EIRE
Republic of Ireland
Ministry of Standards, Weights and Measures
Irish Government Pipe Specification
(EU Revised Regulations 6/03)
Every pipe is to consist of a single long hole, surrounded by metal or plastic centred around the hole.
All pipe is to be hollow throughout the entire length.
Pipe holes must not be longer than the surrounding metal or plastic, and vice versa: do not use holes of a different length than the pipe.
The inside diameter (I.D.) of all pipe must not be greater than the outside diameter (O.D.) otherwise the hole will be on the outside.
All pipe is to be supplied with nothing in the hole so that the water, steam or other fluid materials can be put inside at a later date.
Pipe should be supplied without rust, which can be applied more readily at the job site (However, the Ministry recognises that some vendors now supply pre-rusted pipe where this will save time in the on-site rusting process, such pipe will be accepted in lieu of un-rusted pipe).
All pipe over 500 feet (153m) in length, should have the words “Long Pipe” painted clearly on each end, so the contractor will know that it is a long pipe.
Pipe over 2 miles (3.2km) in length must have “Long Pipe” painted in the middle so the contractor does not have to walk the entire length of the pipe to determine whether or not it is a long pipe.
All pipe over 6 inches (152mm) in outside diameter (O.D.) must have the word “Large Pipe” painted on it so the contractor will not mistake it for a small pipe.
All pipe must be supplied with flanges pre-fitted. Flanges must have holes for bolts and these bolt holes must be kept separate from the big pipe hole in the middle.
When supplying 90 degree, 45 degree or 30 degree elbows, these must be clearly marked as “Right Hand Elbow” or “Left Hand Elbow” otherwise the pipe will end up going the wrong way.
Pipe must be clearly marked as “Level”, Uphill” or “Downhill” pipe. If a downhill pipe is used for going uphill, the water will flow in the wrong direction.
All couplings must have either left hand thread or right hand thread. Other types of thread are not acceptable.
All couplings must be clearly marked “Left Hand Thread” or “Right Hand Thread” to prevent the contractor from mixing the threads, otherwise as the coupling is being screwed on one pipe it is unscrewed from the other.