The Manibs Corporation of Germany manufactures a variety of Polyethylene (PE) fittings for European water and natural gas distribution and transmission systems. One of their fittings is a split-sleeve PE electrofusion fitting for the repair of damaged PE pipe. NYSEG tested ten of these fittings to determine if they held promise for the repair of bad butt-fusion joints, 50% depth gouges and active leaks from 4” PE gas distribution pipe. The repair sleeve was tested for proper fit on one American 4” PE pipe; then on a European 110 mm pipe over butt-fusion with no leak, two butt-fusion with bubbling gas, three 8” long gouges at 50% depth of pipe thickness, a ?” inch hole at zero psi air and two ?” holes blowing 20 psi air. The repair sleeve cannot be used as-is on American 4” PE pipe because American 4” pipe is 4 mm wider (114 mm) than European 110 mm pipe. This precludes a proper fit. The sleeve must be re-cast 4 mm wider to fit American pipe. The sleeve successfully fit over butt-fusion beads, including the repair of two actively leaking gas. The sleeve repaired leaks over 50% depth gouges and over ?” holes under no pressure but not ?” holes blowing 20 psi gas. The sleeve did not repair a 50% depth gouge when we neglected to tighten all bolts. The Manibs repair sleeve shows significant promise for repair applications on the NYSEG gas distribution system and it’s development for North American markets should be pursued.
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