AWWA STANDARDS

AWWA's Standard M9 covers concrete cylinder pipe and addresses the following:
​

• Fitting installation techniques,

• Equipment recommendations,

• Materials construction standards (including tapping fittings) and,

• Excavation preparation and dimensions.

​
Some notable hot-tapping compliance points for M9:​

• We perform our hot taps with cutters specifically designed to cut through concrete.

• Fittings must be fabricated in accordance with M9. This design calls for the fitting to have grout poured into cavities between the fittng and the pipe. 

• On certain sizes the pipe must be blocked at regular intervals to ensure it is properly supported.

​​
Read more about concrete cylinder pipe here, see a project we've worked on, or contact us for more information. 

AWWA's Standard M11 covers steel pipe.
​
Some notable hot-tapping compliance points for M11:​

• Bolts and studs must have a 1/2" of thread beyond the nut to be considered properly fastened.

• Pressure tests must not exceed 125% of the pipeline's working maximum pressure.

​​
Read more about a steel pipe project we've worked on, or contact us for more information. 

AWWA's Standard M23 covers polyvinyl chloride pipe (PVC) and covers:
​

• requirements for the hot tap drilling processes,

• equipment recommendations,

• distances required between hot taps and existing bells, joints and fittings. 

​
Some notable hot-tapping compliance points for M23:​
​

• We perform our hot taps on PVC with sharp, well lubricated cutters.

• Our workers verify distances between hot tapped locations and bells or fittings.

• Installation points on the pipe are thoroughly cleaned and carefully inspected for damage and deflection.

• A tapping safety blanket is laid over the pipe being tapped to prevent worker injury if the pipe fails during the hot tap.

​​
See a project we've worked on, or contact us for more information. 

AWWA's Standard M41 covers ductile iron pipe and does not provide much information on hot tapping beyond general guidelines for direct-to-main hot tapping. 
 
We use clean and sharp carbide-tipped cutters for performing hot taps on ductile iron pipe and follow product installation instructions.
​
See a project we've worked on, or contact us for more information. 

AWWA's Standard M44 covers distribution valve:
​

• inspection guidelines prior to installation,

• pressure testing guidelines and,

• an explanation on how different types of valve function.

​
Some notable hot-tapping compliance points for M44:​

​

• We follow the crossover tightening method (also known as a star pattern) when tightening flanges.

• We ensure that the valves are properly supported when they are installed. 

​​
See a project we've worked on with a big valve on it or contact us for more information. 

AWWA's Standard M55 covers all aspects relating to PE pipe. We most commonly work with high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe.
​
Some notable hot-tapping compliance points for M55:​

​

• We ensure our cutters have sufficient depth when tapping high-pressure class HDPE. We've tapped HDPE pipe where the wall is over 2" thick, so we use cutters which account for this additional thickness. 

• We select cutters with fewer teeth and are designed for use with PE pipe in order to ensure proper chip clearing. 

• We use tapping sleeves which are designed to account for the movement of HDPE pipe.

​​
Check out a line stop we performed on HDPE pipe, or contact us for more information.