Using insulation as a means of protecting communication lines is common practice in facilities where there is a risk of physical damage to the pipeline or cable network. A few years ago, in order to increase the reliability of the circuit, smooth-walled shells were used that were optimally suited for laying the channel in the forward direction, but did not allow complex installation with rotary waste without deformation of the insulating material. Today, stainless steel corrugated pipe is increasingly being used , protecting the line from mechanical stress and unwanted contact with aggressive environments.
What is a corrugated pipe?
In standard versions, these are metal pipes with fins on the outer surface. The main technical and physical difference of such products is the possibility of bending, which, in fact, allows installation in any conditions. Internal surfaces are usually smooth, but special coatings and coatings may be present to increase the life of the structure. Moreover, a stainless steel corrugated pipe for water may have a separate loop enclosed. Such modifications are usually used in the organization of heating or gas supply systems, where increased demands are placed on the reliability of the infrastructure.
Product Operational Features
Ample opportunities for use in different conditions can be called the main advantage of the corrugated pipe. They not only allow various connection configurations, but are also easy to cut. To work with models of standard size, it is enough to use scissors for metal - the thin-sheet structure, despite the ribbed surface, is quite amenable to cutting. Further, during installation, the product can be given any shape up to tying into knots. This is especially true for situations where it is planned to install a corrugated pipe for heating by means of convectors and radiators. Compact devices are often used in tight conditions, where there is no possibility of mounting direct rigid contours with massive angular joints. A corrugated pipe, depending on the model, can maintain a given bend without destroying its own structure. Although products of this type, due to the specifics of the design, cannot have a thick shell, they have many protective qualities. Again, depending on the specific model, we can talk about high tightness, resistance to temperature, chemical and biological influences.
Disadvantages of Stainless Corrugated Pipe
The weakest point is the low impact resistance. In this regard, the modest wall thickness, which allows bending the material, just plays a negative role. Therefore, in potentially hazardous places from the point of view of damage, it is recommended to conduct the circuit in an additional protective cover. Another negative exploitation factor is related to care problems. A ribbed surface, unlike a smooth one, quickly accumulates dirt and is more difficult to wash off. Many also note the aspect of aesthetic perception. At a minimum, a stainless steel corrugated pipe looks unusual - the same outstanding ribs look like an element of industrial communications, which does not always fit into the style of modern interiors. But this problem can be solved either by using masking panels, or by using a more attractive design casing.
Varieties of Corrugated Pipe
The main sign of the difference between the products within the segment can be called the scope, which determines some design and operational features of different models. The most common devices for water circuits. They have a wide range of sizes and provide for the creation of various configurations of laying lines using standard fittings. A separate class is a stainless steel corrugated pipe for the chimney, which has the largest diameter, is integrated into the pipe of the heating unit, and during operation it protects the duct walls from soot and thermal effects. Electrotechnical stainless corrugated tubes are also popular. On the contrary, they differ in small diameters and act only as a protective shell.
Main characteristics
The most important parameters are dimensional values, as well as indicators of temperature resistance and ability to withstand high pressure. Thus, the maximum internal diameter of a stainless steel corrugated pipe for water is 32 mm in a standard format. The minimum value for this characteristic is 14 mm. The wall thickness of the pipe rarely exceeds 0.5 mm. As for the outer diameter, it varies from 18 to 37 mm on average. Moreover, the bending radius has a corridor from 40 to 90 mm.
The limiting temperature conditions for pipes of this type can be designated in the range from -60 to 110 ° C. This applies to universal models, but there are also specialized products for cold or hot water supply, in which the emphasis is on the lower or upper indicator. For example, in industrial corrugated pipes for heating, the characteristics of temperature resistance can be expressed in the ability to withstand 400 ° C. The standard operating pressure is 1.5 MPa, and values of more than 10 MPa already imply the risks of structural destruction, especially if the thermal effects exceed acceptable values.
Additional consumables and accessories
Ancillary equipment serves to perform two tasks - improving the individual performance of the pipe and ensuring installation operations. The first category is represented by heaters, hydro- and vapor insulators, with which you can wrap the inner circuit. There are also special sealing compounds used in the installation process of the product. The second category of mounting fittings is fittings, gaskets and fittings for stainless steel corrugated pipes, due to which the connecting operations are carried out directly. Some models also have special profiles that do not participate in the nodes connecting to the main channel, but can act as regulators of the coolant supply.
Installation Rules
Installation is carried out with a standard plumbing kit - the main tool is an adjustable wrench of a suitable size. Before mounting the connecting fitting, remove the insulation from the pipe surface along a length that does not exceed the distance of the contour entry into the valve. In the process, it is necessary to avoid deformations, expressed in the flattening of the pipe. With the formation of creases, the damaged area is cut off. As already mentioned, such products can bend, but they can not be deliberately stretched - such deformations increase the risk of destruction of the material structure. If a stainless corrugated pipe is used for heating in the floor area, then before installing the screed, it is worth performing a test run of the coolant with an exposure to the optimum working pressure. In this state, the circuit is left for a day. If after this time the pressure recorded at the beginning has not changed, then you can complete the installation operations and fill the line with concrete.
Corrugated Tube Manufacturers
High-quality imported products from Lavita, Kofulso, Hydrosta, and others are widely distributed in Russia. In particular, the Latvian company Lavita offers inexpensive stainless steel pipes for heating systems. They have thin walls, so there are some claims to reliability, but high-quality installation with protective metal hoses reduces the risk of serious damage during operation. Kofulso products are also used in the arrangement of industrial communications, which in itself indicates its high quality. Specialists especially note the advantages of reinforcement, which provides a corrugated pipe made of stainless steel of this brand. The same fittings stably support the functions of the connecting nodes, eliminating the possibility of leaks even with sudden pressure drops. Corrugated pipe models from the manufacturer Hydrosta, in contrast, belong to the budget household class. These are universal products endowed with average technical and physical properties and suitable for solving typical tasks in laying communications.
Price issue
Pipes are delivered in bays with an average length of 10-20 m. Accordingly, prices may vary depending on the size. For example, a 20 m kit with a full range of reinforcing elements is available for 3-3.5 thousand rubles. Bays on 10 m are sold for 1.5-2 thousand. Also, a lot depends on the structural features and characteristics of the materials. Recently, additional polymer coatings are widely used, the presence of which significantly increases the cost. On average, the prices of this type of corrugated stainless pipe are 5–8 thousand per 20 m long bay.
What to consider in the choice?
Sizes and resistance of the material to external influences are the main characteristics that should be taken into account when choosing. Along with this, you should focus on the intended purpose. It is one thing to choose the best option for a water supply system, and another to organize circuits serving combustible media. For example, a stainless steel corrugated pipe for gas has a special yellow plastic shell. Fittings for such systems also have features. Manufacturers provide fittings with insulators to prevent the risk of fire from sparks. Special requirements apply to chimneys. In this case, the emphasis should be on the physical strength of the material, its heat resistance and protection from strong chemical media. If a corrugated pipe is chosen for electrical circuits, then insulating water-repellent properties that protect the wiring from circuit should come first.
Conclusion
Traditional materials for the installation of pipeline channels are often criticized for their low technical and operational qualities, practically lacking ergonomics and functionality. In installing smooth and thick cast iron pipes, the master should not only be guided by the requirements for ease of use of communications, but rather adapt to the narrow possibilities of installing the material. Therefore, more and more often, in the arrangement of sanitary infrastructure, a stainless steel corrugated pipe is used, which does not limit the choice of installation configurations and optimally adapts to specific application conditions. This can be a short section of the supply from the boiler to the central heating line, or an extensive network from the collector to the radiators, or a long circuit of electrical wiring. The only significant drawback of this solution is the physical weakness of a thin pipe, but this problem is also solved by means of auxiliary protective shells.