A pipe gasket is designed to seal a space between two sections of a pipe. Many pipes have flanged surfaces where they join, which means it isn’t smooth or flat to make this connection secure. In order to overcome this flared area, a flange gasket will be used to prevent leaks. Today we’re going to share our complete guide to pipe gaskets to help you choose the right materials and dimensions for your unique needs. Visit our page to learn more about the products we offer or to get in touch with our team to discuss your current needs and questions.
What Type of Gaskets Should Be Used to Seal Pipes?
When you are choosing gaskets to seal your pipes, we recommend opting for standard flange gaskets. You could go for spiral wound, rubber or fibre gaskets, all of which are effective options for a range of different applications. For larger pipes, you could consider gaskets made from units of rubber, which you’ll link together in order to fit the larger pipes.
Dimensions of Pipe Gaskets
As you start to browse through the spiral wound gasket options on offer, you’ll notice that any spiral wound gasket supplier offers gaskets in a variety of dimensions. Most pipe flange gaskets are made to fit standard flanges. In the UK, expect to see BS10 flanges, which any spiral wound gasket UK supplier will offer you flanges to fit. These gaskets can be made from a whole range of materials, and you’ll need to make sure you find an option that’s easy to install and use. Make sure you also think about the stresses which your operations put on the pipe and gasket, so that you choose a material that’s resistant to a variety of concerns.
For steam installations, we recommend a fibre or non-asbestos graphite material. Non-asbestos fibre or nitrile rubber are suitable for use with fuels such as diesel. Don’t opt for a lower grade nitrile product though, as you may find that it collapses under this pressure.
The Thickness of Pipe Gaskets
Next up, you’ll need to consider the thickness of the pipe gaskets that you choose. The thickness will be dependent on a few different things, including the surface of the flange face. When the surface isn’t of the highest quality, we recommend using a thicker gasket. This will help to reduce the distortions in the face and improve the sealing performance of the gasket with the pipe. Pressure is another key factor to consider. If you have a gasket that’s too thick, this will increase your surface area where the stress of the operation takes place. Usually, you’ll find that pipe flanges sit between 1.5mm and 3mm in thickness, which will suit most business applications.
Custom Made Gaskets
If you can’t find a gasket for pipe that’s perfect for your unique needs, then one option is to have a custom pipe flange gasket created for you. This isn’t something that many small businesses would consider, but larger companies may find their gasket pipe operations are worth investing this extra money into. Our team will be able to discuss the different options on offer to you and help you find the perfect pipe gasket for any situation.
The Different Types of Gaskets
The two types of gaskets that you’ll see on offer are Inner-Bolt-Circle gaskets and Full-Faced gaskets. The full faced option will have bolt holes and cover over the big section on the flange face. On the other hand, Inner Bolt Circle gaskets will rest inside of the bolt to fasten the pipe flanges. When choosing any type of pipe gasket, make sure it fits the regulations and standards set by the country you are working in. British Standards ensure that you are offered a high-quality product that will support your business operations for years to come. This is a mark of quality and trust and ensures that any pipe gasket fits the requirements for safety in the country. Our team can talk you through the options we have on offer and check that they fit your needs as a business owner.
Pipe gaskets come in a variety of materials, dimensions and thicknesses. By finding the right option for your needs, you can be sure your business operations will be a great success and you’ll have a reduced chance of issues when using pipes and gaskets in the future. We know that the wide range of gaskets we have on offer can leave you wondering which would be the best option for your business. Take a look through our full selection of products and don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today with any questions you have. We are dedicated to helping each customer find the perfect product to make their business operations a success this year.
