TPi October 2011

products & developments

Purge gas and time saving solution that can be used for hundreds of welds

of the product, which further increases life span.

Compared to consumable purge products (eg purge paper) where a new product will need to be purchased for every weld, a Ring Purge system’s initial purchase cost will soon be offset, as it can be used for hundreds of welds if used correctly. For example, an 8" Ring Purge used for 100 welds will cost just over £2.40 per weld; if used for 200 welds, this cost will be halved. Unlike purge paper or purge film products, Ring Purge and inflatable dams provide the welder with ways to get purge gas in and out of the pipe, even when the root weld pass has been closed. Ring Purge maintains a positive seal of the dams with the pipe ID so that the purge gas provides a pressure to support the weld root. Customers using the Ring Purge in a correct operation have reported 500+ welds from their product. The pre-set valve minimises the risk of over-inflation and bursting

When purging stainless steel or other reactive metals, a well-purged oxygen- free environment is crucial to ensure a clean, strong weld that is free of oxidation and has a uniform and smooth internal weld profile. The original, patented design of the Ring Purge, available from Weldwide Solutions Limited, enables the fabricator to seal the inflatable dam inside the pipe and achieve a purge around the weld within a few minutes, and will therefore not only save purge gas but will also shorten the time spent on purging.

The Ring Purge should be considered for purging lengths of straight pipes that need welding, and if used carefully can be considered to weld lobster back welds and some elbows. For purging of smaller diameter pipes and around bends, Weldwide Solutions Limited recommends the use of Proban cotton inflatable purge systems. All of Weldwide Solutions’ inflatable purge dam designs feature a secondary purge gas inlet feed so that higher flow rates of argon can be used when making the initial root pass. Using the secondary hose prevents over-inflation of the dams, and if flow rates become too high and the welder feels too much gas pressure escaping through the root gap, the gas pressure will drop immediately when the gas flow to the secondary argon hose is reduced. Weldwide Solutions Limited – UK darren@weldwidesolutions.com www.weldwidesolutions.com

Installation advantages of cast iron above ground drainage systems

“Unlike some alternative systems, cast iron needs no specialist tools, or ancillary products such as fire collars or expansion limiters, while its proven benefits in the areas of strength, durability, acoustics, fire resistance and sustainability make cast iron the ideal choice for both new build and retrofit. “Furthermore, the independent installer involved in the study confirmed his belief in the cost saving potential for Ensign Eezi-Fit, particularly in long vertical soil stack runs within a riser.”

reduced overall system costs, with the lower installation costs potentially compensating for any difference in material costs between cast iron and HDPE systems. Mike Rawlings, marketing manager – soil and drain at Saint-Gobain PAM UK, explained, “The Ensign Eezi-Fit push fit system has been designed to be quick and easy to assemble, and this study provides independent and verifiable evidence that its assembly time is around half that of HDPE electro- fusion weld systems in an identical application. The study also showed that cast iron is just as fast to install as stainless steel for vertical soil stacks.

Detailed results of a study into the installation times of above ground drainage systems of different materials have been released by Saint-Gobain PAM UK. Titled ‘A question of time?’, the four- page document highlights how the study, undertaken at the Building Research Establishment in conjunction with independent installer PJ Myers & Son, found that the Ensign Eezi-Fit push fit cast iron system from Saint-Gobain PAM UK was significantly quicker to install than a HDPE system jointed by electro-fusion weld couplings over a three-storey vertical soil stack.

Details of the study can be downloaded from www.eezi-compare.com

Saint-Gobain PAM UK www.saint-gobain-pam.co.uk

It also reveals how this advantage in installation time can translate into

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Tube Products International October 2011

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