diameter HDPE [high-density polyethylene] pipe product," said John Kurdziel, director, technical services and market development, Advanced Drainage Systems Inc.

"It reduces the environmental impact of the disposal of used plastics and provides a lower priced product while still meeting the long-term engineering and material mechanical properties for the project."

Kurdziel said that private developers will use product covered by ASTM F 2648/F 2648M for land drainage applications and that, because it presents the option to specify recycled materials, the standard will be helpful to municipalities that have a recycled product program or those that require a percentage of products to be made from materials that minimize environmental impact.

This standard does not reduce the long-term engineering requirements for the pipe but instead allows a designer to determine the load and field applications that accommodate the pipe capabilities, said ASTM International.

Source: ASTM International.