POLYETHYLENE ENCASEMENT

OF
DUCTILE IRON PIPE

ITEM W42

SCOPE (Sec. 42.01) All labor, materials, fixtures, equipment,

tools and services required for the installation of ductile
iron pipe polyethylene encasement shall be furnished and
installed in compliance with the following specifications.

REQUIREMENTS (Sec. 42.03) Polyethylene encasement shall be

furnished and installed in accordance with AWWA C-105 latest
revision to all piping, castings, fittings, valves, and
couplings for the entire length of direct-buried ductile iron
pipe to be supplied on the project.

The polyethylene encasement shall prevent contact between the

pipe and the surrounding backfill and bedding material, but it
is not intended to be completely airtight or watertight.

MATERIALS (Sec. 42.02) Contractor shall supply eight-mil

minimum thickness polyethylene tube manufactured in accordance
with AWWA C-105 latest revision for encasement of ductile iron
waterline.

Linear low-density polyethylene film shall be manufactured of

virgin polyethylene material in accordance with ASTM D4976.
Physical properties of finished film:
Tensile strength 3,600 psi *
Elongation 800 percent *
Dielectric strength 800 V/mil thickness minimum
Impact Resistance 600 g minimum
Propagation Tear Resistance 2,550 grams force minimum *

*Minimum in machine and transverse direction

Polyethylene tube to be supplied shall be black (weather

resistant) in color.

Tube or sheet width sizes shall be per AWWA C105 as shown on

the following chart:

Nominal Pipe Diameter Min. Polyethylene Width for Flat Tube

6 16
8 20
10 24

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 12 27
14 30
16 34
18 37
20 41

The polyethylene film supplied shall be clearly marked every

two feet along its length with the following information in
one-inch high letters:

Manufacturers name or trademark

Year of Manufacture
ANSI/AWWA C105/A21.5
Minimum film thickness and material type
Applicable range of nominal pipe diameter size(s)
Warning Corrosion Protection Repair any damage.

Polyethylene adhesive tape 1-1/2 wide shall be used to seal

joints.

CONSTRUCTION/INSTALLATION (Sec. 42.04) Contractor shall remove

all lumps of clay, mud, cinders, etc. on the pipe surface
before installation of the polyethylene encasement. During
installation, soil or embedment material shall not be trapped
between the pipe and the polyethylene.

Sufficient slack shall be provided in contouring to prevent

stretching the polyethylene where it bridges irregular
surfaces, such as bell-spigot interfaces, bolted joints, or
fittings and to prevent damage to the polyethylene caused by
backfilling operations. Overlaps shall be secured with
adhesive tape.

For installation below the water table circumferential wraps

of tape shall be placed at 2 feet intervals along the barrel
of the pipe to minimize the space between the polyethylene and
the pipe.

Installation on ductile iron pipes shall be in accordance with

methods A or B as specified in AWWA-C105 and below:

Method A: Cut polyethylene tube to a length approximately 2

feet longer that the pipe section. Slip the tube
around the pipe, centering it to provide 1-foot
overlay on each adjacent pipe section and bunching
it accordion-fashion lengthwise until it clears the
pipe ends. Lower the pipe into the trench and make

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 up the pipe joint with the preceding section of
pipe. A shallow bell hole must be made at the
joints to facilitate installation of the
polyethylene tube.

After assembling the pipe joint, make the overlap of

the polyethylene tube. Pull the bunched
polyethylene from the preceding length of pipe, slip
it over the length of the new length of pipe, and
secure it in place. Then slip the end of the
polyethylene from the new pipe section over the end
of the first wrap until it overlaps the joint at the
end of the preceding length of pipe. Secure the
overlap in place. Take up the slack along the
barrel of the pipe, securing the fold at quarter
points. Proceed to the next section of pipe in the
same manner.

Method B: Cut polyethylene tube to a length approximately 1

foot shorter than that of the pipe section. Slip
the tube around the pipe, centering it to provide 6-
inch of bare pipe at each end. Take up the slack
width at the top to the pipe for a snug but not
tight fit along the barrel of the pipe securing the
fold at quarter points. Secure the ends with
polyethylene tape.

Before making up a joint, slip a 3-foot length of

polyethylene tube over the end of the preceding pipe
section, bunching it accordion-fashion lengthwise.
Alternatively, place a 3-foot length of polyethylene
sheet in the trench under the joint to be made.
After completing the joint, pull the 3-foot length
of polyethylene over or around the joint,
overlapping the polyethylene previously installed on
each adjacent section of pipe by at least 1-foot.
Make each end snug and secure with polyethylene
tape. A shallow bell hole is necessary and shall be
made at joints to facilitate the installation of the
polyethylene tube or sheet.

Care shall be taken when installing backfill to prevent damage

to the wrapping.

REPAIRS (Sec. 44.05) Repair cuts, tears, punctures, or damage

to polyethylene with adhesive tape or with a short length of

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polyethylene sheet, or with a tube cut open, wrapped around
the pipe to cover the damaged area, and secured in place.

OPENINGS IN ENCASEMENT (Sec. 44.06) Provide openings for

branches, service taps, blow-offs, air valves, and similar
appurtenances by cutting an X in the polyethylene and
temporarily folding back the film. After the appurtenance is
installed, tape the slack securely to the appurtenance, and
repair the cut and any other damaged areas in the
polyethylene, with any resulting damaged areas being repaired
as described previously.

To make direct service taps, apply two or three wraps of

adhesive tape completely around the polyethylene encased pipe
to cover the area where the tapping machine and chain will be
mounted. After the tapping machine is mounted, the
corporation stop is installed directly through the tape and
polyethylene. After the direct tap is completed, the entire
circumferential area shall be closely inspected for damage and
repaired if needed.

JUNCTIONS BETWEEN WRAPPED AND UNWRAPPED PIPE (Sec. 44.07)

Where polyethylene wrapped pipe joins an adjacent pipe that is
not wrapped, extend the polyethylene wrap to cover the
adjacent pipe for a distance of at least 3 foot. Secure the
end with circumferential turns of adhesive tape.

MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT (Sec. 44.08) The price for this item
shall be included in prices for other items and shall include
all material, labor, tools and appliances to accomplish this
work. No separate payment for this item will be made.

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