Expansion Joints: Common Causes of Failure
Look after your expansion joints. Take a proactive and preventative approach for longer service life.
Incorrect handling, accidents during transit, shipping, installation or poor maintenance can cause Expansion Joints to fail. To better protect and secure your pipe system and Expansion Joints, we have compiled a list of common expansion joint handling and installation concerns to avoid.
Shipping and handling damage
Dents, scuffs and scratches are common damages from incorrect handling; other damages that can happen during transition and storage are typically moisture, soil or chemical-induced.
We recommend that you always transport, store with care and inspect the expansion joint as soon as they are received to check for visible damages.
Installation mistakes
Incorrect installation location, using Expansion Joints to compensate for installation inaccuracies, or not following the correct installation process are typical mistakes that happen during installation. Other mistake examples can be:
- Leaving shipping or pre-tensioning devices attached after installation or removing them too early.
- Damage from weld spatters due to poor protection during installation.
- Install units fitted with flow liners with liners against the flow direction.
Our Recommendations
- Ensure installers are competent and familiar with relevant regulations and legislative rules.
- Follow the design data and installation plan, or seek confirmation from the designer before making changes to installation location and usage.
- Ensure all expansion joints are clean, free from insulation materials, dirt or debris, and correctly prepared for welding and installation before installation.
- A pressure test must be carried out after installation. Any sign of leakage, twisting, distress or unexpected movement of any of its components that occurred during the pressure test should be thoroughly investigated.
KLINGER takes great pride in our products.
We are committed to providing you with the highest standard of workmanship, service and support to meet your expectations. Once appropriately dimensioned and correctly installed, your KLINGER expansion joint should not require further assessment or maintenance except routine pipe system inspections.
We strongly recommend regularly checking on rust, loose parts, or any newly developed damages on your piping and Expansion Joints. Constant and proactively monitoring of your pipeline system and Expansion Joint is critical to maintaining appropriate pressure resistance, system functioning, and keeping your operations safe.
If you have any questions about our expansion joints, please let us know, and we will be in touch shortly.
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