Do You Know Where Your Aldyl A Pipe Is?

Locating and prioritizing replacement of polyethylene pipes in advance of mounting legislative action

A half century after its coast-to-coast installation in U.S. residential communities to deliver natural gas, Aldyl A polyethylene pipe is now being identified and removed in several states due to its potential vulnerabilities.

In general, there are three distinct ways polyethylene (PE) pipe may fail while in service: rapid crack propagation, ductile rupture, and slow crack growth. Certain vintages of Aldyl A pipe are known to demonstrate lower resistance to stress intensification, which can increase the risk of slow crack growth in particular. Failures of Aldyl A pipe and fittings have been linked to gas leakage safety incidents and potential hazards to property and the public.