robert lehunt
Robert LeHunt is a civil engineer with a Masters Degree in Polymer Engineering from Monash University. He is a Certified Materials Professional with Materials Australia.
He has over 30 years experience in the design, manufacture, testing, and installation of a wide range of polymer and non-polymer pipeline materials. This includes specification development, site QA procedures, site procedure audits, forensic engineering and expert witness services.
He has developed and delivered competency training programs in PE, and PVC buttwelding, electrofusion, extrusion welding, PO pipe design and installation. He has carried out extensive testing, and research in electrofusion, and buttwelding in PO diameters up to DN1800.
He has delivered a range of papers at international conferences on topics such as training, weathering resistance, long term composite pipe performance, rubber ring jointing performance, electrofusion jointing, and residual disinfection effects on pipeline materials.
He is the current Chairman of the Joint AS/NZS Technical Committee PL/006 Polyolefin Pipeline Systems, Chairman of AS/NZS Technical Committee WS/028 Flexible Pipe Design, member of AS/NZS PL/021 PVC/ABS/PA Pipeline Systems, and AS/NZS PL/044 GRP Pipeline Systems. He is also a member of ISO TC138 Plastics Pipes Committee.
ABSTRACt
ID08
AS/NZS
2033 Design and Installation of PO Pipe Systems - A Significant Leap Forward
AS/NZS 2033 Design and Installation of PO Pipe Systems - A Significant Leap Forward
Robert LeHunt - Lehunt and Associates Pty Ltd
Abstract
The previous iteration of AS/NZS 2033:2008 Installation of polyethylene pipe systems; was limited to only the installation of PE Pipeline Systems for a restricted range of below and above ground applications.
It was decided by the Joint Australian/New Zealand Technical Committee PL-006 - PO Pipeline Systems to delay the revision of AS/NZS 2033 until parallel updates were completed for Product Standards; such as AS/NZS 4130- PE pipes for pressure applications, and AS/NZS 4129- Fittings for PE pipes for pressure applications. In this way the revised AS/NZS 2033 Standard could be regarded as an "end of chain" document taking into account the latest developments in related Standards.
At the same time, it was decided to expand the scope of AS/NZS 2033 in two major ways.
Firstly, to include a range of PO piping materials (PE, PP, PEX, PB, Multi-layer) which required the nomination of the various material’s physical properties, and their design envelope limitations.
Secondly, to broaden the areas of installation applications. This included, for example; seismic area considerations, and update on the methods of hydrostatic pressure testing, inclusion of the TEPPFA based evaluation of external loading, renovation of existing pipelines, and the use of PB/PEX/PP/multilayer pipes in hot water applications.
At the same time, opportunity was taken to include references to other relevant standards so that a comprehensive single document was available to guide, and improves, the design and use of PO pipeline systems.