Know about the features of expansion joints for MEP industry

Every structure gets restrained to a certain degree and it becomes important to relieve the stress in the materials caused by movement. In this case, expansion joints are used. The usage of these joints is huge in the MEP (Mechanical, electrical and plumbing) industry. Get the best quality expansion joints from the most trusted supplier in the Middle East and GCC region. Read this post to explore a lot more about expansion joints for the MEP industry.

Benefits of using expansion joints:

Expansion joints or movement joints are mid-structure separations. They are mainly designed for efficiently absorbing MEP materials’ expansion & contraction in hot and cold weather respectively. High stress on the plumbing structures needs to be well-addressed by installing expansion joints. If you use expansion joints, cracking cement, tile lifting etc can be eliminated. Let us see which types of our supplied expansion joints are useful for the MEP sector:

1. HVAC Expansion joints/ Flexible joints

Provide stress relief Expansion joints to your HVAC systems by using expansion joints. These are also known as flexible connectors constructed from synthetic/ natural elastomers & fabrics. Here we mention below the different types of expansion joints ideal for your HVAC projects:

a) Flexible connectors

Mounting these flexible connectors on the piping installations can absorb not only expansion & contractions but also vibrations & oscillations. These are the best features of these flexible connectors:

• Flexible connectors eliminate hammering & lessen noise.

• These connectors are constructed from top-quality NBR or EPDM.

• They have union ends with galvanised malleable iron.

• Can efficiently work even under larger antiknock, high-pressure and elastic situations.

• The installation process of flexible connectors becomes more flexible and easy because of the 360-degree rotation of both the union & nipple connection.

b) Rubber expansion joints

Rubber expansion joints provide stress relief caused by thermal movements or mechanical vibration. Let’s dive into the features of these joints:

• They have various-level sphere structures with vibration-absorbing capacity.

• Rubber expansion joints are good to reduce the effect of noise.

• The installation of rubber expansion joints is very simple and easy.

• The flanges of these joints come with galvanised carbon steel that makes them sturdy.

c) Tied flanged expansion joints

Tied flanged expansion joints are made from stainless steel. It depends on the movement for accommodation to choose whether single or more bellows.

• These expansion joints are designed especially for installation into the vibrating equipment for reduction of vibration & noise.

• Use tied flanged expansion joints when the temperature, media flow, system pressure etc becomes unsuitable for the usage of rubber flexible expansion joints.

• These joints come with flanges plated with carbon steel.

2. Expansion joints for district cooling

In both residential and commercial chilled water pipelines, highly flexible expansion joints are used. These joints can absorb huge axial movement mainly for the installation of district cooling pipes. These are the most used different types of expansion joints based on materials:

a) Rubber expansion joints

These joints are custom-made & top-quality expansion joints which are supplied with either fixed or steel flanges. Here are the features of such joints:

• Our supplied rubber joints for district cooling have the capacity for all-directional movement.

• Get the best movement capability in axial extension, axial compression & lateral deflection along with the torsional & angular direction.

• The resilient features make rubber expansion joints ideal for water hammer dampening, earthquake and pressure surges. Thanks to the synthetic and natural elastomers which do not allow fatigue breakdown.

• These rubber expansion joints are designed in a way that can meet temperature/pressure operating conditions, erosion, abrasion and corrosion.

• Due to its light weight, this equipment contributes to very low installation costs.

Why choose these rubber expansion joints as compared to metal ones?

These rubber expansion joints have very less face-to-face dimensions. It becomes advantageous when compared to expensive metal expansion joints, expansion bends or loops. Select rubber expansion joints all due to the metal expansion joints’ inflexibility.

b) Stainless steel expansion joints

Stainless steel expansion joints allow basic movement types and they are – lateral movement, axial movement & angular movement. Contact the most trusted and high-esteemed supplier of Stainless Steel Expansion Joints. Read about the features of these stainless steel expansion joints.

• They are resistant to high pressures.

• Stainless steel expansion joint are available for users in any stainless steel grade but based on the medium.

• Based on need, stainless steel expansion joints can be one bellow or two bellows connected together with a central pipe and tie rods. It helps in withstanding the thrust from the internal pressure.

• These joints are available for different pressure ratings.

• They have quite a high absorption rate for movements over short lengths. It guarantees a long lifespan.

Why use these stainless steel expansion joints?

Most expansion joint made of stainless steel do not have leak-detection holes. These joints are having leak detection holes that lead to early leakage indication. The less spring rates lessen the costs sustained by any supporting structures.

3. Plumbing Expansion joints

Plumbing expansion joint are used majorly for vibrations or offsetting movements in pipelines. These are various types of expansion joints used in plumbing systems:

a) Threaded expansion joints/ flexible connectors

Threaded flexible expansion joint play a pivotal role in the fiberglass piping system. The features of these joints are mentioned below:

• They provide the common connection to shear valves with submersible pumps. It reduces your pipes’ stress through the efficient absorption of hydraulic shocks.

• Threaded expansion joints/ flexible connectors help in lessening noise transmission.

• Nominal Pressure of these expansion joints are – PN20 and temperature range from 25°C to 120°C.

The other types are – Flanged Flexible Connectors and Tied Flanged Flexible Connectors which have the same features as mentioned above for HVAC.  You can connect and discuss with the most trusted supplier of expansion joints in the Middle East and GCC region. Dutco Tennant LLC is highly committed to executing various projects through our great teamwork and constant learning. Our solutions are designed as per international standards. Contact us by mailing at info@dutcotennant.com or call us on +9714-2152799.