Water supply connections - Connection technology

 Butt welding of pipes, or how it connects. When it comes to delivering clean water to our homes and workplaces, the durability of water supply connections is key. To ensure robust connections between pipes of PE, an effective technique known as butt welding is used.

What exactly is it?

Butt welding is a process that involves the proper heating and joining of the faces of the pipes to be joined together. Under the influence of high temperatures, pipes are joined together permanently to form a uniform molecular bond. This solution is not only insensitive to corrosion, it is also robust, giving us the confidence that there will be uninterrupted access to water.

Good practices

A key step in butt welding is, the proper preparation of the surfaces to be joined. It is important that the pieces have the same diameter and wall thickness. The ends of pipes must be clean and free from damage and contamination. Before making the joint, it must be checked that neither of the welded ends of the pipe has been deformed.. In addition, it is important to ensure optimum working conditions, such as protection from adverse weather conditions and maintaining an appropriate ambient temperature.

Factors such as wind, low temperature, fog and dust should be avoided. If this situation arises, it is advisable to take appropriate precautions, e.g. welding under a tent or raising the temperature of the work area with a heater. Butt welding should not be carried out at sub-zero temperatures. It is important to ensure optimum conditions in the vicinity of the welding machine so that work can continue regardless of the weather conditions. Before starting work, plug the two far ends of the pipes so as to avoid draughts inside the pipes which may excessively cool the welded area. The ends to be welded should be fixed coaxially in the welder, ensuring that one of the elements can be moved longitudinally.

During butt welding pipes, It is important to precisely select three parameters. Welding temperature, clamping force and duration. For the molecular bond to be strong and durable, the weld should cool down by itself. The practice of pouring water to accelerate the cooling should not be used. The correct setting of the welding parameters and the application of good practices guarantee the durability and reliability of the joint.

Benefits

This method is extremely effective. It is used in the case of pipes made of polyethylene (PE), which are widely used in water supply systems, gasworks and sewage systems. This method makes it possible to join sections of pipeline quickly, economically and reliably, creating permanent connections that are insensitive to corrosion and high pressure. The method is most often used on high-diameter pipelines. It also reduces investment costs, as the pipes are joined directly in straight sections without the use of fittings (joints). Butt welding works best for joining straight pipe sections. pipesbut if bends, curves or bifurcations in the pipeline are required, there is a full range of PE fittings butt joints: (elbows, tees, arches, reductions).

The benefits of butt welding in water supply connections, are extremely important.

• Firstly, the connections are airtight, so the risk of leaks is eliminated. +
• The technique is fast, which speeds up the installation process pipes.
• The high mechanical strength and resistance to internal pressure, are further advantages of this solution.
• This is the most economical method of connecting large-diameter pipelines.

When planning and constructing water supply connections and networks, the best method for making pipe connections should always be chosen.

Butt welding is best suited to networks with long, straight piping sections and for systems with high diameters. This will result in a system that is securely and permanently connected, as well as performing optimally in terms of labour and money. Before proceeding with butt welding, it is always advisable to consult professionals to ensure that the connections are made in accordance with best practice, guaranteeing optimum results.

On our channel on YouTube you can watch a video to show you what it looks like from behind the scenes.