TPi May 2017

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8 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL May 2017
newsbusiness & market
PolyTest system on-site inspection of a butt fusion joint in service
PE pipeline integrity testing service
launches in North America
TWI has partnered with Team Qualspec,
a provider of services related to
the maintenance, inspection and
construction of mechanical and piping
systems, to supply the PolyTest service
to the North American market.
PolyTest is a new field inspection sys-
tem specifically designed for volumetric
non-destructive testing of butt fusion
and electrofusion joints in polyethylene
(PE) pipes. It has been used in a wide
range of pipeline industries including
gas, water, offshore oil, mining and
nuclear since it was developed by TWI,
with the support of NYSEARCH, a
collaborative RD&D sub-organisation of
the Northeast Gas Association.
PolyTest is supported by procedures to
enable detection of all types of flaw that
can occur in PE pipe joints, including
planar flaws, particulate contamination
and cold fusions.
It is backed up by extensive perfor-
mance testing to determine the accept-
ance criteria that should be applied.
The self-contained system is fully
portable, allowing in-trench inspections,
and incorporates a simple scanner
to accommodate pipes with outside
diameters from 4" to 40" and wall
thickness from 0.3" to 2.5". It can also
be adapted for pipes outside these
ranges.
After the joints have been inspected the
system generates the results, providing
a permanent record of joint integrity.
PolyTest complies with the require-
ments of ASTM E3044, ASME BPVC
Section III Appendix XXVI and EN
13100-3, giving the end user increased
confidence in the integrity of PE joints
within their pipelines.
TWI Ltd – UK
Team, Inc – USA