Welcome to the PolyTest™ System:  Non-destructive evaluation of welded joints in polyethylene pipe

PolyTest™ is an ultrasonic inspection system designed and optimised specifically for the volumetric non-destructive testing of electrofusion (EF) and butt fusion (BF) joints in PE pipes. The system includes:

• phased array ultrasonic probes, operating at the optimal frequencies for PE pipes of wall thicknesses between 8 and at least 72mm
• membrane water wedges, designed to give full coverage of the weld fusion zone
• a simple flexible scanner accommodating pipes with diameters from 90 to 900mm.

The PolyTest system is supported with procedures to enable detection of all types of flaw that can occur in PE pipe welds, including planar flaws, particulate contamination and cold welds. Extensive performance testing has been carried out to determine the acceptance criteria that should be applied, and the system’s inspection capabilities have been shown to be effective on joints containing known flaws in pipe diameters up to 900mm.

The system has been in use in the water and gas distribution, and nuclear sectors for over 3 years, with interest from other sectors such as mining, but is suitable for any industry that has a need for the high integrity inspection of PE welds.