BSEE-MAY21-P24 Victualic_Layout 1 19/04/2021 11:49 Page 24


BSEE


For as long as modern construction has been around, traditional pipe joining methods, like welding, threading or flanging, have always been the go­to for contractors, simply because they were the best option at the time. As a result, they are often repackaged again and again within new project specifications.


Written by Shaun Hughes, Victaulic Regional Sales Manager, Southern UK


efficiencies and cost savings from being achieved? Enter grooved mechanical pipe joining.


B


Effective coupling specification


Although on the surface a similar product to either flanged or welded joints, grooved couplings command contrasting qualities. They’re closest in kind to flanging, in that they involve tightening bolts to join two pipe spools together, but this is where the similarities end. A flanged solution, even at the smallest scale, will require star pattern tightening of 4 bolts. In contrast, a grooved coupling only requires two bolts to tighten the coupling around the pipe, after being secured within the groove.


Let’s stop for a minute and think about the demands of a modern building project. Construction deadlines are getting shorter, budgets are being tightened, blueprints are being more demanding. Time, cost and performance: these are where contractors are feeling the heat. It’s with these aspects in mind that grooved couplings really appeal as a preferred alternative to the traditional methods. Time is a finite commodity, especially for contractors, which is why the speed and ease of which a solution can be installed is integral. Compared to flanging and the intensive welding process, grooved couplings still only take on average a sixth of the time to complete the same job.


ut what if there is a better solution? What if this inertia is preventing enhanced performance,


preventing installation


PIPES, VALVES & FITTINGS


Are traditional pipe joining methods still best for the job?


Installation ease


How do grooved couplings save time during installation? This relates to a number of factors, all combining to create a time-saving solution. Take for instance only having to tighten two bolts; take the 360-degree rotation allowing the coupling to be orientated at any angle around the joint; take being able to overcome the challenge of finding qualified welders. Bring these factors together and you can see why grooved couplings are giving the traditional methods a run for their money.


For time is money, especially in the construction industry. Extra time on a job equals extra labour costs, extra provision and material renting costs, and potentially a fine for delivering the project past the deadline. Clients and contractors do not want to pay more than they strictly need to, and with budgets being tightened, any time-saving solution is good for the bottom-line. From my personal experience at Victaulic, I have seen countless project managers choose grooved solutions because they save time and money, while increasing efficiencies across the project.


Grooved couplings are also making for safer jobsites: there are no open flames required for the welding process and no hazardous fumes released during the installation process. In the case of Victaulic, we also provide contractors with free training and tutorial tools to ensure the installation goes as smoothly as possible and pay regular visits to the jobsite during installation.


A shift towards flexibility


Naturally, performance is key as well: you can’t talk about speed and then deliver a product that doesn’t work and isn’t reliable. Certainly, the traditional methods have always reassured contractors with their sturdiness and their reputation of providing a decent outcome. While grooved solutions certainly give no ground to the traditional joining methods in terms of robustness and reliability – ensured by a triple seal system between groove, gasket and housing which is enhanced when pressurised – it’s the additional qualities that have been turning contractors’ heads over the


24 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2021 ABOUT... Victaulic is a global


manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining methods (fittings & couplings), flow control and fire protection systems and is the inventor of the grooved pipe coupling. We build innovative technologies and provide engineering services that address complex piping challenges faced by engineers, contractors, distributors, site owners and property managers.


Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk


past couple of decades. Grooved couplings come in two different varieties: rigid, which permits neither linear, angular or rotational movement at the joints; and flexible, designed to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction and to allow controlled linear and angular movement at each joint. Employing either one or the other, or a combination of the two, means grooved couplings can be used in virtually every application. Flexibility really is the buzz word for grooved couplings. Traditional solutions facilitate pipe expansion and contraction by expansion loops, which require extra space, or flex connectors, which are often the weakest point in the system. This is where grooved couplings differ: they save on required space and have a long history of proven reliability. This is why grooved couplings are gaining popularity in the industry. and are becoming the preferred alternative to traditional pipe joining, and could well represent the future for the industry.


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