Connecting Polypropylene Pipe to Other Pipes Detailed in New Technical Document

The Plastics Pipe Institute’s Building & Construction Division’s new technical document provides design and installation recommendations for transitioning from polypropylene pipe to other piping materials using flange adapters and connections. PPI TN-71, “Flanges and Flange Adapters for Polypropylene (PP-R & PP-RCT) Piping Systems,” is available here.

Polypropylene (PP-R and PP-RCT) pressure pipe and fittings are usually joined to each other by butt fusion, socket fusion, sidewall outlet fusion or electrofusion methods. ASTM recently published the new ASTM F3722-24 “Standard Practice for Heat Fusion Joining of Polypropylene (PP) Pipe & Fittings” to give guidance on joining those types of fusion connections.

PPI TN-71 step-by-step installation procedures for flanged connections include tightening sequences for bolts, bolt torques, retightening recommendations and more. Several illustrations show each component of a flange joint while also explaining the terminology used for these types of connections. PPI TN-71 also contains detailed information about selecting proper gaskets and bolts, calculating bolt torque, making flanged connections to join PP pipes to butterfly valves, and safe disassembly of flanged connections.