Section 02730 GRAVITY PIPELINE TESTING

Section 02730

_{GRAVITY PIPELINE TESTING}

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1 THE REQUIREMENT

A. The CONTRACTOR shall furnish all tools, equipment, materials, and supplies and shall perform all labor required to complete the Work as indicated on the Drawings and specified herein.

B. This section covers the performance of all pipeline flushing and testing, complete, for sanitary sewer system piping as specified herein and in accordance with the requirements of the Contract Documents.

1.2 RELATED WORK SPECIFIED ELSEWHERE

A. The requirements of the following sections and divisions apply to the Work of this section. Other sections and divisions of the Specifications, not referenced below, shall also apply to the extent required for proper performance of this Work.

1. Section 02200, Earthwork

2. Section 02726, Manhole and Pre-Cast Vault Construction

1.3 REFERENCE SPECIFICATIONS, CODES, AND STANDARDS

A. All Work specified herein shall conform to or exceed the applicable requirements of the referenced portions of the following publications to the extent that the provisions thereof are not in conflict with other provisions of these Specifications.

B. Comply with the applicable editions of the following codes, regulations and standards.

1. Industry Standards:

ASTM C1244 Standard Test Method for Concrete Sewer Manholes by the Negative Air Pressure (Vacuum) Test Prior to Backfill

SSPWC Section 306-1.4 “Green Book”, Standard Specifications for

Public Works Construction, Testing Pipelines

PCAP Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program by NASSCO

2. Other Standards:

NASSCO National Association of Sewer Service

Companies

C. Comply with the applicable reference Specifications as directed in the General

Requirements and the Supplemental General Requirements.

1.4 CONTRACT SUBMITTALS

A. Submittals shall be made in accordance with the General Requirements, Supplemental General Requirements and as specified herein.

B. The CONTRACTOR shall submit in writing all proposed plans for testing, and for water conveyance, control, and disposal. The CONTRACTOR shall also submit written notice 48 hours in advance of the proposed testing schedule for review and concurrence of the ENGINEER.

1.5 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. Inspection: After installation, the CONTRACTOR shall demonstrate that all manholes have been properly installed, level, with tight joints, at the correct elevations and orientations in accordance with the Contract Documents.

PART 2 - PRODUCTS

2.1 GENERAL

A. Temporary valves, plugs, bulkheads, and other air pressure testing and water control equipment and materials shall be provided by the CONTRACTOR subject to the ENGINEER’s review. No materials shall be used that will be injurious to pipeline structure and future function. Air test gauges shall be laboratory-calibrated annually and shall be recalibrated by a certified laboratory at the CONTRACTOR's expense prior to the leakage test, only if required by the ENGINEER.

B. ENGINEER or ENGINEER’s representative shall be present during testing and shall be notified of the time and place of testing at least 3 days prior to commencement of the Work. All Work shall be performed to the satisfaction of ENGINEER.

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.1 GENERAL

A. Unless otherwise specified, water for testing will be furnished by OCSD inside the plant areas; however, the CONTRACTOR shall make all necessary provisions for conveying the water from an OCSD-designated source to the points of use. Outside the treatment plants, the CONTRACTOR shall furnish and pay for water for testing.

B. All pipeline trenches shall be backfilled and compacted per Section 02200, Earthwork, prior to testing of pipe.

C. Release of water from pipelines, after testing has been completed, shall be performed as reviewed by the ENGINEER.

D. All testing operations shall be performed in the presence of the ENGINEER.

3.2 TESTING OF PIPELINE

A. General: All gravity sewer pipes and service laterals shall be tested for exfiltration and/or infiltration and deflection, as specified. All manholes shall be tested for leakage, as specified. Manholes shall be tested prior to backfill placement; whereas, all pipe shall be backfilled and compacted prior to testing. All leakage tests of sanitary sewer systems shall be in conformance with SSPWC Section 306-1.4. For pressure sewers (force main) tests, the water pressure shall be measured at the lowest point of the pipeline section being tested.

B. Water Exfiltration Test shall be in conformance with SSPWC Section 306-1.4.2.

C. Water Infiltration Test shall be in conformance with SSPWC Section 306-1.4.3. Unless otherwise specified, infiltration will be measured by the CONTRACTOR using measuring devices accepted by the ENGINEER.

D. Air Pressure Test shall be in conformance with SSPWC Section 306-1.4.4.

E. At the CONTRACTOR's option, joints may be air-tested individually, joint by joint, with the use of specialized equipment. The CONTRACTOR shall submit its joint testing procedure for the ENGINEER’s review and acceptance prior to testing. Prior to each test, the pipe at the joint shall be wetted with water. The maximum test pressure shall be

3.0 pounds per inch. The minimum allowable pressure drop shall be 1.0 pounds per inch over a 30-second test period.

F. Water Pressure Test shall be in conformance with SSPWC Section 306-1.4.5.

G. Deflection Test: All flexible and semi-rigid main line pipe shall be tested in accordance with SSPWC Sections 306-1.2.12 and 306-1.2.13 for deflection, joint displacement, or any other obstruction by passing a rigid mandrel through the pipe by hand, not less than 30 days after completion of the trench backfill, but prior to permanent resurfacing. The mandrel shall be a full circle, solid cylinder, or a rigid, nonadjustable, odd-numbered leg (9-leg minimum) steel cylinder, accepted by the ENGINEER as to design and manufacture. The circular cross section of the mandrel shall have a diameter of at least 95 percent of the specified average inside diameter of the pipe and the minimum length of the circular portion of the mandrel shall be equal to the nominal diameter of the pipe. Obstructions encountered by the mandrel shall be corrected by the CONTRACTOR.

3.3 TESTING OF MANHOLES

A. All sewer manholes shall be vacuum tested per ASTM C1244 for leakage after installation, but prior to being backfilled. Prior to vacuum testing, all manholes shall be visually inspected for leaks. All leaks or cracks shall be repaired by the CONTRACTOR, prior to vacuum testing. The repair shall be subject to acceptance by the ENGINEER. All pipes entering the manhole shall be sealed at a point outside the manhole walls so as to include testing of the pipe/manhole joints. The CONTRACTOR shall then be required to make all necessary repairs and retest the manhole. The exterior of the manhole shall be inspected during this period for visible evidence of leakage.

B. Manholes and appurtenances shall be as watertight and free from infiltration as possible. Any evidence of leakage shall be repaired at the expense of the CONTRACTOR. The repair shall be subject to acceptance by the ENGINEER.

C. When, in the ENGINEER’s opinion, the groundwater table is too low to permit visual detection of leaks, project manholes shall be hydrostatically tested.

D. All costs of testing manholes for watertightness shall be included in the appropriate contract unit price.