| 24 | Desalination & Water Reuse | May-June 2016
TECHNOLOGY
calculations, section thicknesses, material properties at ambient
temperature with correlation data at elevated temperatures,
product performance testing, validation of established ratings,
and additional correlations between European, US and other
International Norms. This process alone is very time-consuming,
but is viewed as one of the most important in establishing product
safety data for critical applications (e.g. PED Risk Categories II
and III).
PrOduCT aNd maTEriaL TEsTiNG
Additionally, at Victaulic and other leading companies, regulatory
departments maintain a rigorous product testing program for its
line of mechanical couplings and fittings for grooved end pipe.
Fully assembled products are selected at random on a periodic
schedule and are subjected to laboratory testing in accordance with
ASTM F-1476 ³ and ASTM F-1548 ⁴. The ASTM standards
require that a minimum of five samples be subjected to each test
including hydrostatic proof strength, hydrostatic burst, bending
moment proof strength, bending moment ultimate strength, axial
pull-out (end load restraint) evaluations, pneumatic pressure sealing
performance, vibration fatigue and pressure pulsation (cyclical
pressure to induce fatigue), among others.
VaLidaTiON bY ExTErNaL NOTifiEd bOdiEs
Ongoing physical property testing of the ductile iron casting
Figure 2 typical industrial jobsite installation featuring grooved mechanical
couplings.
