A new hot tapping product recently introduced to the water market is geared toward reducing inventory and simplifying the pipe installer's job. A single size shell eliminates the need to carry multiple sizes within a nominal pipe diameter.
In developing the Triple Tap® system, Total Piping Solutions surveyed the market and received input from multiple customers to determine their needs. A primary design goal was to meet customer-directed requirements to reduce inventory and simplify the product selection process.
The new tapping system carries a diameter range of more than double the standard sleeve in use today and can be used on a minimum of three classes of pipe per nominal diameter.
A key example of this range-enhanced ability is shown in the 6" size range. A single 6" Triple Tap can accommodate the following four pipe diameters: 6" steel, 6" ductile, 6" cast iron, and 6" Class 150 asbestos cement. This range extension may equate to a warehouse inventory reduction potential of between 50 percent and 70 percent by eliminating the need for extra on-hand sizes to accommodate local market requirements for hot tapping.
To accommodate the range increase, the tapping system incorporates a heavier shell design allowing for greater pressure retention in the field and on the test bench. A heavier shell also provides additional support of the pipe.
Multiple customers expressed a concern over loss of seal due to beam breakage of the pipe during the tapping process. Beam breakage typically occurs on size-on-size pipe taps where a maximum amount of pipe wall is removed. Since up to 55 percent of the pipe wall can be removed during the tapping process, the pipe can weaken and crack opposite the tap location. The breakage, commonly known as a beam break, creates a leak point on the backside of the tapping sleeve after the tap is performed.
Engineers at Total Piping Solutions were able to solve the issue of beam breakage by combining the heavier shell design with a patented gasketing system. The unique sealing system prevents leakage from a beam break and allows for greater working pressures. By combining both a proprietary aperture seal and an opposing seal bead system on both the upper and lower shells, beam break leakage is fully contained.
The tapping system has the ability to exceed utility required test pressures in excess of one and one half times (1.5X) the rated working pressure of the pipe system. Test pipes were specifically designed to simulate a beam break and incorporate a 1/8" wide by 3/16" deep hydrostatically-pressurized groove. All products passed complete proof of design tests under the worst of conditions.
The Triple Tap can be used on High Density Polyethylene pipe without sleeve modification. All hot tapping products produced by Total Piping Solutions exceed pertinent AWWA and other industry applicable standards.WW
Total Piping Solutions Inc.® is an exhibitor at the ACE® '13 event and can be found at Booth No. 3059
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