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PAGE 1 OF 18

Qualification of FRP Pipe

and Components

This document is issued by PED, SABIC E&PM, Jubail Industrial City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The information contained
in this document is the confidential property of SABIC. It cannot be disclosed, copied or used for any purpose without
approval from SABIC. If you are not authorized to posses this document, please destroy it immediately.
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CONTENTS
1 SCOPE ..........................................................................................................................................3
2 REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................................3
3 DEFINITIONS ................................................................................................................................4
4 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................................4
5 MATERIALS ..................................................................................................................................5
5.1 Resin Systems .......................................................................................................................5
5.2 Reinforcements .....................................................................................................................5
5.3 Additives ................................................................................................................................5
5.4 Corrosion Liner Selection ......................................................................................................5
5.5 Other Materials ......................................................................................................................6
6 MANUFACTURING METHODS ....................................................................................................6
6.1 Filament Wound ....................................................................................................................6
6.2 Centrifugal Cast .....................................................................................................................7
6.3 Contact Molded .....................................................................................................................7
6.4 Compression and Transfer Molded .......................................................................................7
6.5 Certification ............................................................................................................................8
7 JOINT TYPES ...............................................................................................................................8
7.1 Unrestrained Joints ................................................................................................................8
7.2 Restrained Joints ...................................................................................................................8
8 FITTINGS AND FLANGES ...........................................................................................................8
8.1 Fabrication of Elbows ............................................................................................................8
8.2 Reinforced Fabricated Tees ..................................................................................................9
8.3 Flange Requirements ..........................................................................................................11
9 SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS ...................................................................................................12
9.1 General ................................................................................................................................12
9.2 Chemical Resistance ...........................................................................................................12
9.3 Temperature Resistance .....................................................................................................12
9.4 Abrasion Resistance ............................................................................................................12
9.5 Fire Resistance ....................................................................................................................13
10 QUALIFICATION OF FRP PIPE AND COMPONENTS..............................................................13
10.1 General ................................................................................................................................13
10.2 Testing Conditions ...............................................................................................................14
10.3 Qualification by Long Term Hydrostatic Testing..................................................................14
10.4 Qualification by Short Term Hydrostatic Testing .................................................................15
10.5 Qualification by Analysis ......................................................................................................16
10.6 Additional Requirements .....................................................................................................17
11 REVISION HISTORY ..................................................................................................................18

FIGURE-1 TYPICAL MITERED ELBOW .......................................................................................9

FIGURE-2 FABRICATED TEE SECTION ....................................................................................11
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1 Scope
This standard is for qualification of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) piping systems and components
for use in SABIC facilities.

2 References
Reference is made in this standard to the following documents. The latest issues, amendments and
supplements to these documents shall apply unless otherwise indicated.
SABIC Engineering Standards (SES)
P01-E28-02 Design Requirements for FRP Piping Systems
P04-S01 Piping Material Specifications for Utilities
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
B16.5 Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings.
B16.47 Large Diameter Steel Flanges.
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
C581 Practice for Determining Chemical Resistance of Thermosetting Resins Used in
Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Structures Intended for Liquid Service
C582 Standard for Contact-Molded Reinforced Thermosetting Plastic (RTP) Laminates for
Corrosion-Resistant Equipment.
D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
D790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and
Electrical Insulating Materials
D1599 Standard Test Method for Resistance to Short-Time Hydraulic Failure Pressure of
Plastic Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings
D2105 Test Method for Longitudinal Tensile Properties of “Fiberglass” (Glass-Fiber-
Reinforced Thermosetting-Resin) Pipe and Tube
D2412 Test Method for Determination of External Loading Characteristics of Plastic Pipe by
Parallel-Plate Loading
D2992 Practice for Obtaining Hydrostatic or Pressure Design Basis for “Fiberglass” (Glass-
Fiber-Reinforced Thermosetting-Resin) Pipe and Fittings
D5421 Standard Specification for Contact Molded “Fiberglass” (Glass-Fiber-Reinforced
Thermosetting Resin) Flanges
American Water Works Association (AWWA)
C950 Fiberglass Pressure Pipe
Factory Mutual (FM)
FM 1614 Fiber Reinforced Composite (FRC) Pipe and Fittings for Underground Fire Protection
Service
International Maritime Organization
IMO Resolution A. 753 (18) Guidelines for the Application of Plastic Pipes on Ships
NSF-International
NSF/ANSI 61 Drinking Water System Components-Health Effects
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3 Definitions
For the purpose of understanding this standard, the following definitions apply.
Bi-axial Pressure. Pressure which is restrained by the pipe and exerts both hoop and axial stress in
the pipe wall.
Corrosion Liner. The thickness of the non-structural layer(s) on the interior of the pipe wall laminate
intended to resist degradation by the service fluid, thereby protecting the structural laminate. The pipe
wall laminate typically consists of the corrosion liner plus the structural wall.
Custom Pipe. FRP pipe manufactured for project specific requirements.
Design Engineering Company: The Engineering Company responsible for Engineering,
Procurement and Construction of piping systems.
Flexibility Factor. Constant used in piping flexibility analysis to define the relative flexibility of a bend
or tee to that of the pipe.
HDB. Hydrostatic design basis; determined by testing in accordance with ASTM D2992.
HDS. Hydrostatic design stress; maximum allowable hoop stress determined by this standard.
Pipe Stiffness. A specific value relating to the hoop stiffness of a given pipe design or product, in
accordance with ASTM D2412.
Ring Bending Strain. Strain induced in the underground pipe by soil overburden and live loads.
SIF. Stress intensification factor; a constant used in flexibility analysis defining the relative stress in a
bend or tee to that of the pipe.
STHS. Short term hydrostatic strength; hoop stress determined by testing in accordance with
ASTM D1599.
Structural Wall. The thickness of the pipe wall laminate which is reinforced and provides load bearing
capability, but does not include the corrosion liner thickness. The pipe wall laminate typically consists
of the corrosion liner plus the structural wall.
STUS. Short term ultimate strength; the ultimate strength of a composite laminate determined by
coupon testing in accordance with ASTM D638.

4 General Requirements
4.1 Selection, qualification and manufacture of all FRP pipe and components, and design of the
piping system shall be carried out per the requirements of this specification and other
applicable standards and specifications referenced herein.
4.2 In case of missing or conflicting data and or requirements between this and other applicable
Standards, Specifications, Drawings, Procedures or Codes, the Design Engineering Company/
Pipe Manufacturer shall notify SABIC in writing for resolution. Until a resolution is officially
made, the most stringent requirement shall govern.
4.3 A Design Report satisfying the requirements of the SABIC Standards and other applicable
standards and specifications, shall be provided to SABIC for review and approval prior to
beginning fabrication.
4.4 In no case does the review or approval of the Design Report relieve the Design Engineering
Company/Pipe Manufacturer of design responsibility, compliance to the specifications, or
contractual or legal requirements.
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4.5 Where applicable Codes or Standards are not specified by this document or the Standards it
references or requirements are not clear, the Design Engineering Company/Pipe Manufacturer
shall notify SABIC in writing for resolution.

5 Materials
5.1 Resin Systems
5.1.1 Manufacture of pipe and fittings shall be limited to thermosetting vinyl ester and epoxy
resin system used for interior liner, structural wall and adhesives with suitable curing
agents so that it meets the performance requirements and temperature limits. Resin
shall be suitable for fluid service specified, and shall be noted by manufacturer in his
proposal. External coating, if required, shall be used to provide thermal insulation, fire
resistance or electrical conductivity. Catalyst systems shall be in accordance with the
resin manufacturer's recommendations for the specified service.
5.1.2 Refer to SES P04-S01, Table-IIB for the selection of resin system for different services
and size range.
5.2 Reinforcements
5.2.1 Structural reinforcements shall be E-glass fiber or E-CR glass, including continuous
roving for filament winding, woven or stitched directional fabrics, or random chopped
strand mat.
5.2.2 Surfaces exposed to the service fluid shall be reinforced with C-glass or synthetic
surfacing veils, as required for the specific service, except for centrifugal cast pipe
which has an unreinforced liner.
5.3 Additives
5.3.1 Resin may be modified with additives for opacity or color, ultraviolet protection, fire
retardance, reduction of smoke generation, abrasion resistance, static grounding, or
other service requirements. Additives and amounts shall be as approved by the resin
manufacturer for use in their resin for the specific service. However, the additives shall
not detrimentally affect the performance of the pipe.
5.3.2 All aboveground and underground pipe & fittings, including shop and field laminations,
shall be provided with ultraviolet (UV) protection.
5.4 Corrosion Liner Selection
5.4.1 Surfacing veil type, corrosion liner thickness, resin and catalyst selection and use of
additives shall be as required to meet the corrosion resistance or other service
requirements of the specific piping system and shall be approved in writing by the resin
manufacturers for each service. This shall include documentation of performance of
the selected resin system for each Pipe Class, consisting of case histories and
recommendations based on ASTM C581 testing from resin manufacturers.
5.4.2 Minimum corrosion liner thickness for epoxy pipe and fittings consisting of multiple plies
of surfacing veil shall be 1.0 mm (40 mils) after cure.
5.4.3 For vinyl ester pipe and fittings the corrosion liner thickness consisting of at least 1
layer of 1.5 oz/sq yd chopped strand mat, and covered by and one layer of surfacing
veil shall be 1.27 mm (50 mils) after cure. Additional thickness or layers of differing
reinforcements as required by resin manufacturer for each service shall be added to
these minimum liner requirements.
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5.4.4 The corrosion liner thicknesses mentioned in Para. 5.4.2 & 5.4.3 are for water
service only. For other corrosive process service, corrosion liner thickness shall be
as recommended by process licensor and FRP pipe manufacture.
5.5 Other Materials
5.5.1 Glass fiber reinforcements and thermosetting resins are the major constituents in
fiberglass pipe. However, other materials that influence processing and/or product
performance are used, including fillers, promoters, accelerators, inhibitors, and
pigments.
5.5.2 Silica sand shall not be used as a filler in any FRP piping products.

6 Manufacturing Methods
FRP pipe and fittings covered by this standard shall be manufactured in accordance with the following
processes.
6.1 Filament Wound
Continuous glass roving is resin saturated and applied in multiple layers of a specific pattern
onto a cylindrical mandrel. Reinforcement may be applied in a helical pattern with the glass
fibers placed at a particular angle relative to the axis of the pipe, or may be applied in
conjunction with other directional fabrics or random chopped glass as required to provide the
desired hoop and axial properties.
Many variations of the filament winding process are used for production of industrial grade
pipe. The two most common methods are reciprocal and continuous, which result in
significantly different pipe constructions.
6.1.1 Reciprocal (Helix) Wound Piping
a. The reciprocal method uses a rotating mandrel of fixed length and the reinforcement
is typically applied at relatively low angles in both directions. The advantage of this
method is that the filament winding angle can be optimized for the desired ratio of
hoop to axial properties in the pipe.
b. Helically wound structural laminate reinforcement shall consist of continuous strand
filament winding in accordance with the thicknesses described in the Pipe Vendors
design and approved by SABIC.
c. Each cycle of filament winding shall form a closed pattern of windings that
completely covers the surface with two bi-directional layers. Strand spacing in both
the winding band and the filament wound layers shall be uniform and without gaps.
d. Thickness of each cycle of filament windings shall not exceed 1.5 mm.
e. Filament wound structural laminate shall contain a minimum of 65 percent glass by
weight.
f. Helix angle of winding shall be 55° ±2°, measured from the centerline of rotation of
the pipe.
6.1.2 Continuous (Hoop) Wound Piping
a. The continuous method incorporates a rotating mandrel which moves slowly in one
direction and all of the reinforcement is applied at stations along the length of the
mandrel. The reinforcement consists of continuous glass roving applied only in the
hoop direction, with axial properties developed through the use of directional fabrics
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and chopped strand glass. The advantage of this method is that large amounts of
pipe can be produced with a single machine setup.
b. Filament wound structural laminate reinforcement shall consist of continuous strand
filament winding applied in combination with chopped strand glass and
unidirectional fabric, in accordance with the amount and sequence described by
Pipe Vendors design and approved by SABIC.
c. Filament wound structural laminate shall consist of the following constituents:
i. Resin 37 to 43 percent
ii. Hoop winding 33 to 38 percent
iii. Axial reinforcement 13 to 16 percent
iv. Chopped strand glass 8 to 12 percent
d. Angle of winding shall be 85° to 90°, measured from the centerline of rotation of the
pipe.
e. Unidirectional roving shall be applied with the glass strand aligned with the axial
centerline of the pipe, +/- 5°.
f. Edges of unidirectional roving shall be lapped a minimum of 25 mm.
6.1.3 More specialized methods of filament winding are also used for many fittings, for
example elbows, tees and flanges.
6.1.4 The test coupon for getting long term HDB, STHS and STUS shall be made with above
requirement mentioned in Section 6.1.1 and 6.1.2 and then the test value to be
established.
6.2 Centrifugal Cast
6.2.1 Resin and reinforcement are applied to the interior of a rotating cylindrical mandrel.
Typically, reinforcement is preformed into a sleeve and inserted into the mandrel mold
where it is saturated with resin. Alternatively, on larger diameter pipe, reinforcement is
primarily chopped strand glass which is applied directly to the interior by chopper gun.
6.2.2 Centrifugally cast pipe has a controlled outside diameter and a resin rich interior
surface which is not usually reinforced.
6.3 Contact Molded
6.3.1 Usually refers to saturated reinforcement fabrics applied to an open mold or rotating
mandrel by hand, and is also identified as a ‘hand layup’ laminate. Typical
reinforcement is chopped strand mat alternated with woven roving or other fabrics.
6.3.2 The hand layup method is used for manufacture of fittings and other complex forms,
and for application of secondary overlays, for example joints, or attachment of external
features.
6.4 Compression and Transfer Molded

Various methods are used to manufacture smaller components in closed molds. Typically,
materials will be a bulk molding compound of resin and fillers, or the mold can be preloaded
with dry reinforcement and then resin is added. Components are cured under pressure and
retain good dimensional tolerances.
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6.5 Certification

6.5.1 Potable Water Certification

Pipe, fittings, O-rings, gaskets, lubricants, and adhesives specified for potable water
systems shall be tested and certified as suitable for potable water use, in accordance
with NSF/ANSI 61. A test certificate shall be submitted. The seal or mark of the
certifying organization shall be indicated on the pipe.
6.5.2 Fire Water Certification
Piping systems, including pipe, fittings, jointing systems and adhesives, specified for
dedicated fire water systems, shall be tested and certified by Factory Mutual (FM) or
Underwriter Laboratories (UL). A test certificate shall be submitted. The seal or mark of
the certifying organization shall be indicated on the pipe.

7 Joint Types
Only laminated “Butt and Strap Joint” shall be used for all joints (including field joint, make-up joints
and repairs) in all services (including non-pressurized) for joining systems that shall provide fluid
tightness for the intended service condition.
7.1 Unrestrained Joints
Deleted.
7.2 Restrained Joints
Restrained joints are rigid bonded joints with mechanical restraint that are designed to
withstand axial forces in addition to hoop loads from internal pressure. They are used in both
aboveground and underground systems.
7.2.1 Bell-and-Spigot, Adhesive Bonded
Deleted.
7.2.2 Laminated Butt and Strap Joint
FRP laminate is applied to the exterior (and interior on larger pipe) of plain end pipe. It
is considered the strongest and most reliable of the joining systems. The ends of
laminated joint shall be tapered with ratio of 6:1
7.2.3 Restrained Gasketed Joints
Deleted.

8 Fittings and Flanges

8.1 Fabrication of Elbows
8.1.1 Elbows NPS 1 through NPS 24 shall be long radius, smooth turn elbows contact
molded or filament wound in one piece. Elbow fabricated from mitered section of pipe
shall not be allowed in this size range.
8.1.2 Elbows greater than NPS 24 shall be long radius and either smooth turn contact
molded or filament wound in one piece or fabricated from mitered sections of pipe
joined with laminated joints. All miter joints require an internal sealing joint not less than
5 mm thick after cure (refer to Figure-1).
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8.1.3 The ends of laminated joint shall be tapered with ratio of 6:1.

Figure-1
Typical Mitered Elbow

8.2 Reinforced Fabricated Tees

8.2.1 Fabricated tees are assembled from sections of pipe with laminated joints. The
following procedure determines the minimum additional thickness of hand layup
laminate required to reinforce the opening in the header pipe for both underground and
aboveground piping systems (refer to Figure-2).
a. Hand layup (contact molded) laminate shall be as defined in section 6.3 and shall
have similar properties in both principal directions. Hand layup mechanical
properties for design and analysis shall be as specified in section 9 of this
document. Other materials such as hoop winding may be substituted, but analysis
by FEA methods is required to determine the required thickness. Fabricated tee
designs not satisfying this procedure or utilizing other laminate types shall be
analyzed by FEA methods, and the modeling approach and acceptance criteria
shall be approved by SABIC prior to fabrication.
b. The minimum thickness of additional hand layup reinforcement shall be determined
by the following equation:

kPd Dh
tr 
2 all
Where: tr = additional hand layup reinforcement thickness
Pd = design pressure
Dbr = inside diameter of the branch pipe
Dh = inside diameter of the header pipe
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all = allowable stress of hand layup reinforcement, incorporating a minimum

safety factor of 5.0
k = pressure stress multiplier, determined as follows:
D 
k  3.8 br   1.3
 Dh 
c. Additional reinforcement thickness (tr) shall be comprised of the combined
thicknesses of the exterior installation overlay, the interior installation overlay and
the branch opening reinforcement.
d. Pipe Vendors conventionally utilizing hand layup laminates generally conforming
to Type I and II as defined by ASTM C582 (see section 9 of this specification) shall
distribute the calculated reinforcing thickness (tr) as follows:
i. For pipe header diameters equal to or greater than NPS 24 (600 mm), the
additional reinforcement thickness and branch installation overlay shall be
installed as a balanced laminate, with at least 1/3 of the required thickness (tr)
installed on the pipe interior.
ii. For pipe header diameters less than NPS 24 (600 mm) diameter, the additional
reinforcement and installation overlay shall be installed on the pipe exterior only.
In this case, all accessible tee joints shall be overlaid with an internal sealing
joint that is 5 mm thick, as a minimum.
e. Pipe Vendors who conventionally utilize hand lay-up laminates that differ from Type
I and II as defined by ASTM C582 and have a tensile modulus of elasticity that can
be shown to exceed 20,600 MPa shall be allowed to fabricate Tees with internal
overlays having a minimum structural thickness of 5 mm and the calculated
reinforcing thickness (tr) applied to the external surfaces only.
f. When the branch pipe diameter is equal to or greater than 80 percent of the header
pipe diameter, 1/3 of the additional reinforcement thickness shall extend completely
360 around the header pipe, (backside reinforcement).
g. As a minimum, the length of full thickness reinforcement extending onto the branch
and header pipes shall be the greater of 1/2(Dbr), or 200 mm and 100 mm for Dbr
up to 100 mm. The ends of laminated joint shall be tapered with ratio of 6:1.
8.2.2 Other Fittings
a. Reducers, wyes (Y) and other fittings NPS 1 through NPS 24 shall be contact
molded or filament wound in one piece using thermosetting resin similar to pipe.

b. Reducers, wyes (Y) and other fittings greater than NPS 24 may be compression
molded, fabricated from mitered sections of pipe, or manufactured by the filament
wound process, using thermosetting resin and fiberglass reinforcement in a way that
ensures that the resistance to chemical attack and the temperature rating are equal
to or better than that of the pipe.
8.2.3 FEA methods may also be used to determine hand layup laminate reinforcement for
fabricated tees, in lieu of this procedure. Any FEA’s employed shall be submitted to
SABIC for review and approval.
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Figure-2
Fabricated Tee Section

8.3 Flange Requirements

8.3.1 For all services, flanges shall be contact molded in one piece that includes a hub and
flange neck for attachment to the pipe with a laminated butt and strap joint, or overlaid
directly onto the pipe end with a reinforced hub.
a. For one piece contact molded flanges hub and neck shall be made in one piece in
accordance with ASTM D5421 (Type A) with all layers of reinforcement in the neck
and hub turning 90° and extending uninterrupted through the full flange face.
b. For flanges that are overlaid directly on pipe, flange and hub shall be made in one
lay-up in accordance with ASTM D5421 (Type B) with all layers of reinforcement in
the hub turning 90° and extending uninterrupted through the full flange face. Cut
end of pipe shall be bedded in wet mat layers such that the edge is protected with
a corrosion barrier laminate. The ends of laminated joint shall be tapered with ratio
of 6:1.
c. Additional thickness in the hub shall be obtained with alternating layers of mat and
woven roving.
d. Additional thickness in the flange shall be obtained with layers of mat. These mat
layers shall be uniformly distributed throughout the flange thickness.
e. If epoxy flanges cannot be fabricated per the requirements of section 8.3.1 due to
process limitations, it is acceptable for the Pipe Vendor to join one piece contact
molded vinyl ester flanges fabricated per the requirements of 8.3.1 above, to epoxy
pipe with an epoxy laminated joint providing the Pipe Vendor provides a letter from
the resin manufacturer showing the vinyl ester resin and corrosion barrier are
acceptable for the specific service and provides proof that their epoxy resin system
will bond adequately to the vinyl ester flange.
f. Slip-on or socket flanges with additional lamination, are not acceptable.
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8.3.2 Fire water service flanges shall be either UL (Underwriter Laboratories) or FM (Factory
Mutual) approved.
8.3.3 Flanges shall be flat-faced, or flat-faced with a confined O-ring gasket groove. Flanges
containing an O-ring gasket groove shall be manufactured so the groove does not
penetrate the structural laminate. The O-ring groove and flange face shall be
completely covered with a laminate equal to the corrosion liner used in the Service
Class.
a. O-ring groove shall be smooth, flat and resin coated to produce a glossy sealing
surface.
b. It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to assure that O-ring and groove dimensions
are compatible with the mating flange surface, seating properly.
8.3.4 Bolting patterns are as follows.
a. NPS 24 and less shall conform to ASME B16.5.
b. NPS 26 and greater shall conform to ASME B16.47, Series B.
8.4 All pipe fittings and flanges for a particular new installation shall be manufactured or supplied
by the same vendor to avoid incompatibility due to intermixing of products from different
manufacturers.

9 Service Considerations
9.1 General
Selection of materials, manufacturing methods and design features shall consider the specific
service requirements of the system. Special materials, additives or increased corrosion liner
thickness may be required to properly address these issues and provide for protection of the
structural laminates over the service life of the system. The design report shall include
information as required to provide the basis for how these issues are addressed.
9.2 Chemical Resistance
9.2.1 Although liner construction, cure, and fabrication method can influence chemical
resistance, the chemical resistance of FRP pipe depends primarily on the particular
resin used. Resins are available that provide chemical resistance to a wide range of
specific chemical services.
9.2.2 Stress, aging, and temperature effects in the chemical environment should be
considered as part of the FRP pipe qualification and design procedures. In general,
chemical resistance is reduced at higher temperature and stress levels.
9.3 Temperature Resistance
9.3.1 The temperature resistance of FRP pipe also depends largely upon the resin used.
The chemical environment and the level of stress influence the upper limit of service
temperature in the piping system.
9.3.2 In general, the properties of FRP pipe are reduced with increasing temperature. Each
resin will perform differently at elevated temperature. Information is readily available
from resin manufacturers that will allow pipe properties to be de-rated during design.
9.4 Abrasion Resistance
9.4.1 FRP pipe generally has good abrasion resistance and can be custom made for extreme
services by adding very hard particulate fillers to the resin, using carbon fibers and
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veils on the inner surface of the corrosion liner, or by incorporating resilient liner
materials, for example polyurethane.
9.4.2 The abrasiveness of the service should be evaluated during design and any special
lining material that is used should exceed the hardness of the contents being
transported through the pipe, or provide a very high level of toughness and resilience.
9.5 Fire Resistance
9.5.1 For applications where improved fire resistance is required, the application of a fire
retardant, intumescent coating can be specified for aboveground piping.
9.5.2 Deleted.
9.5.3 One of the most commonly used requirements for FRP pipe is International Maritime
Organization (IMO) Level 3 fire endurance rating. A Level 3 endurance rating requires
that the pipe survive a local fire of short duration and that its function is capable of
being restored after the fire has been extinguished.
9.5.4 When fire resistance, including flame spread, level of endurance, smoke generation
and toxicity for a piping system is required, the piping manufacturer should be
consulted for documentation regarding their specific products’ fire resistance.
9.5.5 The requirement of fire resistance shall be specified in Appendix A of P01-E28-02.

10 Qualification of FRP Pipe and Components

10.1 General
10.1.1 Pipe, fittings and joints shall be qualified for use in FRP piping systems covered by this
standard. The purpose of qualification is to ensure pressure containment integrity by
establishing a nominal pressure rating which meets or exceeds the design pressure.
In addition, the qualification provides a basis for determining allowable axial stress to
be used in the piping system design.
10.1.2 Several methods of qualification are provided in order to take greatest advantage of
testing that was previously performed on candidate products, and to lessen the burden
of testing required for specific projects. Qualification methods include long term cyclic
and static testing, short term burst testing and analytical methods. Various design
factors are applied in each method to account for the relative level of confidence
achieved.
10.1.3 Qualification testing methods are intended as prototype tests for a specific product
design and construction and therefore need not be repeated for each specific project
or pipe diameter. Extrapolation of qualification data shall be permitted, provided that
construction methods do not vary and project conditions are satisfied.
10.1.4 The prototype test report shall comprise of the details mentioned in the respective
ASTM standard and following as a minimum:
a. Pipe materials details (Material grade, Resin type and its percentage etc.),
b. Thickness of structural laminate
c. Glass content verification test (Loss on ignition)
d. Test temperature
e. Summary of pressure test results
f. Experimental data / regression results/ regression curve
g. Date of test conducted and completion
h. QA/ QC witness and signature
i. Third party witness and signature.
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10.1.5 If the manufacturer is having established Long Term HDB test and is more than 10
years old, a Confirmation Test (Survival test ) shall be performed for the applicable
products (Epoxy or Vinylester) and confirm the validation of existing Long term test
values.
10.1.6 If the manufacturer is having established short term test and is more than 10 years old,
a new test shall be performed for the applicable products (Epoxy or Vinylester) and
submitted.
10.1.7 All test reports like long term HDB, short term hydrostatic strength (STHS), short term
ultimate strength (STUS) and deflection test conducted as per ASTM D2992, D1599,
D638 and D2412 respectively, shall be submitted to SABIC.
10.2 Testing Conditions
10.2.1 Pipe and components shall be qualified for the design conditions identified for the
particular service, except that adjustments may be necessary to compensate for the
effect of higher temperature, more severe corrosion, or abrasion in specific services.
10.2.2 For services considered abrasive or more corrosive than the testing medium, additional
corrosion liner thickness shall be added beyond the tested design, which shall not be
considered structurally. The basis for this adjustment shall be submitted as part of the
design report, and shall include verification of corrosion or abrasion resistance, or both,
based on previous testing or case histories.
10.2.3 If the qualification test temperature is less than the temperature of the specific service,
the pipe pressure rating and properties used in analysis shall be de-rated to
compensate. The basis for this adjustment shall be submitted as part of the design
report and shall include verification of the retention of properties, based on testing from
the material manufacturers.
10.2.4 Components may be tested as single units or as assemblies of units. Where
assemblies of manufactured units are tested, the integrity of joints and component
bodies shall be verified. All pipe between adjacent fittings or end closures shall have a
length of at least 3 times the diameter of the pipe.
10.2.5 All qualification tests shall be made on assemblies with free ends, in a way that the full
pressure-induced axial load is borne by the component or assembly being tested.
10.3 Qualification by Long Term Hydrostatic Testing
10.3.1 This procedure is suitable for qualifying pipe, restrained joints, and machine fabricated
fittings such as filament wound flanges, bends and tees. When testing spooled
assemblies to qualify joints and fittings, the HDS and pressure rating shall be based
on the pipe wall thickness regardless of where the failure occurred.
10.3.2 The hydrostatic design basis (HDB) shall be determined in accordance with the
procedures of ASTM D2992. Either the cyclic (Procedure A) or static (Procedure B)
test methods of ASTM D2992 may be utilized.
10.3.3 The HDB is the hoop stress at failure, extrapolated from the test data to 50 years, and
shall be divided by a design factor (N) to obtain the hydrostatic design stress (HDS). If
the project requires a design life of less than 50 years, the HDB may be obtained by
extrapolating to the project design life.
10.3.4 The HDS is the design hoop stress that can be applied in the bi-axial pressure condition
continuously, with a high degree of certainty that failure of the pipe or component will
not occur within the intended service life. The HDS is calculated per the following
formula:
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ENGINEERING STANDARD PAGE 15 OF 18

HDS = HDB Equation 1

N
Where: HDS = hydrostatic design stress
HDB = hydrostatic design basis
N = 1.0, for cyclic HDB (Procedure A)
= 3.0, for static HDB (Procedure B)
10.3.5 The nominal pressure rating of the pipe or component is determined from the HDS
using the following relationship:
P = (HDS) t Equation 2
R
Where: P = nominal pressure rating
HDS = hydrostatic design stress
t = structural wall thickness
R = inside radius of pipe structural wall
10.3.6 The nominal pressure rating of the pipe shall meet or exceed the required design
pressure for the specific project.
10.4 Qualification by Short Term Hydrostatic Testing
10.4.1 The short-term hydrostatic strength (STHS) shall be determined in accordance with
the procedures of ASTM D1599.
10.4.2 The STHS shall be determined by testing 5 replicate samples of the pipe or component,
computing the average maximum hoop stress, and subtracting 2 standard deviations.
10.4.3 The STHS is the hoop stress at failure, which has to be divided by a design factor (N)
to obtain the hydrostatic design stress (HDS). The higher initial design factor will
provide similar confidence in the bi-axial pressure condition as the long-term
hydrostatic testing.
HDS = STHS Equation 3
N
Where: HDS = hydrostatic design stress
STHS = short term hydrostatic strength
N = 8.0, for short term hydrostatic testing

10.4.4 The nominal pressure rating of the pipe or component is determined from the HDS
using the following relationship.
P = (HDS) t Equation 4
R
Where: P = nominal pressure rating
HDS = hydrostatic design stress
t = structural wall thickness
R = inside radius of pipe structural wall
10.4.5 The nominal pressure rating of the pipe shall meet or exceed the required design
pressure for the specific project.
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ENGINEERING STANDARD PAGE 16 OF 18

10.5 Qualification by Analysis

10.5.1 Certain pipe and components may be qualified by testing samples representative of
the specific laminate construction, and using coupon testing and design calculations to
determine the appropriate pipe wall thickness.
10.5.2 The short term ultimate strength (STUS) of the laminate samples shall be determined
in accordance with ASTM D638.
10.5.3 The STUS shall be determined by testing 5 replicate samples of the laminate,
computing the average ultimate tensile strength, and subtracting 2 standard deviations.
10.5.4 The STUS is the tensile stress at failure which has to be divided by a design factor (N)
to obtain the hydrostatic design stress (HDS). The higher initial design factor will
provide similar confidence in the bi-axial pressure condition as the long-term
hydrostatic testing.
HDS = STUS Equation 5
N
Where: HDS = hydrostatic design stress
STUS = short term ultimate strength
N = 10.0, for analytical methods
10.5.5 The nominal pressure rating of the pipe or component is determined from the HDS in
accordance with equation 4.
10.5.6 The nominal pressure rating of the pipe shall meet or exceed the required design
pressure for the specific project.
10.5.7 Pipe and components qualified by analysis shall include:
a. Hand layup pipe, bends and reducers
b. Hand layup tees and flanges when calculations are performed and additional
thickness is added to compensate for stress concentrations
c. Laminated butt and strap type joints
10.5.8 Pipe and components where qualification by analysis shall not be used include:
a. Adhesive and mechanical joints
b. Machine fabricated fittings, for example filament wound bends and tees
c. Centrifugal cast pipe
d. Filament wound pipe by either the continuous or reciprocal methods
10.5.9 The mechanical properties of Type I and II hand layup laminates specified by ASTM
C582 shall be used for the design and analysis of standard hand layup laminates. The
maximum mechanical properties of Type II hand layup laminates allowable for design
and analysis are RTP II V 57556 as specified by Table 3, ASTM C582:
a. Ultimate Tensile Strength = 121 MPa
b. Tensile Modulus = 12070 MPa
c. Flexural Strength = 166 MPa
d. Flexural Modulus = 8966 MPa
10.5.10 For Pipe Vendors who conventionally utilize higher strength hand layup laminates
utilizing materials and layup sequences that differ from Type I and II as specified by
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ASTM C582, Pipe Vendor shall provide all the test data and analysis required by this
section and section 10.6 deriving the mechanical properties of their laminates.
Mechanical test data shall be accompanied with Loss on Ignition (LOI) test results per
the requirements of ASTM D2584 with a description of the laminate sequence and the
types of glass reinforcements used. Additionally the Pipe Vendor shall demonstrate
that the glass contents of the laminate samples used to derive mechanical properties
is representative of production laminates.
10.5.11 Deleted
10.6 Additional Requirements
Regardless of the method used to qualify pipe and components, the following additional testing
shall be required for design.
10.6.1 Axial Tensile Strength
a. Axial tensile testing shall be required for all aboveground and underground pipe in
pressure and non-pressure applications.
b. The ultimate axial tensile strength is determined by computing the average value
from testing and subtracting two standard deviations. Extrapolation of test data to
larger or smaller diameter pipes shall be permitted, provided that pipe construction
is representative.
c. The ultimate axial tensile strength is required to determine the allowable axial stress
in SES P01-E28-02. The axial tensile modulus of elasticity and Poisson ratio
needed for system design in SES P01-E28-02 may be determined during this
testing.
d. The ultimate axial tensile strength of the pipe shall be determined by testing using
the apparatus and procedures of ASTM D2105. Coupon testing of samples cut from
representative pipe in accordance with ASTM D638 is expected to yield a
conservative estimate of the axial tensile strength and may be substituted in place
of the whole pipe samples required by ASTM D2105.
10.6.2 Pipe Stiffness
a. Pipe stiffness for underground pipe in pressure and non-pressure applications shall
be determined by testing using the apparatus and procedures of ASTM D 2412.
The reported pipe stiffness shall be the average value of all samples at a deflection
of 5 percent of the original diameter.
b. The hoop flexural modulus of elasticity needed for system design in SES P01-E28-
02 may be determined during this testing. If the modulus of elasticity is computed,
extrapolation of test data to larger or smaller diameter pipes shall be permitted,
provided that pipe construction is representative.
c. Pipe stiffness may be determined analytically provided that the computational
method used to determine modulus of elasticity is appropriate for composite
materials, and is substantiated by coupon testing in accordance with ASTM D790.
d. The stiffness of pipe shall be minimum 5000 N/m2.
10.6.3 Ring Bending Strain
a. The allowable ring bending strain shall be required for the design of underground
non-pressure pipe in SES P01-E28-02. ASTM D2412 testing may be used to
determine the allowable ring bending strain by computing the minimum value of the
following criteria from the test data:
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ENGINEERING STANDARD PAGE 18 OF 18

i. The allowable ring bending strain is equal to the strain at rupture divided by a
design factor of 4.0. The strain at rupture is the strain when a crack occurs,
extending entirely or partly through the pipe liner or structural wall.
ii. The allowable ring bending strain is equal to the strain at liner crazing divided
by a design factor of 2.5. The strain at liner crazing is the strain when a crack
or network of fine cracks occur in the pipe liner to an estimated depth no
greater than 0.25 mm.
iii. The allowable ring bending strain is equal to the strain at 5 percent vertical
deflection of the pipe ring
b. Alternatively, the allowable ring bending strain may be determined using the results
of long-term creep rupture testing as defined in the AWWA C950. The test data
shall be statistically extrapolated to establish the long-term ring-bending strain (Sb)
at 50 years.
c. The allowable ring bending strain is equal to the long-term ring-bending strain (Sb)
determined in AWWA C950 divided by a design factor of 2.0.
10.6.4 Joint Testing
Deleted.

11 Revision History
Revision No 3, Dec. 2014 Restructured: Overall restructuring by renumbering, rearranging
and formatting the various sections.
Updated: References
Added: Various sections based on improvements and lessons
learned (such as details for fabricated elbows, fabricated Tee and
Flanges, details of manufacturing method for filament wound)
Modified: Various sections based on improvements and lessons
learned

Revision No. 4, June 2016: Updated: References

Added: Para. 8.3.2
Modified: Para. 8.3.4

Revision No. 5, Mar. 2020 Updated: References, Para. 10.5.10, 10.6.2 (d)
Added: Para. 6.1.3, 6.5, 9.5.5,
Modified: Para. 5.1, 5.3, 7, 7.2, 8.1.1, 8.2.2, 8.3.1, 8.3.2, 9.5.1
Deleted: Para. 7.1, 7.2.1, 7.2.3, 9.5.2, 10.6.4, Figure-3 to 12

Revision No. 6, Dec. 2021 Updated: References

Added: Para. 5.3.2, 5.4.4, 10.1.4, 10.1.5, 10.1.6, 10.1.7
Modified: Para. 5.2.1, 8.2.1.g, 8.2.2, Figure-2 Reference, 10.3.2,
10.5.2
Deleted: Para. 10.5.11