In the piping industry, your money is burning up with every extra second you spend on installation. And if you have to stop production to repair pipes or make upgrades, it can cost your company billions of dollars and hours of manpower.
Luckily, there are some simple tricks that can help you cut down installation time and save money. Here are three pipe support installation tips to use on your next project:
Welding is nothing short of miraculous when you have to do it. But if you want to save time and money, you should look for ways to reduce welding when it’s possible. Here’s why less welding during installation means more cash and production time later on:
So you may be wondering, “How do I reduce welding in my system?” You have a few installation options that are less known:
When some people hear the word “epoxy,” their minds may form images of regular household glue. That’s not what we’re talking about here. Manufacturers can use extremely strong epoxy adhesives to fix supports to pipes or structures. In fact, this type of adhesive is so strong that it’s used in the aerospace industry. Rather than welding, installers can use epoxy to secure pipe supports such as composite pipe shoes, flat plates, or wear pads.
Composites are also often misunderstood. Many assume that because they’re less rigid, they aren’t as strong as metal. But composite pipe supports are actually extremely durable. And because they aren’t metal, they’re noncorrosive. That’s why installing supports such as CryoTek Pipe Shoes or ProTek Composite Pipe Shoes can save time and money in the long run.
If your piping system is better off with metallic materials, there are still ways to save during installation. Most importantly, installers should pay attention to which metals they’re using and how they’re pairing them up.
Metal-on-metal contact can lead to several problems. First, it could kick off galvanic corrosion if the metals are dissimilar. Second, installing metal supports against bare rough surfaces without a protective buffer can destroy pipes. When abrasive surfaces rub against one another, the outer level of the metal can wear down. That leaves little scrapes and crevices, where corrosive materials can slide in and eat away metal.
In the long run, avoiding direct metal-on-metal contact during installation can prevent ruptured pipes, corroded parts, and hours of extra work down the line.
Equipment failure is one of the leading causes of oil and gas pipeline failures and incidents. That’s why it pays to watch for signs of installation mishaps. Here are some things to pay attention to:
Overall, paying a little more attention during the installation process can save hours of work later on. That means taking a proactive approach to stopping corrosion, wear, and long-term damage.
It also means picking out pipe supports that increase the life span of your piping system. Want to learn more about some of the most effective supports out there? Read our Complete Guide to Pipe Shoes now.