Designation:F1734−03(Reapproved2009)StandardPracticeforQualificationofaCombinationofSqueezeTool,Pipe,andSqueeze-OffProcedurestoAvoidLong-TermDamageinPolyethylene(PE)GasPipe1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF1734;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope1.1Thispracticecoversqualifyingacombinationofasqueezetool,apolyethylenegaspipe,andasqueeze-offproceduretoavoidlong-termdamageinpolyethylenegaspipe.Qualifyingisconductedbyexaminingtheinsideandoutsidesurfacesofpipespecimensatandnearthesqueezetodeter-minetheexistenceoffeaturesindicativeoflong-termdamage.Ifindicativefeaturesareabsent,sustainedpressuretestinginaccordancewithSpecificationD2513isconductedtoconfirmtheviabilityofthesqueeze-offprocess.Forassistancewithspecimenexamination,anAdjunct,ADJF17342,isavailablefromASTM.1.2Thispracticeisappropriateforanycombinationofsqueezetool,PEgaspipeandsqueeze-offprocedure,andisparticularlyappropriateforpre-1975Polyethylene(PE)pipe,andforpipesizesof8in.orabove,becauseofagreaterpossibilityoflong-termdamage.1.3Thispracticeisforusebysqueeze-toolmanufacturers,pipemanufacturersandgasutilitiestoqualifysqueezetoolsmadeinaccordancewithSpecificationF1563;andsqueeze-offproceduresinaccordancewithGuideF1041withpipemanu-facturedinaccordancewithSpecificationD2513.1.4Governingcodesandprojectspecificationsshouldbeconsulted.Nothinginthispracticeshouldbeconstruedasrecommendingpracticesorsystemsatvariancewithgoverningcodesandprojectspecifications.1.5Whereapplicableinthisguide,“pipe”shallmean“pipeandtubing.”1.6Units—Thevaluesstatedininch-poundunitsaretoberegardedasstandard.ThevaluesgiveninparenthesesaremathematicalconversionstoSIunitsthatareprovidedforinformationonlyandarenotconsideredstandard.1.7Thisstandarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyconcerns,ifany,assoc...
