Expansion joints play a part in maintaining your piping system, but anchors also have a critical role in preserving the joints. When installing a system, the anchor must have the proper weight to provide the joints with the right support. Read below to learn how much weight your expansion joint anchors can hold.
What Does an Anchor Do?
It is important to acknowledge what an anchor does in relation to your expansion joints. The bellows of the joints become pressurized when the pipes expand. That is where main and intermediate anchors can help. A main anchor can absorb the pressure that the compensator generates during thermal expansion while controlling a pipe’s direction and preventing the loads from straining the joint. Intermediate anchors also endure spring and friction forces from the metal bellows.
How Much Should the Anchor Weigh?
Your expansion joint anchors can hold a lot of weight. During the process of designing an anchor, you should include the weight of the piping, valves, and other media as part of its weight. Don’t forget to include its strength! That will help the joint avoid damage and prevent pipe movement in any direction.
How Else Can I Ensure the Anchor Does Its Job?
You can eliminate further stress on the expansion joint by installing the anchor. It can endure thousands of pounds of force instead of the joint, allowing you to avoid replacing the joint sooner. Make sure that you place the anchors at the end of the pipe as close to the expansion joint as possible. This will help the anchor do its job of preventing pipe movement.
Triad Bellows is a trusted manufacturer and supplier of pipe guides and supports and expansion joints. We can help you find products that will allow you to meet your industrial challenges effectively. Visit our webpage to learn more!
