ASTM D2321-20 - 15.3.2020
 
Significance and Use

4.1 This practice is for use by designers and specifiers, installation contractors, regulatory agencies, owners, and inspection organizations who are involved in the construction of sewers and other gravity-flow applications that utilize flexible thermoplastic pipe. As with any standard practice, modifications may be required for specific job conditions or for special local or regional conditions. Recommendations for inclusion of this practice in contract documents for a specific project are given in Appendix X2.

 
1. Scope

1.1 This practice provides recommendations for the installation of buried thermoplastic pipe used in sewers and other gravity-flow applications. These recommendations are intended to ensure a stable underground environment for thermoplastic pipe under a wide range of service conditions. However, because of the numerous flexible plastic pipe products available and the inherent variability of natural ground conditions, achieving satisfactory performance of any one product may require modification to provisions contained herein to meet specific project requirements.

1.2 The scope of this practice necessarily excludes product performance criteria such as minimum pipe stiffness, maximum service deflection, or long term strength. Thus, it is incumbent upon the product manufacturer, specifier, or project engineer to verify and assure that the pipe specified for an intended application, when installed according to procedures outlined in this practice, will provide a long term, satisfactory performance according to criteria established for that application. A commentary on factors important in achieving a satisfactory installation is included in Appendix X1.

Note 1: Specific paragraphs in the appendix are referenced in the body of this practice for informational purposes.

Note 2: The following ASTM standards may be found useful in connection with this practice: Practice D420, Test Method D1556, Method D2216, Specification D2235, Test Method D2412, Specification D2564, Practice D2657, Practice D2855, Test Methods D2922, Test Method D3017, Practice F402, Specification F477, Specification F545, and Specification F913.

Note 3: Most Plumbing Codes and some Building Codes have provisions for the installation of underground “building drains and building sewers.” See them for plumbing piping applications.

1.3 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

 
2. Referenced Documents

F913-02(2021)

Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Elastomeric Seals (Gaskets) for Joining Plastic Pipe

D2922-05

Standard Test Methods for Density of Soil and Soil-Aggregate in Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth) (Withdrawn 2007)

D2855-20

Standard Practice for the Two-Step (Primer and Solvent Cement) Method of Joining Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) or Chlorinated Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Pipe and Piping Components with Tapered Sockets

D2216-19

Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass

D698-12(2021)

Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbf/ft3 (600 kN-m/m3))

D1556-07

Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone Method

D2235-22

Standard Specification for Solvent Cement for Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) Plastic Pipe and Fittings

D3017-05

Standard Test Method for Water Content of Soil and Rock in Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth) (Witthdrawn 2007)

D3839-14(2019)

Standard Guide for Underground Installation of “Fiberglass” (Glass-Fiber Reinforced Thermosetting-Resin) Pipe

D4318-17e1

Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils (Includes all amendments and changes 4/17/2018).

F402-18

Standard Practice for Safe Handling of Solvent Cements, Primers, and Cleaners Used for Joining Thermoplastic Pipe and Fittings

F412-23

Standard Terminology Relating to Plastic Piping Systems

F477-14(2021)

Standard Specification for Elastomeric Seals (Gaskets) for Joining Plastic Pipe

F545-95

Specification for PVC and ABS Injected Solvent Cemented Plastic Pipe Joints (Withdrawn 2001)

D2412-21

Standard Test Method for Determination of External Loading Characteristics of Plastic Pipe by Parallel-Plate Loading

F1668-16(2022)

Standard Guide for Construction Procedures for Buried Plastic Pipe

AASHTO M145

Classification of Soils and Soil Aggregate Mixtures

D8-22a

Standard Terminology Relating to Materials for Roads and Pavements (Includes all amendments and changes 6/15/2022).

D420-18

Standard Guide for Site Characterization for Engineering Design and Construction Purposes

D653-22

Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids

D2487-17e1

Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System) (Includes all amendments and changes 4/2/2020).

D2488-17e1

Standard Practice for Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedures) (Includes all amendments and changes 4/4/2018).

D2564-20

Standard Specification for Solvent Cements for Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Plastic Piping Systems

D2657-07(2023)

Standard Practice for Heat Fusion Joining of Polyolefin Pipe and Fittings