TWI has recently announced that it has partnered with TEAM QUALSPEC (a specialist provider of services relating to the maintenance, inspection and construction of piping systems) to offer PolyTestTM in the North American market.
PolyTest is a field inspection system that is specifically designed for volumetric non-destructive testing of butt fusion and electrofusion joints in polyethylene (PE) pipes.
Developed by TWI, PolyTest has been used in a range of pipeline sectors including gas and offshore oil. The inspection system is supported by procedures to enable detection of all of the types of flaw that could occur in PE pipe joints.
The self-contained system is fully portable allowing for in trench inspections. It incorporates a simple scanner to accommodate pipes with outside diameters of between 4 - 40 in. and wall thickness of between 0.3 - 2.5 in. It can also be adapted for pipes outside these ranges.
After the joints have been inspected the system generates the results, providing a permanent record of joint integrity.
Notably, PolyTest complies with the requirements of ASTM E3044, ASME BPVC Section III Appendix XXVI and EN 13100-3.