An American National Standard

Designation: D 1599 – 99 (Reapproved 2005)

Standard Test Method for

Resistance to Short-Time Hydraulic Pressure of Plastic
Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1599; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope 3. Summary of Test Method

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the resis- 3.1 This test method consists of loading a specimen to
tance of either thermoplastic or reinforced thermosetting resin failure, or a predetermined minimum level, in short-time
pipe, tubing, or fittings to hydraulic presssure in a short time interval by means of continuously increasing internal
period. Procedure A is used to determine burst pressure of a hydraulic-pressure while immersed in a controlled-temperature
specimen if the mode of failure is to be determined. Procedure environment.
B is used to determine that a specimen complies with a
minimum burst requirement. 4. Significance and Use
1.2 This test method is suitable for establishing laboratory 4.1 This test method establishes the short-time hydraulic
testing requirements for quality control purposes or for pro- failure pressure of thermoplastic or reinforced thermosetting
curement specifications. resin pipe, tubing, or fittings. Data obtained by this test method
1.3 The values given in parentheses are provided for infor- are of use only in predicting the behavior of pipe, tubing, and
mation purposes only. fittings under conditions of temperature, time, method of
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the loading, and hoop stress similar to those used in the actual test.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the They are generally not indicative of the long-term strength of
responsibility of whoever uses this standard to consult and thermoplastic or reinforced thermosetting resin pipe, tubing,
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter- and fittings.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 4.2 Procurement specifications utilizing this test method
may stipulate a minimum and maximum time for failure other
2. Referenced Documents than the 60 to 70 s listed in 9.1.3. Either the internal hydraulic
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 pressure or the hoop stress may be listed in the requirements.
D 2122 Test Method for Determining Dimensions of Ther-
NOTE 1—Many thermoplastics give significantly different burst
moplastic Pipe and Fittings strengths depending on the time to failure. For instance, significant
D 3517 Specification for “Fiberglass” (Glass-Fiber- differences have been observed between failure times of 65 and 85 s.
Reinforced Thermosetting-Resin) Pressure Pipe
4.3 This test method is also used as a short-term pressur-
D 3567 Practice for Determining Dimensions of Fiberglass
ization validation procedure, where the specimens are pressur-
(Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Thermosetting Resin) Pipe and
ized to a predetermined minimum pressure requirement.
Fittings
5. Failure
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-17 on Plastic 5.1 Any instantaneous or rapid loss of pressure shall con-
Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.40 on Test stitute failure.
Methods. 5.2 Any visible passage of fluid through the wall of the
Current edition approved May 1, 2005. Published May 2005. Originally
approved in 1962. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as D 1599 – 99e1.
specimen shall constitute failure.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 5.3 Any loss of pressure that interrupts the continuous and
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM uniform pressure increase, described in 9.1.3, shall constitute
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on failure.
the ASTM website.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 D 1599 – 99 (2005)
5.4 Leakage at the end closure or fracture of the specimen in fittings, a metal band not extending more than one third of the threaded or
the immediate vicinity of the end closure shall be considered as socket depth, may be used: When the mode of failure of a piping system
an invalid test item, not a failure. is to be determined, no reinforcement shall be used.

6. Apparatus 7. Test Specimen

6.1 Constant-Temperature Bath—A water bath or other 7.1 Pipe or Tubing:
fluid bath equipped so that uniform temperature is maintained 7.1.1 Specimen Size—For pipe sizes of 6 in. (150 mm) or
throughout the bath. This may require agitation. If an air or less, the specimen length between the end closures shall be not
other gaseous environment is used, provisions shall be made less than five times the outside diameter of the pipe, but in no
for adequate circulation. Unless otherwise stated, the tests shall case less than 12 in. (300 mm). For larger sizes, the minimum
be conducted at 23 6 2°C (736 3.6°F). The tolerance on other length shall be not less than three times the outside diameter,
test temperatures shall be 6 2°C (3.6°F). Fluid environments but in no case less than 30 in. (760 mm).
that chemically attack the specimens shall not be used unless 7.1.2 Sample Size—Unless otherwise specified five speci-
this effect is being studied. In that case, the purpose of the test mens shall be tested.
shall be included in the report. 7.1.3 Measurements—Dimensions shall be determined in
accordance with Test Method D 2122 or Practice D 3567.
NOTE 2—Reinforced thermosetting resin pipe and fittings may show 7.2 Fittings:
increasing failure pressures as temperature is raised above 23°C in this 7.2.1 Specimen Size—Specimens shall consist of complete
test.
fittings without alteration.
6.2 Pressurizing System—A device capable of applying an 7.2.2 Sample Size—Unless otherwise specified five speci-
essentially continuously increasing internal hydraulic pressure mens shall be tested.
to the test specimen. Suggested equipment for this test may 7.2.3 Specimen Surface—All surfaces of the specimens
include the following: shall be free of visible flaws, scratches, or other imperfections,
6.2.1 Nitrogen Supply (Cylinder Gas) with a pressure regu- except for the usual marks common on good extrusions and
lator and hydraulic accumulator, or molding, unless these imperfections are being investigated, in
6.2.1.1 Pump, capable of applying essentially continuously which case the purpose shall be included in the report along
increasing internal hydraulic pressure to the test specimen. with a description of the imperfections.
6.3 Pressure Gage, having a precision of not less than 1 % 7.3 Systems (Pipe, Fittings, and Joints):
of full-scale deflection with a maximum indicating hand. The 7.3.1 Systems shall be prepared from pipe and fittings
pressure gage shall be selected such that the final readings are meeting the requirements of 7.1 and 7.2, unless otherwise
in the mid-60 % of the scale. The gage should be equipped with specified.
a surge protection device. 7.3.2 The pipe and fittings shall be joined as recommended
6.3.1 The gage shall be located in the test system at a by the manufacturer using solvent cement, heat fusion, or other
location such that it only indicates pressure on the specimen techniques. When solvent cements are used they shall meet the
and not indicate pressure built up by water flowing in the requirements of the relevant solvent cement specification.
supply lines to the specimen.
NOTE 3—When testing materials such as Polyolefins that change in 8. Conditioning
volume greatly before rupture, a large diameter water supply line or 8.1 Test specimens shall be conditioned at the test tempera-
location of the gage on the specimen should be used to eliminate ture for a minimum of 1 h in a liquid bath or 16 h in a gaseous
erroneous readings caused by the pressure drop in the water supply line. medium before pressurizing, unless otherwise specified. Unless
6.4 Timing Device—Stop watch or equivalent. otherwise agreed upon, the test temperature shall be 23 6 2°C
6.5 Specimen End Closures: (73 6 3.6°F) for thermoplastic pipe. For thermosets, test at 23
6.5.1 Pipe or Tubing—Either free-end or restrained-end 6 2°C or at maximum rated temperature depending on
closures, that will withstand the maximum test pressures, may intended service.
be used. Closures shall be designed so that they do not cause
failure of the specimen. Free-end closures shall be used for 9. Procedure
referee tests. 9.1 Procedure A:
NOTE 4—Free-end closures fasten to the specimen so that internal 9.1.1 Attach the end closures to the specimen and fill it
pressure produces longitudinal tensile stresses in addition to hoop and completely with test fluid which is maintained at the test
radial stesses in the pipe wall. Restrained-end closures rely on a rod temperature. Attach specimen to the pressuring device, making
through the specimen or an external structure to resist the end thrust. certain no gas is entrapped when using liquids. The specimen
Stresses in the wall of restrained-end specimens act in the hoop and radial shall be completely immersed in the conditioning medium.
directions only. Because of this difference in loading, the expected hoop 9.1.2 Condition the specimen as specified in 8.1.
stress at failure in free-end specimens of solid-wall thermoplastic pipes are
approximately 11 % lower than in restrained-end specimens. The test
9.1.3 Increase the pressure uniformly and continuously until
results will reflect this difference in test method. the specimen fails, measuring the time with a stop watch. If
failure time is less than 60 s, reduce the rate of loading and
6.5.2 Fittings—Caps and plugs for fittings shall not extend repeat the test. The time to failure for all specimens shall be
beyond the bottom thread or the bottom of the socket. between 60 and 70 s.
NOTE 5—For purposes of determining the ultimate rupture strength of 9.1.4 Record the pressure and time-to-failure.

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 D 1599 – 99 (2005)
NOTE 6—If additional data can be obtained by continued pressurization 11.1.3 Pipe dimensions, including nominal size, minimum
after failure (as defined in Section 5), it is the tester’s prerogative to do so wall thickness, and average outside diameter. For reinforced
but is beyond the scope of this method. thermosetting pipe, wall thickness and outside diameter shall
9.2 Procedure B: be reinforced dimensions only. Unreinforced thicknesses shall
9.2.1 Prepare the test specimen in the same way as de- also be reported. For fittings, report nominal size and schedule,
scribed in Procedure A (9.1.1 to 9.1.2). or pressure rating.
9.2.2 Increase the pressure uniformly and continuously, 11.1.4 Type of end closure used, that is, free or restrained,
measuring the time. To determine that the specimen complies 11.1.5 Number of specimens tested.
with a minimum burst requirement the specimen shall burst 11.1.6 Test temperature.
between 60 and 70 s, or the minimum burst pressure shall be 11.1.7 Test environment, including conditioning time.
reached or exceeded between 60 and 70 s. 11.1.8 Purpose of the tests. Refer also to 6.1 and 7.2.3.
11.1.9 Failure pressure and failure time (Procedure A or B)
10. Calculation or minimum pressure reached and time to reach minimum
10.1 Calculate the pipe hoop stress as follows: pressure (Procedure B) for each specimen.
S 5 P ~D 2 t!/2t for outside diameter controlled pipe 11.1.10 For pipe, calculate the average maximum stress and
the standard deviation.
or
11.1.11 Type of failure for Procedure A (bursting, cracking,
S 5 P ~d 1 t!/2t for inside diameter controlled pipe splitting, weeping, leaking).
11.1.12 Date of test.
where:
12. Precision and Bias 3
S = hoop stress, psi (or MPa),
P = internal pressure, psi (or MPa), 12.1 Precision3—Based on a mini laboratory round-robin
D = average outside diameter, in. (or mm). For reinforced conducted on 2-in. medium density polyethylene pipe, the
thermosetting pipe, outside diameter shall not include precision (one standard deviation) of this test method for
nonreinforced covers, medium density polyethylene pipe is as follows:
d = average inside diameter, in. (or mm), and 12.1.1 Within-laboratory, 63 % (repeatability).
t = minimum wall thickness, in. (or mm). For reinforced 12.1.2 Between-laboratory, 66 % (reproducibility).
thermosetting pipe use minimum reinforced wall thick- 12.2 Bias—Data obtained using this test method are be-
ness. lieved to be reliable, since accepted techniques of analysis are
used. However, because no referee method is available, no bias
NOTE 7—An alternative method for calculating the hoop stress of
statement can be made.
reinforced pipe is given in the Annex of Specification D 3517.
13. Keywords
11. Report
13.1 burst pressure; plastic fittings; plastic pipe; plastic
11.1 The report shall include the following:
tubing; short-term hydrostatic pressure
11.1.1 Complete identification of the specimens, including
material, manufacturer’s name and code number, type, source,
and previous history. 3
Supporting data have been filed at ASTM International Headquarters and may
11.1.2 Procedure used, either A or B. be obtained by requesting Research Report RR: F 17-1038.

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