Packing, Handling and Storage of Polyethylene Pipes

INTRODUCTION Polyethylene Pipes

Polyethylene pipes and fittings are light in weight and easy to handle compared to many other materials. They have considerable resilience, flexibility and resistance to impact. However, PE pipes and fittings can be scored by sharp edges and can be distorted under load, particularly at higher temperatures. Therefore, in general, PE pipes and fittings shall not be dropped, indented, crushed, or impacted and shall not be subjected to rough handling during loading and unloading operations.

GENERAL Polyethylene Pipes

Pipes and fittings shall not be stored or transported adjacent to heat sources, such as engine exhausts, boilers, naked flames or hot water or steam lines. While PE is very resistant to low temperatures, as the temperature drops below 0°C the impact resistance will slowly reduce, and therefore more care should be taken to avoid damage by impact.

Care shall be taken in handling pipes and fittings in wet or frosty conditions as they may become slippery.

• As with all pipe materials, contact with oils, petrol, solvents, or chemicals that might have an adverse effect on future performance should be avoided.
• Typically, scores or scratches to a depth of more than 10% of the wall thickness should be avoided for pressure applications.
• During coiling care shall be taken to maintain the coil diameter at or above the specified minimum to prevent kinks. In uncoiling or recoiling care shall be taken that sharp objects do not score the pipe.
• Polyethylene is combustible, but there are no restrictions on the type of fire extinguisher which can be used.
• Generally, only webbing slings should be used to lift PE pipes by crane. Vacuum lifting may be used, but chains, wire ropes and hooks shall be avoided.
• In the storage and issuing of pipe and fittings the principle of ‘first in, first out’ should preferably
  be observed.
• Pipes of colour other than black should be protected from elevated temperatures and direct sunlight during storage and transport, particularly if they are to be stored for more than 2 years.

LIFTING, HANDLING, STORAGE AND TRANSPORT OF STRAIGHT LENGTHS

Lifting of individual pipes or packs up to 6 m in length may be performed by a forklift. To prevent drooping of long packs or individual pipes and subsequent scuffing of pipe ends, two lifting points or spreader bars should be used for pipes or pipe packs exceeding 6 metres in length.

Appropriate personnel exclusion zones shall apply when lifting PE pipes in order to avoid injury if the
pipe slips. Straight pipe lengths stacked for storage or transport should be continuously and evenly supported to minimise distortion. Stacking of pipes during storage shall be in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.

Differential heating and cooling of exposed PE pipe length due to the tracking of sunlight may cause pipe stored on racks to move and possibly fall causing serious injury or death. When storing pipe in elevated racks ensure the pipe is well restrained and unable to fall.

Timber framed packs should be stacked with the frames close together and alternating evenly. Packs with widely differing frame spacing should not be stacked. Do not align the bearers vertically as the stacks are likely to be unstable. In such load bearing stacks the maximum free height should be such that the pipe is not permanently deformed, having regard to sideways stability. For larger diameter pipes it may be necessary to brace the ends of the pipe with internal supports to prevent end distortion.

Sharp sections bearing against the pipes should be avoided as these can cause indentations in, or scoring of, the pipe wall. Pipes with end treatments such as belling, forming, flanging or pre-assembled fittings should be stacked so that the ends are free from loading, if necessary, they should be protected from damage. Pipes cut and squared for butt fusion should be given special attention to ensure that they are always handled, particularly in transit, in a manner that keeps the pipe ends free from damage.

If different SDR’s of pipe are kept in the same stacks, then the lowest SDR (thickest wall) should always be at the bottom. Pipes may be nested inside each other for transport or storage provided distortion does not occur. When being transported, pipes should not be restrained in a manner likely to result in damage to them.

C&N carries out the packaging, transportation and storage of 3PE Pipe products in strict accordance with the requirements of relevant procedures to ensure that the quality of products is not affected.