**Construction Specification 53---Ductile-Iron Pipe**

**1. Scope**

The work consists of furnishing and installing ductile-iron pipe,
fittings, and appurtenances as specified in section 9 of this
specification and as shown on the drawings.

**2. Material**

Ductile-iron pipe and fittings shall conform to the requirements of
Material Specification 553, Ductile-Iron Pipe. Thickness class of pipe
and rated working pressure shall be as specified in section 9 of this
specification or as shown on the drawings.

Unless otherwise specified, special fittings and appurtenances shall be
the same material as the pipe.

**3. Laying and bedding the pipe**

Pipe shall be installed to the lines and grades shown on the drawings
with bell socket ends aligned upstream unless otherwise specified. The
pipe shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer\'s
recommendations, unless otherwise specified. Two copies of the pipe
manufacturer\'s installation instructions shall be provided to the
engineer before any pipe placement. The pipe shall be firmly and
uniformly bedded within the trench throughout the entire length of the
pipe section to the depth and in the manner specified. Bell holes for
flanged, push-on, or mechanical joint pipe shall be provided as
necessary to allow space for joint assembly and to permit the pipe
barrel to be uniformly supported on the bedding.

**4. Joints and connections**

Pipe joints shall conform to the details shown on the drawings and shall
be sound and watertight at the pressures specified in section 9 of this
specification.

**5. Handling the pipe**

The contractor shall furnish all equipment and facilities needed to
handle, store, and place the pipe without damaging the pipe, lining,
encasement, or coating. Pipe coating, encasement, or lining that is
damaged shall be repaired using methods recommended by the manufacturer
unless otherwise specified in section 9 of this specification.

**6. Pressure testing**

Pressure testing of the conduit, when specified, shall be conducted as
follows:

a\. Placement of backfill before pressure testing shall be as specified
in section 7 of this specification.

b\. Before pressure testing, the pipeline shall be flushed and free of
all foreign material.

c\. The pipeline shall not be pressure tested until concrete for anchor
and thrust blocks has attained the minimum specified compressive
strength unless other specified methods of thrust restraint are
provided.

d\. The total conduit or continuous section of conduit to be tested
shall be filled with clean water at a rate not to exceed the maximum
specified and tested at the pressure(s) specified in section 9 of this
specification.

e\. The section of conduit being tested shall be allowed to stand full
of water for a minimum of 24 hours before the start of pressure and
leakage tests. Test pressures shall be held constant for 2 hours. When
the amount of water loss exceeds the maximum allowable loss specified in
section 9 of this specification, the leak(s) shall be repaired or
otherwise corrected and the conduit shall be re-tested. The testing
procedure shall be repeated until the requirements of the specifications
are met.

**7. Backfill**

***Method 1---***Backfill in accordance with section 9 of this
specification shall be accomplished only in sufficient amount to hold
the conduit in place during testing, with the following exceptions:

a\. Compacted backfill shall be placed to its final depth as shown on
the drawings at vertical and horizontal deflection points, road
crossings, and thrust blocks. Backfill shall be placed so that conduit
and joint displacement does not occur.

b\. All joints and connections shall be completely exposed for visual
observation during testing, except at locations described in the
exception above.

***Method 2---***Backfill in accordance with section 9 of this
specification shall be to the final depth as shown on the drawings for
the section of conduit being tested.

***Use with either method---***The contractor shall be fully responsible
for any and all work required to correct any leakage when the leakage
test results in water loss that exceeds the amount specified in section
9 of this specification.

**8. Measurement and payment**

For items of work for which specific unit prices are established in the
contract, the quantity of each size, and thickness class of pipe is
determined to the nearest foot by measurement of the installed length of
pipe along the crown centerline of the conduit. Payment for each size
and thickness class of pipe is made at the contract unit price for that
size and thickness class of pipe. Such payment constitutes full
compensation for furnishing, transporting, handling, and installing the
pipe and necessary fittings and appurtenances complete in place.

Compensation for any item of work described in the contract, but not
listed, is included in the payment for the item of work to which it is
made subsidiary. Such items and the items to which they are made
subsidiary are identified in section 9 of this specification.

**9. Items of work and construction details**