If you're considering a job in the plumbing or piping industry, you'll need to know about pipe expansion joints. Depending on the particular job you're considering, you may need education on expansion pipe installation, repair, maintenance and design. If you plan to install expansion pipe joints, you may also need to know about basic plumbing tools and procedures, as well as local and national guidelines and regulations.

You can find out more about expansion pipe joints by starting an apprenticeship with a plumber, taking classes or attending industry events. More information may also be available online, from pipe expansion joint suppliers or industry associations. If you're considering pipe expansion joints education and training, think about the following:

1. Enroll in classes at a college or trade school to learn more about how to install, repair and maintain pipe expansion joints.
2. Go to conferences, trade shows and workshops to see the latest and greatest piping expansion joints and technological advances.
3. Enter into an apprenticeship with a plumber to learn basic plumbing techniques and guidelines, along with expansion pipe installation and repair.
   

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Learn more about piping expansion joints by taking classes at a trade school or college

Most trade schools have plumbing classes available that can teach you all about expansion joints for pipe and waterways. These classes generally give a basic overview of common plumbing techniques, along with instruction on plumbing tools, expansion joint installation, repair and safety. This type of class will also give you an overview of the rules and regulations you will have to follow when installing a piping expansion joint.

I recommend: Attend a plumbing class that covers piping expansion joints at the Santa Fe Community College in partnership with Hubbell Electro-Mechanical, or check out the Emanuel A. Troise Master Plumbing License Course.

Attend industry events to learn more about pipe expansion joints

Attending industry events, like conferences, seminars, trade shows and workshops, allows you to learn about new and exciting advances in pipe expansion joint technology and new models. Events like workshops also allow you to practice special skills, or work with certain conditions in mind. Some industry events like conferences and seminars will give you certification for attending, or attending and taking a written exam or skill demonstration.

I recommend: Drop in on the Linux Plumbers Conference to check out a stainless steel pipe expansion joint in person, or see what's new in expansion pipe joints by attending the ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference.

Become a plumber's apprentice to learn more about expansion pipe joints

You can learn how to install, repair and maintain a pipe expansion joint by entering an apprenticeship with a plumber. This type of training gives you hands-on experience with expansion pipe joints and other plumbing techniques and guidelines. Working as an apprentice allows you to learn the skills as they will be practiced; you'll learn them in a job environment instead of a classroom. This can help give you a more realistic expectation of the challenges and regulations you'll have to face when working with expansion joints for pipes.

I recommend: Check out the apprenticeship program offered by Penn Foster Workforce Development, or apply to become an apprentice with the Plumbers Union Local 75.

Expansion joints for pipe accommodate thermal expansion, shock, installation irregularities and load changes in pipe systems. The benefits of expansion joints for pipes are that they reduce noise and vibration and they lower wear and the likelihood of pipe or component breakage.

Expansion pipe joints typically have a bellows middle. They either have a neck which slides over pipes and takes a hose, or they attach by a flange with bolts or screws. A metal pipe expansion joint is common, but there are elastomer, fabric and various other pipe expansion joints as well.

Most expansion joints are round, but some are square or even rectangular. Besides this, sizing differs between plumbing and other applications. Here are a few tips on sizing:

1. For non-plumbing, round pipe expansion joint applications, refer to the diameter.

2. For square expansion joint applications, refer to the width. Rectangular applications require a hight measurement as well.

3. For plumbing pipe expansion joint applications, don't refer to the diameter. Instead, translate the actual diameter to the standard pipe size.

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Buy expansion joint components, even for specialty industrial applications

Pipe expansion joint suppliers sell components designed for a wide range of piping applications, as well as vacuum and gas systems tube systems. A flexible expansion joint pipe connector might not only connect pipes and tubes but also attach to other components, like valves. There is a certain degree of interchangeability between applications, but some expansion joint manufacturers cover certain applications better than others.

I recommend: MIPR CORP carries metal and rubber expansion joints designed to handle harsh and specialized applications, including petroleum refining, chemical processing, hot metal industry and many other industrial fields. Flexicraft is another source that carries a wide range of piping expansion joints, including PTFE composition.

Compare prices on pipe expansion joints to get the best deal

There are a lot of expansion joint manufacturers. Once you've found what you are looking for, do some price comparisons.

I recommend: Unaflex has a wide range of products, including fabric expansion pipe joints; it's a good place to double check to make sure you're getting the best price. Metraflex is yet another good source, and they display their product specifications clearly.

Get custom expansion joints for pipe, as well as service

Especially for large industrial applications, repairing expansion joints can save a lot of money over replacing them. Industrial situations also sometimes require custom made parts.

I recommend: Check several companies, but don't pass over Expansion Joint Systems. Not only to the manufacture custom parts, but they also provide extensive information on expansion joints for piping. Senior Flexonics Pathway will work with your company to manufacture, install and repair custom components. Epoxy Design Systems, Inc. will repair a piping expansion joint as well as other components and equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some industrial pipe expansion joints have special attachment methods, like weldable ends or the vanstone flange, which compensates for bolt hole misalignment.

Pipe expansion joints are essential in the piping and plumbing industry. Pipe expansion joints are also called compensators, as they compensate for the thermal movement. If you want to use pipe expansion joints, you need to understand certain key terms that you will hear from suppliers or manufacturers. This guide explains some of the common terms associated with pipe expansion joints, such as compensators, banded necks, tie rods, expansion loops and pressure-balanced expansion joints.

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Pipe expansion joints, or compensators

Pipe expansion joints connect two pipes to allow (or absorb) axial, lateral and angular motions in the piping system. Expansion joints help with noise absorption and vibration or shock reduction.

I recommend: You can refer to Trelleborg, an engineering company, for explanation about pipe expansion joints. Additionally, Global Spec gives detailed information about the various types of expansion joints.

Bellows expansion joints

The bellows is the flexible element of an expansion joint that consists of one or more convolutions. Thus, bellows expansion joints use bellows to absorb the motion of the pipe.

I recommend: Flex-Hose provides an explanation of bellows expansion joints.

Double-expansion joints

Double-expansion joints use two bellows, instead of one, to absorb the pipe motion.

I recommend: Read about double-expansion joints at Piping Technology and Products.

Bands, or banded necks

Bands are attached to bellows (and called banded necks) to increase their thickness and thus strengthen the bellows.

I recommend: DME, a manufacturer of piping products, has information about banded necks.

Pipe guides

Pipe guides confine the movement of the pipe along its lineal axis. Pipe guides provide total restriction of pipe movement.

I recommend: U.S. Bellows, a manufacturer of engineered expansion joints, publishes information about pipe guides. You can also visit Flexicraft Industries, a provider of flexible piping solutions, for an explanation of pipe guides.

Pressure-balanced expansion joint

A pressure balanced expansion joint absorbs axial or lateral movements while restraining the pressure force. You can use this type of expansion joint in places where a change of direction occurs in the run of piping.

I recommend: Visit Sigmaflex Engineering, a manufacturer of piping expansion joints and hoses, for information about pressure-balanced expansion joints.