Health and Safety across any industry are vital, especially so in industrial facilities and settings.
Why?
Because harmful leaks and emissions must be avoided at all costs to avoid serious accidents or injury to your teams and property.
That’s why having the right gaskets and seals in place is vital to keeping piping systems not only operational but safe.
To find out more about Gasket Sealants and their importance, click here.
A look into piping systems
Operations and productivity levels can be severely affected if you do suffer a loss of liquid or gas from your pipe systems. Not only this, but such leaks can also impact your overall efficiency, your bottom line (profits), the environment, your reputation as a business, and most importantly, your people.
A leak in a piping system cannot and should not be taken lightly. Leaks like these in industrial situations can have catastrophic consequences, leading to contamination, fires, and even in extreme situations, explosions.
The design of piping systems ultimately looks at how best to minimise potential penetrations through blast walls. It takes into account all risk factors and the mitigations that can be put in place to minimise these. This is where providing seals where required along systems can help avoid transferring blast loading to penetrating services.
This is why when designing pipeline systems, including seals and gaskets as part of the vital components to the build is essential, focussing on design checks where incorporating the right seals from the start is built into the design structure of the pipeline in question.
It would help if you also built into procedures and processes a system where seals and flanges are regularly checked for damage and any breaks.
Fortunately, damaged seals, leaks in pipeline systems, and more are all situations that can be avoided.
Ensuring the integrity of your pipeline
To ensure the integrity of your pipelines, using the correct seals is key.
Gasket and sealings ultimately help to “fill the gap” between two mating surfaces. Holding the structure together and closing any openings where gas or liquid could potentially escape.
With the proper maintenance checks in place, seals can be a critical component in your pipeline design, helping to ensure that you meet all required health and safety standards and guidelines.
Choosing the perfect seals
When choosing the right seal, features to consider include:
Longevity – you need your seal to last. Offering you long-term integrity when it mates with the pipe flanges, filling any irregularities. In these instances, a vibration-resistant seal will provide you with everything that you need.
Corrosion-resistant – corrosion in pipelines is a major cause of leaks, and if you don’t choose a high-quality seal, you could experience seals deteriorating at a very fast pace. Ideally, opt for a seal material that is the same as the flange it will be connected to.
Blowout safe – make sure the gasket you choose can perform under demanding compression sets and temperature fluctuations.
Fire-safe – seals must be able to withstand extreme conditions; make sure to check that the seals you choose are certified to industry standards and to the highest quality.
Watertight – seals should prevent leaks from occurring in your pipe systems. However, finding the right seal for your system is vital (check out our latest post on how to reduce water consumption HERE).
Gas-tight – control potential gas leaks with certified gas-tight seals that protect sensitive areas from risk of gas leaks, explosion, or even contamination.
When choosing the most suitable seals and gaskets, you must select those that will offer you the highest levels of safety, integrity, and longevity.
Even after being subject to varying compression levels and extreme temperatures, the right gaskets and seals will regain their tightness and their integrity when cooled.
For a seal to suit every application and a gasket manufacturer in the UK you can trust, contact the team at Specialist Sealing Products today and let us help you stay health and Safety compliant.
