The quality and performance of your pipe support solutions directly influence the health and longevity of your piping system. This is especially true in industrial or commercial settings where these pipes have to handle heavy water or air pressures as well as loads constantly.
A reliable pipe support system can guarantee enhanced safety as well as long-term cost savings. On the other hand, poor pipe support can lead to the sagging or bowing of the pipes due to uneven weight distribution. It can also lead to rusting or other physical damage which increases safety hazards and can lead to costly repairs.
This blog delves into some of the most common causes of pipe support failures. Knowing these can help you identify the necessary changes you need to make in your pipe support systems to ensure better performance and longer life so keep on reading till the end.
- The Accumulation of Rust
- Incorrect Pipe Support Spacing
- Poor Pipe Support Installation
- Not Considering the Weight Capacity of the Pipe Support
- Using Rubber Buffers
- Metallic Guides without Lining
- Using Composite Mats Under the Pipes
1. The Accumulation of Rust
The exposure of the metal pipe and the pipe support to moisture is the main cause of rusting which leads to pipe support failures. Corrosion can weaken the pipe support and can cause it to crack or bend.
To avoid this issue, you can consider corrosion-resistant materials like stainless steel, galvanized steel, or plastic-coated steel for your pipe supports. You can also apply anti-corrosion coatings to the pipe support metals to mitigate the risks of rusting.
2. Incorrect Pipe Support Spacing
Another leading cause of pipe support failure is incorrect pipe support spacing. Using these supports too far apart causes the pipes to sag which can lead to more stress on certain pipe support points.
And if you place the supports too close, it can affect their alignment which can overload the pipes.
You can avoid this issue by considering the industrial support spacing standards for your specific pipes, pipe size, weight, operating temperature, and the pressure it has to bear before installing the supports.
You can also use adjustable pipe hangers to make sure there isn’t any extra pressure on certain pipe support elements.
3. Poor Pipe Support Installation
The incorrect pipe support installation can create points of high stress or abrasion in your piping system which leads to uneven weight distribution around certain pipe support points. In this case, instead of giving your pipes a strong standing, the pipe support causes damage to the pipes themselves.
Poor pipe support design, alignment, or wrong use are the leading causes of pipe support failures.
You can prevent this issue by correctly aligning the pipe support during installation. This can eliminate unnecessary stress from the pipe supports leading to a much better performance.
4. Not Considering the Weight Capacity of the Pipe Support
Another reason your pipe support system might feel has to do with overloading these supports. Every pipe support has a certain weight capacity and exceeding that limit can cause the pipes to deform and eventually break down.
To avoid this issue, you need to account for all potential loads and stress factors before buying and installing a pipe support. This can help you prevent pipe support overload which can enhance its lifespan.
5. Using Rubber Buffers
Using rubber buffers is effective in some cases as it can reduce metal-on-metal contact. However, these buffers have tiny holes or pores that can accumulate moisture and microbes.
These elements can trigger corrosion and eventual collapse of your entire pipe support system.
To prevent damage from the rubber buffers, you can go with wear pads or composite pipe shoes. These corrosion-proof isolators create a more robust buffer between metal pipes and support thus reducing rusting to a great extent.
6. Metallic Guides without Lining
The application of metallic guides without proper lining is another leading cause of pipe support failures. If the pipe and the support you use for it are made from different metals, it can trigger the galvanic corrosion process which can spread rust throughout the pipe.
Another case is when metal rubs on metal creating holes on the surface of the pipe. These holes can also promote corrosion and host harmful microbes.
Metal-to-metal friction that results from using metal guides without lining on metal pipes weakens the support surface as well as the piping which can lead to support failure.
You can prevent this issue by lining the metallic guides which create a non-metallic buffer while also dampening the vibrations at the same time. Some metal guides also come with thermoplastic coatings at the point of contact which allow your pipes to move naturally.
7. Using Composite Mats Under the Pipes
Lastly, using composite mats or pads is also not a reliable pipe support solution. The reason is that dirt or grime can get caught between these pads and the pipes which turns it effectively into sandpaper.
As the pipe moves or vibrates, the composite mat grinds away its surface which can lead to corrosion and a lot of physical damage.
You can avoid this issue by opting for a pipe support that fits snuggly to the pipes and leaves no room or gap for movement. Using such pipe supports seals off the surface of the pipe completely leaving no spaces for corrosion.
Conclusion
Your pipe support system can fail for a number of reasons. It can be a result of incorrect pipe support installation, rusting, overloading, or using metals that accelerate the rusting process.
Knowing the common reasons behind pipe support failures can help mitigate the risks. If you take the time to regularly assess your piping and their support systems, you can better plan timely modification or repairs. This can ensure your pipe support stays intact for years and consequently, your piping systems stay functional and damage-free.
You can visit us at Power Solution PSI to order our top-quality pipe support systems for all industrial applications.