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WHAT/WHY/HOW: answers to common questions
EXPANSION JOINTS
FAQ
Here you will find concise answers to frequently asked common questions (FAQ) on both Metalic Expansion Joints and Fabric Expansion Joints. Following FAQ’s are guideline questions that clarify most of the common situations and questions that Belman Flexibles India has been asked frequently. The questions are categorised based on their subject. If you do not find the answers to the question, that you are looking for, please leave us a message and we will be glad to help you.
METTALIC EXPANSION JOINTs
FUNDAMENTALS
Can the Expansion Joint handle misalignments?
No, if not designed for this, the Expansion Joints cannot handle misalignments.
How is the quality of the Expansion Joints assured?
All Expansion Joints undergo visual inspection, all bellows are tightness tested and most Expansion Joints are pressure tested. There are two different test types: non-destructive and destructive testing. In most cases non-destructive testing is made. As Belman are able to execute tests and inspections in-house, our documentation is generated quickly and in accordance with client requests. The ability to provide quick documentation ensures that no time is lost. Read more about quality assureance and quality control at Belman here: QA & QC at Belman
What is the highest pressure and temperature that an Expansion Joint can take?
Expansion Joints can be designed for very high temperatures (up to 1000 degC. or more) and up to 150 barG pressure or more on request.
Who performs the test and how is that specified and reported?
Depending on the design code, client requests and request for third party authority Belman can perform the test with and/or without third party inspection. The test is documented in the documentation files that accompany the Expansion Joint. Clients are always welcome to attend tests and final inspections.
What is the price level?
The price is dependent on the size, complexity, materials used and the design. Belmans expertise in customised solutions enable us to provide cost efficient Expansion Joints to the client. For that reason, selecting a customised solution does not necessarily add to cost – as it will be engineered for the exact purpose, parameters and eventual issues – and therefore in the long run the Expansion Joint can be cost saving. For catalogue Expansion Joints clients can upon request get access to a price module in the BelMaker Light® software. Get BelMaker here: BelMaker – Product Finder
INSTALLATION & OPERATION
How to install Expansion Joints correctly?
By following the Belman installation instructions, the correct installation is ensured. You can find more information here: Installation of Expansion Joints
Why do Expansion Joints fail?
Despite looking strong the Expansion Joint – and especially the bellow is extremely fragile. The Expansion Joint should be handled with due care. Failure can be due to many reasons, however mostly: Shipping and handling damage, improper installation, incorrect fixation, improper guidance and support, exposure to higher pressure and/or temperature than designed for and exposure to torsion.
How much maintenance is required for Expansion Joints and how often?
A correctly dimensioned and carefully installed Expansion Joint does not require any special maintenance other than the inspection that is carried out for the other parts of the pipe system in which the Expansion Joint is installed.
How can I see specifications on the Expansion Joint for now and for later replacement?
Either in the documentation book or on the tag plates of the Expansion Joint.
DELIVERY & SHIPMENT
How long is the delivery time for Expansion Joints?
The delivery time depends on the size, complexity and quantity. It is
of course also depended on the availability of the materials chosen. Belman holds a large stock of raw materials which ensures a short delivery time. Most Expansion Joints are produced on an order-to-order basis – and the delivery time varies very much from supplier to supplier. Belman has the shortest delivery time on the market. If required, the delivery time can be fast track, which is extra short lead time service provided to clients upon request.
How is the Expansion Joint delivered and who organises it?
Depending on the geographic location, size and time, Expansion Joints are delivered by sea, road, rail or air freight. The client can arrange by themselves acting on the data provided by Belman. In most cases the transport is organised by Belman for delivery to any site and/or client warehouse anywhere in the world. Being a global supplier Belman always finds a cost-efficient transport method of delivery – even for special transport.
FABRIC EXPANSION JOINTs
FUNDAMENTALS
Can the Fabric Expansion Joint use for high pressure?
In general fabric expansion joints are used in low pressure duct systems (<25000 Pa) – special designs can however be made accommodate elevated pressures/surge pressures.
Can the Fabric Expansion Joint use for high temperatures?
Multilayer fabric expansion joints consists of a sealing layer + a number of insulating/reinforcing layers. With the right composition of insulations layers a fabric expansion joint can resist up to 500°C and with the right insulation of the duct and use of insulation bolster a fabric expansion joint can resist up to 750°C. If the duct is refractory lined or equipped with internal cladding temperature resistance of up 1200°C can be achieved.
Can the same Expansion Joint use for bot wet and dry applications?
A fabric expansion joint is in general designed for either wet or dry use. However, some fabric expansion joints can depending on temperature work in both wet and dry applications.
Can a Fabric Expansion Joint be used in applications with high flow velocity?
A fabric expansion joint can with the right design of steel parts resist high flow velocities (>100 m/s).
Can the Fabric Expansion Joint be insulated on the outside?
A Fabric Expansion Joint is in general depending on the cooling on the outside, but the expansion joint can be insulated on the outside if the medium does not exceed the allowable temperature for the sealing layer.
Can a Fabric Expansion Joint work in a condition of high level of acid in the flow medium?
A fabric expansion joint is often constructed with a sealing membrane, that has excellent resistance towards most known chemicals.
Does a Fabric Expansion Joint apply much force on to the pipeline?
In general a Fabric Expansion Joint is working at low pressure and the reaction force generated from the pressure are minimal. Fabric Expansion Joints are normally considered to have no spring rates and the movements absorbed will there also not add forces to the pipeline.
Can a Fabric Expansion Joint reduce noise?
Yes – as the fabric expansion joint often consists of build-up of several layers of insulation material, and it will resulted for certain noise reduction.
Is a Fabric Expansion Joint expensive?
The steel parts needed for the fabric expansion joint will represent a certain value, but for replacement it is often only necessary to change the soft parts, which will be significantly less costly than changing the both fabric and steel parts.
INSTALLATION & OPERATION
Can a Fabric Expansion Joint be installed outside?
Yes – depending on the weather conditions that the Fabric Expansion Joint is subjected to a suitable outer cover that can be chosen to resist for example sunlight and rain.
What is the lifetime of a Fabric Expansion Joint?
A Fabric Expansion Joint (or Expansion Joints in general) are to be considered as wearing parts that will need replacement after a certain period of service. The lifetime is highly depending on the working condition and expansion joint construction. It is therefore not possible to give an exact figure of the expected lifetime.
Fabric will normally start showing signs of having reached the lifetime before actually failing and an experienced technician can normally from the appearance determine if the Expansion Joint need to be replaced at the next scheduled maintenance shut down.
ULTIMATE GUIDE
If you would like to know even more or if you did not find the answer to your question, please do not hestitate to contact us or to check out our Belman Group Ultimate Guide for Expansion Joints, which describes the fundamentals of Expansion Joints.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES
The Belman Group’s Expansion Joint Specialists have written many interesting articles on Expansion Joint issues and subjects, which is highly relevant for understanding the fundamentals and the typical questions on Expansion Joints. In the Technical Library these articles are gathered.
VIDEO Library
The Belman Groups’s Expansion Joint Specialists have made many interesting videos on Expansion Joint issues and subjects, which is highly relevant for understanding the fundamentals and the typical questions on Expansion Joints. In the Videothek all these videos are gathered.