MACHINE & OPERATOR QUALIFICATIONS

Machine & Operator Qualifications

The selected fusion equipment and qualified operators shall be capable of meeting all parameters of the job. The fusion equipment should be inspected to make sure it meets the manufacturers specifications before use. The equipment shall have jaws or reducing inserts designed to properly hold the size of the pipes being fused, and it shall have enough hydraulic force to reach the required fusion pressure during all fusion conditions. The fusion operator shall be thoroughly familiar with and trained on the equipment being used. See TN-42 has been superseded by ASTM F3190. Such training shall include at least the following

  • Safety;
  • Operator's manual & checklist;
  • Basic maintenance and troubleshooting;
  • External power requirements;
  • Features;
  • Components and how they operate;
  • Hydraulic operation (if applicable);
  • Determining required fusion pressure and how to set on machine;
  • Heater operation and temperature requirements and adjustment; and
  • Data logging device (if applicable).

Ref. Polyethylene Piping Systems Field Manual for Municipal Water (Irving, TX: The Plastics Pipe Institute, 2010)