Three Borouge Borstar® PE pipe grades are now registered with the international Traceability coding (Traccoding) to fulfil the ISO12176-4 (2003).
Traccoding is an encoding system for PE piping systems, covering raw materials and components such as pipes, fittings and valves. Specific codifications are given to each item, and these codes will ease to identify and trace all the elements of the PE pipe system during the service life of the pipe network. Traccoding is currently used in several countries in Europe, like France and Belgium.
The registered Borouge grades are Borstar PE100 HE3490-LS, and Borstar PE80 grades HE3470-LS and ME3440. They are registered under the codes R01, R02 and R03 respectively. With Traccoding, registered PE compounds can be used in a traceability system, with alphanumeric or numeric data recognition systems, such as barcode, magnetic strip cards or microchip card readers. Such traceability aims to enhance the level of quality assurance for end users of PE pipe networks and raise quality standards in the industry. With the Traccoding system, all installations would be traced back to the resin supplier from which they were produced if necessary.
"Being part of the Traccoding system will help the industry to raise the standard of PE materials used in piping applications, especially in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions. With new global identification systems like Traccoding and the support of associations like the PE100+ Association, the pipe customers and the Utilities – gas and water companies – have access to efficient tools to lift the practice guidelines of the industry. Pipes and fittings properly marked – including the code R01 corresponding to our PE100 black compound for instance – will become common sense in many countries for the sake of the PE pipe industry," said Andre Van Uffelt, Business Unit Manager Pipe, Borouge.