When it comes to high-pressure systems, a thorough inspection of all equipment and components is crucial to ensure optimal performance and safety. Failure to inspect hoses, dampers, and expansion joints can significantly increase the risk of injury or costly downtime, so it is always worth taking the time to inspect your system each day. As leading providers of high-quality expansion joints and other components for all types of applications, the team at Flextech Industries knows how detrimental prolonged downtime due to a damaged expansion joint can be for any operation. That is why they have created an expansion joint safety inspection checklist to help you keep your system running smoothly and spot any signs of damage before they become a hazard.
Learn about the different types of rubber expansion joints.
Inspection Checklist for Expansion Joints Before Use
Before using a system with expansion joints, it is essential to check that each joint has been installed properly and is ready to handle pressurized materials/media. Although inspection standards will vary within different industries, there are a few essential steps that should be taken before using any system that implements expansion joints. Some of these steps include:
- Making sure each expansion joint is in the right position along the pipeline
- Removing any shipping devices or stabilizers
- Ensuring that there are no foreign objects impeding the expansion joint
- Installing the expansion joint to allow materials to flow in the right direction
- Confirming that all anchors and supports match the system drawings
- Ensuring that pipe supports and guides allow for pipe movement
- Making sure that the joints are all properly aligned
- Checking to ensure that no damage was sustained to the expansion joint during shipping or installation
Checklist for the Ongoing Use of Expansion Joints
Once the systems have been started and expansion joints have been in use, it is important to regularly check in on each joint to spot signs of damage before they become a costly issue. Actions to perform during an expansion joint check-up include but are not limited to:
- Checking each anchor, guide, and support to make sure that no warping, flexing, or loosening has occurred
- Making sure that anchors and guides are not binding when the expansion joint moves
- Looking for any signs of leaking or depressurization
- Recording any damage that has been sustained since installation
- Ensuring that the expansion joint is only moving or flexing in the intended directions
To learn more about expansion joint safety or to inquire about their selection of flexible hoses, expansion joints, and industrial dampers, get in touch with the team at Flextech Industries. Their experts can be reached through their online contact form and will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding their products.