Victaulic Unveils Press-To-Connect Pipe-Joining System
Victaulic, a manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining systems, introduces Vic-Press, an IACS-approved flame-free press system for joining small-diameter stainless steel pipe. With Type Approval certification from IACS member agency Germanischer Lloyd, Vic-Press offers a quick, simple, safe and reliable means of joining off-the-shelf Type 316 ASTM A-312 Schedule 10S stainless steel pipe in new-vessel construction, retrofit and repair operations. The system is type approved for class III piping systems.
According to Victaulic, the joints are quick and simple to complete with the Vic-Press system: Pipe is cut to length and deburred, marked for visual verification of full insertion, then inserted into a coupling or fitting. A handheld pressing tool is used to press the coupling/fitting onto the pipe-end, providing a positive mechanical interlock and creating a rigid, permanent, leak-tight joint in seconds. With no flame, arc or cutting oil and little preparation time required for installation, Vic-Press is an efficient, easy and safe alternative to welding, threading and flanging, the manufacturer said.
Reliability is built into the system with several unique features. An internal pipe stop within the couplings and fittings helps correctly position the pipe to ensure positive joining, while the seal pocket helps protect the gasket during assembly. Vic-Press gaskets are pre-lubricated to simplify the assembly process; no additional lubrication is required for installation. Once installed, patent-pending press detection technology enables the installer to identify unpressed joints as the system is filled and tested.
Shipbuilders and contractors can save time and money with Vic-Press, as the system uses standard Schedule 10S pipe that is readily available, eliminating the need to stock specialty pipe. Schedule 10S pipe also offers increased strength and durability compared to specialty tube. The pipe-wall thickness of ANSI Schedule 10S pipe is up to double that of light-wall tube, and as a result, Vic-Press offers up to three times the end-load performance, up to twice the bend-load performance, up to a 52 percent increase in available flow, and up to a 23 percent reduction in pressure drop per 100 linear feet (30 meters) of pipe over tube-sized systems.
The approved Vic-Press product range includes couplings, tees, elbows, reducers, end caps and adapters in sizes ranging from ½ to 2 inches (15 to 50 millimeters). Vic-Press couplings and fittings are pressure-rated up to a maximum of 232 psi (16 bar/1,600 kPa). They are fire resistant and recommended for use with fluids at temperatures up to 208 degrees Fahrenheit (98 degrees Celsius) for the standard HNBR gasket seal, and up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius) for the EPDM gasket seal.
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