You want to keep your piping system free from weak spots and corrosion. But what happens when you need to add a branch pipe onto your main pipe run? How do you cut into pipes and add new avenues without putting the whole system in danger?
The answer is pipe repads.
Repads can support your pipes in their most vulnerable places. Wondering how? Read on. Here’s how to use reinforcing pads to increase the strength of branch pipes and your entire piping system.
Wondering how they work?
Before welding, you’ll slide the repad over the branch leg so that it overlaps the places where your new pipe is meeting the run pipe. That way, it will cover the edges of the welded perimeter that are weakened by cutting. Ultimately, these pipe supports reinforce the pipe at weakened, high-stress points.
Basically, repads strengthen pipes in two crucial ways:
Overall, your repad reinforces those sliced edges and strengthens the pipe at a high-stress point. But you may be wondering, “Why use a branch pipe and repad at all?”
There are several ways using stub-ins and repads can pay off:
Repads and stub-ins save money in a few ways. First, you don’t need to buy extra fittings to redirect pipe flow. Second, rather than welding three times around those extra joints, you need to make only a single cut and weld. This saves on labor costs as well as maintenance expenses such as weld inspections.
If you want your piping system running at top condition, it’s best to limit cuts and welds as much as possible. Welds are prime spots for corrosion or deterioration from things such as chloride stress corrosion cracking. Of course, you can trust welding pros who use industry standards such as MSS SP-58, but it’s still a good idea to minimize welding whenever you can.
Make no mistake: Installing a branch pipe and repad requires a good amount of specialized labor. You’ll need an expert to make precise cuts and weld the branch and repad onto your main pipe. However, it takes less specialized labor than the alternative: replacing a whole section of piping with a three-way fitting. This alternative takes more measuring and extra welds.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re installing repads:
Overall, when installed right, repads can improve your system’s performance and keep costs down in the long run. And there are more tools to support pipes and lengthen your piping system’s life span.
Want to learn how pipe supports can improve the longevity and performance of your piping system? Read our Complete Guide to Pipe Restraints and find out.