Modern manufacturers of plumbing equipment produce products, which reduces the complexity of laying utilities. So, corrugated stainless steel pipes have appeared on the domestic market relatively recently. On their basis it is possible to create gas pipelines, heating systems and plumbing. A combination of such properties, as strength and flexibility, makes these products very popular among craftsmen.
Stainless steel corrugated pipe is a modern material, used for installation of plumbing and heating systems
Features of corrugated pipes
Specialists from Japan gave a "start in life" to the corrugated stainless steel water pipe. Over time, these products have become popular in Europe. Today on sale you can find such products with different diameters, which makes it possible to lay various communication networks.
Brass fittings are used to connect corrugated stainless steel water pipes, having a fairly simple design. The features of pipe products of this type include:
- Despite the small wall thickness (0,25-0,3 millimeters), such pipes are able to withstand significant pressure. This feature allows you to set them as centralized, and in autonomous systems.
- Only high-quality steel is used as a raw material for the production of stainless corrugated pipe, having the required chemical composition. The control of the concentration of the main components is carried out with high accuracy.
- The ability to bend the pipe with a minimum radius greatly simplifies installation work. The value of this parameter depends on the design features and varies in range 30 ? R ? 150 mm.
- Ease of material processing is a very important factor. The product can be cut with ordinary tools such as a Bulgarian and scissors on the metal. But professionals recommend using a special pipe cutter for this purpose.
- For that reason, that the supply of corrugated stainless steel water pipes is carried out in bays of great length, the number of connections during installation is minimized. This increases the degree of tightness of the system.
Pipes are supplied in lengths, this reduces the cost of purchasing fittings to connect system segments
Importantly! Stainless steel corrugated pipe can withstand very high temperatures. And in comparison with plastic analogues, its coefficient of linear expansion is much smaller, more precisely, it is equal to 12-6(1/C °).
Production technology
Such products are manufactured on automated lines. "Human factor", practically absent, which allows you to perform basic technological operations with a high degree of accuracy. The most reliable products are from Japanese manufacturers, but, by the criterion Price / Quality it "breathes in the back" Latvian goods.
Consider in more detail the basic stages of production of corrugated stainless steel pipe for plumbing.
- first the steel strip is pre-treated. It is then fed to the forming line. There, the tape bends and turns into a cylindrical workpiece;
- then the main joint is automatically welded in a special environment of inert gases;
- then the smooth-walled workpiece is rolled. For this purpose details of various diameter are used. The output results in a corrugated stainless steel pipe;
- at the final stage the material is cut into dimensional segments, whose length does not exceed 50 meters. For convenience of transportation and carrying out installation works, individual segments are wound into bays.
The pitch of the depressions and protrusions of the corrugations may differ, as different manufacturers are guided by their Specifications and Standards. However, the quality of the final product does not suffer from this.
To obtain a corrugated pipe, steel billets are passed through special rollers
Advantages and disadvantages
If we take for comparison similar products, made of other materials, can be seen, that the stainless steel corrugated pipe is far superior to almost all of them. The expert identifies the following main advantages of these pipes:
- durability of the corrugated water supply system from stainless steel is limited only by service life of sealing rings. All other details can be considered eternal;
- the optimal ratio of ductility and rigidity provides resistance to water hammer;
- thanks to flexibility it is possible to turn without use of special devices;
- not afraid of thawing;
- can be installed under any covering, under plaster and even under a concrete coupler;
The only disadvantage of corrugated stainless steel pipe is the price. So, while the cost of these pipe products is quite high. But many housewives prefer it, because such products are considered one of the best.
Installation of stainless steel corrugated pipes
Most often, corrugated stainless steel pipe is an element of plumbing. It is often installed for gas supply. Sometimes it acts as an adapter in heating systems.
Fittings with cap nuts are used for installation of stainless corrugation systems
Importantly! You only need to buy fittings to connect the corrugated pipe segments from the list, recommended by the manufacturer of corrugated pipes. Savings on the purchase of such parts of unknown origin can lead to accidents.
Installation of a corrugated pipe from steel is similar to process of installation of products similar on functionality, made of another material. But here the flexibility of a product comes to the rescue. Therefore, the installation of stainless steel pipe requires much less time.
To mount the pipeline, follow this sequence:
- Separate the required length with a pipe cutter or other available cutting tool. But before this operation, pre-measure the distance between the connection points, taking into account the bend.
- Loosen the cap nut directly on the fitting with a wrench. Insert the pipe itself into the inner part of the fastener.
- Use the same wrench to tighten the nut until the product is completely fixed inside the fitting.
- Bend the pipe until the desired configuration is reached, then fix it on the wall, using special fasteners.
- Check for leaks. To do this, submit a working environment to the system. If leaks do not appear, you can start operating the pipeline
Tips for installation and operation
Like any other technical product, install and operate corrugated stainless steel pipe should take into account a number of requirements and recommendations.
- before installation, check the corrugation for cracks, dents and creases;
- stainless steel pipe connection with fitting, the material of which is prone to corrosion, not allowed;
- if water supply or heating pipes are made of ferrous metal, Be sure to install a water filter before contacting them with the brass fitting;
- mounting corrugation, do not allow torsional stresses to occur in it;
- laying a stainless steel pipeline, eliminate its contact with corrosion-prone ferrous metal;
- to securely fasten the pipe, you can use plastic fasteners. To give greater aesthetics of the created engineering communication it is recommended to carry out its fixing by means of fastening elements from non-ferrous metal.. AND, of course, for this purpose fastening directly from stainless steel will be suitable;
- use only solid pieces of pipe to lay underfloor heating. It is forbidden to have additional connections below the floor level;
- do not allow electric corrugated stainless steel to be exposed to electric current;
- do not exceed the number of bends / extensions specified in the product passport. In general, it is desirable to minimize them.
Corrugated pipes can be combined with other materials, not prone to corrosion
Interstate standards
Requirements, presented to corrugated products for plumbing, gas pipeline and other communication networks, specified in paragraphs of GOST 10705-80, containing information, concerning electrowelded elements from steel.
To determine product quality, several samples are taken from the batch of manufactured products, which are then subjected to a series of tests.
Importantly! Joint quality control is mandatory and requires additional hydraulic pressure testing.
As for the impact test, then only three templates are taken. In that case, if we are talking about the chemical composition of raw materials - steel - then he, in the first place, determined by GOST standards 22536.0.
The production of annealed corrugated stainless steel pipes is carried out in accordance with other standards. Manufacturers must be guided by GOST 9941-81, which mentions information about heat-deformed seamless products.
The main normative document in this area, adopted by the International Organization for Standardization, is an ISO standard 10806, dating 2003 year.
Leading manufacturers
The highest quality products are manufactured by several companies.
Long service life of a water supply system from corrugated corrugation is possible only at use of qualitative materials for its installation.
KOFULSO company. The South Korean company KOFULSO LTD is a recognized world leader in the production of stainless corrugated pipes and brass fittings. Its products are already sold more on the domestic market 3 years.
Brand GOFRA-FLEX. This is another manufacturer from South Korea. Its products are certified in the EU, USA, Russia, Ukraine and other countries.
Trademark NEPTUN IWS. Products of this Russian brand are widely used in domestic and industrial construction. In compliance with the operating conditions specified in the passport, Neptun IWS brand products will last indefinitely
As practice shows, installation of the pipeline from a corrugated pipe-stainless steel, takes time to 3 times less, than the installation of heating and water supply systems of other materials. Therefore, interested parties should consider the use of corrugated stainless steel pipes in the installation of various utilities.