Pipe expansion joint installation can aid in helping installed pipe systems work better, efficiently and safely. The different expansion joint types, including custom expansion joints, can expand and contract, hold together breaks in a piping system and absorb energy that may be the result of natural causes. The design of expansion joint attachments, differing from gaps or breaks that have been traditionally used to accommodate the movements or changes in landscape, can meet the needs of any connection, where flexibility is required in order to maintain the system.
It is important to understand what expansion joints are and how they are designed, based on the type of system that they are used for. The importance of expansion joints helps your system stay intact, which produced greater quality control and durability, leading to the longevity and lower system replacement costs over time.
What Are Expansion Joints?
The definition of an expansion joint, which may also be defined as a movement joint, is a joint that permits the thermal expansion or movement of a part (such as pipes) without further distortion to the part. Expansion joints, according to the Expansion Joint Manufacturers Association, Inc. (EJMA), conform to the quality control standards set forth by the organization. EJMA, first formed in 1955, is the standards setting organization for expansion joints manufacturing sector and has published those standards adhered by member manufacturers since 1958.
Thermal expansion is one of the movements that can occur on building materials that can cause a distortion or ruptures in the material. Thermal expansion is a natural occurrence that takes place most notably when temperatures change. When the outside temperature affecting material is either hot or cold, the dimension of the material may contract or expand. This contraction or expansion may cause stress at the point where the thermal expansion is at its greatest, which may result in cracks or breaks that could be detrimental to the stability of a structure or building. Expansion joints therefore relief the stress that may be caused by thermal expansion.
How Expansion Joints Help with Quality Control and Durability
The use of expansion joints helps immensely with increasing quality control of designed and constructed material as well as the durability of such material, such as piping. Expansion Joints reduce and control cracking by absorbing the energy due to thermal expansion. This reduction in expansion and contraction results in better quality material at the junctures where cracks may occur and lower the quality of the system. Expansion joints can also make the material where they are employed more durable and able to withstand natural processes that may occur throughout its lifetime.
Increasing Your Energy Efficiency with Expansion Joints
Thermal expansion in piping systems can be accommodated through any of the following methods: through the inherent flexibility found in piping systems; piping loops that have been engineered; and, the use of expansion joints. Expansion joints are designed to specifically absorb the movements that thermal expansion creates. This energy transfer that is absorbed by the joint helps to increase the energy efficiency of the material. One of the ways in which energy efficiency is increased s by reducing the size of a piping system, which in turn decreases the amount of energy required. Considerations for the use of expansion joints requires consideration of the appropriate type, design and the amount of efficiency desired within the system.
If you’re looking for ways to better optimize your piping system, consider the expansion joints offered by the engineering experts at Badger Industries. Our metal expansion joints are made to the highest quality standards, going beyond industry recommendations to ensure your expansion joints stand the test of time. If quality control is what you’re after, get in touch with the expansion joint manufacturers at Badger today.