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John Houle: Senior Technical Consultant, PVC Pipe Industry
John Houle holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri and an MBA from the University of Oregon. He has more than 25 years of experience in the plastic pipe industry in applications engineering, market development, forensic analysis, technical writing, and standards development.
The PVC Pipe Association has re-issued its “Tapping Guide.” The new guide includes additional diagrams and photos, as well as expanded text — all in a more logical, readable format. For those unfamiliar with the term, “tapping” refers to drilling a hole into a main-line pipe to attach a branch line. The process is often done with the main line under full pressure, so specialized techniques have been developed to streamline the installation process.
The new guide contains four major sections:
1. Introduction
2. Direct tapping
3. Saddle tapping
4. Sleeve tapping
Introduction The introductory section provides general information that applies to all types of PVC pipe taps. Included are time-saving tips such as:
Also included is a section titled “Safety Considerations.”
Direct Tapping Direct tapping is for sizes up to 1-inch, where the corp stop is screwed directly into the pipe wall. This section describes the proper equipment and techniques to cut a hole through the pipe, to cut threads into the pipe wall, and to install the corp stop — all while the main line is under pressure. Saddle Tapping This section is for sizes up to 2-inch, where a corp stop is screwed into a metal saddle that wraps around the pipe. The tap is accomplished by attaching a tapping machine to the corp stop and inserting the cutting bit through the corp stop to cut the hole into the pipe. Sleeve Tapping A tapping sleeve is required for all branch lines greater than 2-inch and up to size-on-size. The branch line is joined to the main by a connection at a metal sleeve that wraps around the pipe. The sleeve includes a flange to which to tapping machine is attached to cut the hole in the pipe. Doing It Right As with most construction projects, using the correct tools and employing the right techniques pays dividends. Following the recommendations of this guide will go a long way towards optimizing the installation process and preventing any problems when tapping PVC pipe. Click here for the guide.
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