×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Weldolet vs Custom Pipe Modification
2

Weldolet vs Custom Pipe Modification

Weldolet vs Custom Pipe Modification

(OP)
Hi Eng-Tips,

I was not sure what to call the second fitting I am talking about. My welders at the company are questioning their foreman on the weldolets he is ordering for a project. They are asking why they cannot just modify a piece of pipe with the saddle cut out and weld it onto a pipe to eventually hot tap. Is there a reason to put their minds at ease to use a weldolet as opposed to them creating their own version of a weldolet without the thicker base?


Thank you,

RE: Weldolet vs Custom Pipe Modification

Fooooks,
You should ask the Foreman and the welders if they are qualified to do the calculations necessary to insure the "Jury-Rig" branch fitting will meet Code?

Sometimes its possible to do all the right things and still get bad results

RE: Weldolet vs Custom Pipe Modification

(OP)
Pennpiper,
I was looking at other posts on the forum to see which code to follow. What code or standard should I be referencing or pointing them towards? ASME B16.9 ?

RE: Weldolet vs Custom Pipe Modification

Yes!

Sometimes its possible to do all the right things and still get bad results

RE: Weldolet vs Custom Pipe Modification

2
The design code generally won't allow it.

The design code is really ASME B 31.3 or .4/8 16.9 doesn't specify integrally re-inforced branch fittings. See figure 328.5.4. of ASME B 31.3

The basic premise of a tee connection is that the volume of metal removed in the hole in the header pipe is replaced within a short distance around the hole by an equal volume of metal. This has been shown by long service and design calculations to provide sufficient re-inforcement to stop the branch pipe form being ripped off or failing due to internal pressure.

Rather than having to do this calculation every time for each combination of header size, branch size, wall thickness, material strength etc etc, Bonney Forge did it all for everyone decades ago and created the "weldolet".

Now anyone can make one, but call it an "integrally reinforced branch fitting".

The attached might help you. Especially the first few pages

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

RE: Weldolet vs Custom Pipe Modification

(OP)
Thank you for the literature and the response. I have looked up 328.5.4 and my mind is at ease. I imagine they are trying to cut corners where possible to avoid extra welds.

RE: Weldolet vs Custom Pipe Modification

I feel a potential failure in the offing unless the branch is properly designed and manufactured. "Don't let the Cowboys prevail"

RE: Weldolet vs Custom Pipe Modification

(OP)
MJCronin,
The foreman is on vacation for two weeks, and so I believe they are trying to squeeze by where they can. I do not know if they have done such things in the past, and I am still learning. This is the reason for my asking, and they have been informed already and will not be doing this again. It will be relayed to the foreman when he returns that his workers were trying to cut corners and wait for materials to arrive on site.

Thank you all for the posts.

RE: Weldolet vs Custom Pipe Modification

What is interesting and scary is how many times one sees the integrally reinforced fitting installed incorrectly. "But it's just low pressure!"

Best regards - Al

RE: Weldolet vs Custom Pipe Modification

XL83NL,
Yes I have heard the argument that the amount of weld only needs to be the same thickness as the branch pipe!!!! Where do thes enumpties come from - definitely not from this planet!!!

RE: Weldolet vs Custom Pipe Modification

(OP)
XL83NL,
Wow thank you for the documents, very helpful. I have printed these out to give to the foreman to ensure it is posted in the shop for easy access in case anyone has any questions.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources