Expansion Joint Handling, Installation and Safety Recommendations.
Shipping devices; usually in the form of angles or rods painted in yellow are provided in order to ensure and maintain the face to face dimension of an expansion joint. These shipping devices should be removed prior to use or testing of the expansion joint. It is recommended to use the bellow at the supplied length itself; attempt should not be made to change the length of the joint in order to make up for the deficiencies of installation length
Following recommendations are listed to give a better idea about installation and handling.
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DO'S
- Inspect for damages during shipment, i.e. dents, broken hardware, watermarks on carton etc.
- Inspect for damages during shipment, i.e. dents, broken hardware, watermarks on carton etc.
- Store in clean dry area where it will not be exposed to heavy traffic or damaging environment.
- Use only designated lifting lugs.
- Make the piping system fit the expansion joint. By stretching, compressing or offsetting the joint to fit the piping, the expansion joint may be overstressed when the system is in service.
- It is recommended to leave one flange loose until the expansion joint has been fitted into position. Make necessary adjustments of this loose flange before welding.
- Take care of installing the joint in the direction of arrow pointing in the direction of flow.
- When using a telescopic liner; install the smallest I.D liner pointing in the direction of flow.
- Install single Van Stone liners pointing in the direction of flow. Install a gasket between a Vanstone liner and flange.
- All the shipping devices should be removed before installation or before any pressure test of the installed system.
- Remove any foreign material that may have become lodged between the convolutions.
- Refer to EJMA Standards for proper guide spacing and anchor recommendations.
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DON’T'S
- Don’t drop or strike expansion joint.
- Don’t remove shipping devices until installation is complete.
- Don’t remove any moisture-absorbing desiccant bags or protective coatings bags or protective coatings until ready for installation.
- Don’t use hanger lugs as lifting lugs.
- Don’t use chains or lifting devices directly on the bellows.
- Don’t allow weld spatter to hit unprotected bellow.
- Don’t use cleaning agents containing chlorides.
- Don’t use steel wool or wire brushes on bellows.
- Don’t force or rotate one end of an expansion joint to achieve alignment of bolt holes. Bellows are not generally capable of absorbing torsion.
- Don’t carry hydrostatic pressure test or evacuate the system before proper installation of all guides and anchors.
- Don’t use shipping devices to restrain the pressure thrust during testing.
- Pipe hangers are not adequate guides
- Don’t exceed the recommended manufacturer's test pressure of the expansion joint.
Note: Manufacturer's warranty may be void if improper installation procedures have been practiced.