Let's face it: sometimes the pipes just don't fit well with your surroundings. Sometimes you need to distance yourself from a wall or ceiling. You may need to lift it from a corrosive beam or floor. After all, exposure to microbes, water or the wrong type of metal can destroy the pipes.
This is where steel pipe clamps can be heroic. They allow to lift, isolate and hang pipes safely. However, there are some important aspects that should be and should not be done when it comes time to install these robust resources.
What is a steel tube clamp?
Steel pipe clamps are metal brackets that are held around a pipe. Usually, they are formed by two bent steel pieces that can be formed around part of the outer circumference of the pipe. When secured with bolts at opposite ends of metal shackles, they form completely around the pipe.
How to use steel tube clamps
Steel pipe clamps can save the lives of engineers who need to work around incompatible objects or surfaces. This is because pipe clamps can insulate pipes without adding physical barriers. They also provide support and prevent pipes from swaying, falling, vibrating and breaking.
A popular way to use steel tube clamps is to pair them with threaded rods. You can use a fork and a rod to suspend the pipe inside the steel clamp. With this combination, steel pipe clamps allow you to hang pipes from a beam or upper surface.
Still, steel pipe clamps do not have to be hung to protect the surrounding pipes. Pipe clamps can also be welded to a pipe shoe. This elevates the pipe and facilitates adjustment. Once a clamp is welded to a pipe shoe, you can simply undo the bolts, lift the outer half of the clamp, place the pipe and secure the bolt again. Read also: scaffold tube clamp
Those are some of the common ways in which steel tube clamps can be used, but there are some important things to keep in mind during the installation process. Here are three rules for installing steel pipe clamps successfully:
- Consider the metals
Using steel tube clamps can be a good way to prevent corrosion. It can help you keep different metals away from each other by insulating the pipes. However, it is also important to ensure that the steel pipe clamp is not made of a metal that can corrode or cause corrosion in the pipe.
A simple way to protect both the pipe and the clamp is to add the correct finish. Before installation, it is a good idea to see if the manufacturer provides carbon steel, stainless steel or hot dip galvanized finishes.
- Take care of your space
During installation, it is important to ensure that the pipe is not too loose or too tight. A loose pipe will bend or bend, which can cause wear and broken parts. The recommended space between the pipe and the clamp often depends on the weight of the pipe. In addition, it is smart to remember that pipes can expand and contract as they heat or cool.
How do you do it right?
Your manufacturer must provide a table with load limits and instructions for each product. If they get lost, be sure to ask about the details before beginning the installation.
- Tighten bolts carefully
When you suspend the pipe, it can be stressful. After all, if the fasteners fail, the structures could collapse. A key way to avoid failed adjustments is to make sure it is accurate by tightening the nuts to the bolts. Too tight, and you could strip them. Too loose, and clamps can be released when pipes vibrate.
Fortunately, there are torque standards and online torque calculators that you can use to do it right. It is worth checking again before adjusting the clamps.