Implementing Traceability Features in Components and Equipment for PE Piping Systems [PE]

Quality assurance (QA) systems according to IS0 9000 series are no longer the "privilege" of the suppliers to the plastic piping systems market. Also the endusers, in this case mainly gas distribution companies, are under-taking efforts to set up QA-Systems according to IS0 9000 series. Doing this more emphasis was put on securing 'TRACEABILITY'. The very first elements of traceability are e.g. the manufacturing code (production batch identification) which enables the enduser to trace back via the supplier all the necessary information up to the raw material batch used for the respective product. The main European gas companies using PE piping systems for gas distribution are now extending their requirements regarding traceability. The target is to know ' M e n , where and by whom which products (pipe, fitting, valve etc.) were installed in the network and the jointing technique used for that installation". The increased use of modem electronic data processing techniques in network management very much supports the trend towards implementing a traceability system. An IS0 working group is already involved in standardizing the coding of the different elements of traceability. This paper covers the current state of traceability requirements and the efforts taken by the suppliers to comply with these requirements.