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Tube Products International January 2009
www.read-tpi.comNo one needs to be persuaded of the importance of the fixtures that join water and gas pipes.
It has been said that an ordinary domestic water leak could have been prevented for less then
1% of the cost to repair the ensuing damage. In the case of a gas leak — just as vexatious and
time-consuming, and very possibly deadly — the cost can be incalculable.
In both instances — once the tubing has been checked for damage, and exonerated — the
problem will almost certainly be found to lie with the flanged connection. Except perhaps
in medical or pharmaceutical practice, no other small device will carry such a freight of
responsibility in service and blame if serviceability breaks down. We say “if,” rather than “when,”
for breakdown is a rare occurrence in a sector notable for the highest engineering standards.
An industry primer on the prevention of gas leaks from flange connections provides an indication
of the professionalism in this area. It begins with instruction in keeping flanges parallel and
in contact with gaskets. Many pages later, it concludes with an appeal for the establishment
of mandatory, standardised training in the fitting and tightening of flange connections and
mechanical couplings in piping systems; and a proposal for a certificate-issuance programme
with courses and accreditation independent of tool suppliers. In between, it covers everything
from specification, selection, and deviation to the vital necessity of routines for calibrating
hydraulically-operated tightening equipment at regular intervals.
The exceptional integrity of fittings for gas and water applications — including the products
featured in this section of Tube Products INTERNATIONAL— rests on a very secure base.
Photo – Hobas Engineering GmbH
see page 38
Gas products
Water and