ASTM D 3350: A Historical and Current Perspective on a Standard Specification for Identification of Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and Fittings Materials

ASTM D 3350, Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and Fittings Materials, was originally approved and published in 1974 and has increasingly been referenced in numerous F17 Piping Application Standards. This paper/presentation will review the background of the original standard, provide how it has transformed as the industry has evolved to improved materials and “salt and pepper” blending for pipe production, and identify the challenges in modifying the standard to apply for all polyethylene piping applications. ASTM D 3350 is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic Materials.