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IGN 4-11-01 Issue 2 Vitrified clay pipes and fittings

IGN 4-11-01 Issue 2 has been archived.

The reasoning for this step has been set out below. The Clay Pipe Development Association has confirmed its acceptance of this step.

In 1981, BS 65 was published, which combined all the UK’s requirements for vitrified clay pipes into a single document. This replaced: BS 65; BS 540:1971, parts 1 & 2; BS 539 and BS 1143.

IGN 4-11-01 Issue 2: Vitrified clay pipes and fittings was published in February 1984. It provided a guide for designers, specifiers and asset owners on the scope of BS 65: 1981. In 1984 this would have been helpful to people working in the water sector. However, its content has not been formally reviewed for 39 years and is now so out of date (see below) that it is potentially misleading.

BS 65 was updated and re-issued in 1988. In November 1991 BS EN 295 was published, which replaced BS 65:1988 for flexibly jointed vitrified clay pipes and fittings. BS 65:1988 was then withdrawn.

Since 1991 the suite of relevant standards has evolved and been updated. Vitrified clay pipe systems are now covered by the following:

BS EN 295:2013 – Vitrified clay pipe systems for drains and sewers

  •  Part 1:2013 – Requirements for pipes, fittings and joints
  • Part 2:2013 – Evaluation of conformity & sampling
  • Part 3:2012 – Test methods
  • Part 4:2013 – Requirements for adaptors, connectors and flexible couplings
  • Part 5:2013 – Requirements for perforated pipes and fittings
  • Part 6:2013 – Requirements for components of manholes and inspection chambers
  • Part 7:2013 – Requirements for pipes and joints for pipe jacking

BS EN 681-1:1996 – Elastomeric seals – Material requirements for pipe joint seals used in water and drainage applications – vulcanised rubber

BS 65:1991 – Specification for vitrified clay pipes and fittings for use solely with surface water

BS EN 752:2017 – Drain and sewer systems outside buildings

BS 9295: 2020 – Guide to the structural design of buried pipes

BS EN 1610:2015 – Construction and testing of drains and sewers

Analysis of IGN 4-11-01 Issue 2 provides multiple examples of how the document’s guidance has been overtaken by developments since its publication. The document is now substantially inconsistent with the content of the standards listed above.

Vitrified clay products, and the product range, have also evolved and changed. This means that IGN 4-11-01 Issue 2’s principal residual value is as a historic document. Such documents can be of some value to engineers conducting asset condition surveys or failure investigations who may need to know details of assets’ specification and performance criteria relevant at the time of their installation. However IGN 4-11-02 Issue 2 should not be used by engineers dealing with current projects.

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