PE Installation

The pipe should be cut square using a hacksaw or knife and de burred. Two all-stainless steel clamps are slipped over the end of the pipe. The end of the pipe is forced over the barbs of the fitting until it makes contact with the shoulder of the fitting. (The end of the pipe may be softened by immersing it in hot water to permit the pipe to slip on more easily.) The clamps are then tightened to provide a leak proof connection. Care should be taken to see that the clamp screw positions are offset.

Polyethylene pipe should be installed in trenches below the frost line. Due to the flexible nature of PE, trenches need not be straight. Trench bottoms should be smooth and free from rocks, stone, or debris that may cut or damage the pipe. The initial backfill to about 4 to 6 inches above the pipe should be fine dirt or sand.

When using Sil-O-Flex in submersible pump applications use brass adaptors at both the well seal and the pump outlet. Double clamp both joints with all-stainless steel clamps. Use snubbers at the pump, at the static water level, and at about half-way between to avoid abrasion of the pump housing, the pipe, or the power cable against the casing. Tape the power cable to the pipe about every five feet. Attach a stainless steel cable (1000 LB. test) to the well seal and to the pump adapter; this will prevent loss of pump and will assist in raising the pump in case of failure.

What is CTS & IPS

Polyethylene CTS tubing is manufactured to have a controlled outside diameter that utilizes a compression style fitting. Polyethylene IPS is manufactured to have a controlled inside diameter that utilizes barbed insert fittings (can be made of polyethylene (PE), brass, or stainless steel to avoid corrosion problems) with the fitting held together by using stainless steel hose clamps. The pipe should be cut square using a hacksaw or a knife. Trim the edge of the tubing so that it will easily slide into the fitting without damaging the seating surface of the fitting. Try placing the end of the pipe in hot water if you experience difficulty inserting the fitting into the pipe. Never use oil or soap on pipe or fittings.

How to identify whether a pipe has been made with (IPS) inside or (CTS) outside controlled diameter. Pipe made with standard controlled inside diameters always includes the identification IDR (inside diameter ratio), or SIDR (standard inside diameter ratio) in its markings, followed by a number which states the diameter ratio. The diameter ratio of pipe made with controlled outside diameters is always simply reported as either DR, or SDR