Joining Plastic Pipe in Cold Weather

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Engineering Info

Working in freezing temperatures is never easy. But sometimes the job is necessary. If that unavoidable job includes solvent welding plastic pipe, you can do it successfully with Weld-On® Solvent Cements.

By following our standard instructions and using a little extra care as outlined below, successful solvent welded joints can be made at temperatures even as low as -15° F (-26°C). In cold weather, solvents penetrate and soften the plastic pipe and fitting surfaces more slowly than in warm weather. Also the plastic is more resistant to solvent attack. Therefore it becomes even more important to presoften surfaces with an aggressive primer. And, because of slower evaporation, a longer cure time is necessary. Our cure schedules allow a margin for safety, but for colder weather more time should be allowed.

Tips to Follow in Solvent Welding during Cold Weather:

1. Prefabricate as much of the system as is possible in a heated work area.
2. Store cements and primers in a warmer area when not in use and make sure they remain fluid. If possible, store the fittings & valves the same way.
3. Take special care to remove moisture including ice and snow from the surfaces to be joined, especially from around the ends of the pipe.
4. Use the most aggressive Weld-On Primer available to soften the joining surfaces before applying cement. More than one application may be necessary.
5. Vigorously shake or stir cement before using. Allow a longer cure period before the sy stem is tested and used.
* A heat blanket may be used to speed up the set and cure times.
6. Read and follow all of our directions carefully before installation. All Weld-On cements are formulated to have well balanced dry ing characteristics and to have good stability in subfreezing temperatures.

For all practical purposes, good solvent welded joints can be made in very cold conditions with proper care and a little common sense.

TEMPERATURE RANGE	1/2" TO 11/4" (20-40MM)	11/2" TO 2" (50-S3MM)	21/2" TO 8" (75-200MM)	I0" TO 15" (250-380MM)	15"+ (380MM+)
AVERAGE INITIAL SET SCHEDULE FOR WELD-□N PVC/CPVC S□LVENT CEMENTS*
60-100° F / 16 - 38°C	2 min.	5 min.	30 min.	2 hrs.	4 hrs.
40-60° F ; s - 16°c	5 min.	10 min.	2 hrs.	8 hrs.	16 hrs.
0-40° F / -18 - 5°C	10 min.	15 min.	12 hrs.	24 hrs.	48 hrs.

RELATIVE HUMIDITY 60% OR LESS TEMPERATURE RANGE DURING ASSEMBLY ANO CURE PERIODS	1/2" TO 1-1/4" (20-40MM) UP TO 160 160 TO 370 PSI PSI (II BAR)	1/2" TO 1-1/4" (20-40MM) UP TO 160 160 TO 370 PSI 60 TO 370 PSI (11-26 BAR)	1-1/2" TO 2" (50-63MM) UP TO 160 PSI (II BAR)	1-1/2" TO 2" (50-63MM) 160 TO 315 PSI (11-22 BAR)	2-1/2" TO 8" {75-200MM) P TO 160 PSI (II BAR)	2-1/2" TO 8" {75-200MM) 160 TO 315 PSI (11-22 BAR)	10" TO 15" (250-380MM) UP TO 100 PSI (7 BAR)	5"+ (380MM+) UP TO 100 PSI (7 BAR)
AVERAGE JDINT CURE SCHEDULE F□R WELD-ON PVC/CPVC SOLVENT CEMENTS*
60°-100° F	15 min.	6 hrs.	30 min.	12 hrs.	1 1/2 hrs.	24 hrs.	48 hrs.	72 hrs.
40°-60° F	20 min.	12 hrs.	45 min.	24 hrs.	4 hrs.	48 hrs.	96 hrs.	6 days.
0°-40° F	30 min.	48 hrs.	1 hr.	96 hrs.	72 hrs.	8 days.	8 days.	14 days.