The effect of improper clamping in industrial processes can be catastrophic – ranging from costly line breaks, vibration fatigue to misalignments. Consequently, you cannot overlook the fundamental role of support clamps in a piping system.
In this guide, we evaluate various types of support clamps, and how they ensure secure and stable operations in your industrial processes.
Functions of Pipe Support Clamps
A pipe support clamp is a type of fastening hardware that is mostly used to secure, hold, and support pipes in a certain position. They can secure pipes along the walls, ceilings, floors, or any structural frames.
· Securing and Stabilizing
The main function of a pipe support clamp is to help secure and stabilize pipes in different applications. It ensures the pipes are held in position and their weight is distributed, thus preventing sagging or bending.
· Reducing Noise/ Dampening Vibration
In applications areas such as industrial pipelines, the pipe clamp normally has a rubber lining that helps to absorb vibration and reduce excess noise. This type of rubber lining present in the pipe support clamp also helps to lessen long term damages.
· Load Bearing
Pipe support clamp plays a major role in ensuring it supports both the dead and live loads. Additionally, it also ensures the weight is evenly distributed to help prevent excessive stress on parts like joints, fittings, or any other connection joints.
· Allowing to Thermal Expansion
Thermal expansion is usually common in pipes and occurs due to a sudden change in temperature. The pipe clamps are made in such a way that they give room or can eventually accommodate these changes and prevent cracking or buckling from occurring.
Types of Pipe Support Clamps
By Function
1. Anchor Clamps
Anchor clamps are also known as rigid or fixed clamps and are mostly used in hardware applications and serve various functions such as;
- Control thermal expansion
This type of pipe support clamp acts as a fixed point when there is thermal expansion that is caused by environmental changes. It helps to prevent buckling or pulling apart of the connection points.
- Transfer system load
An anchor clamp normally plays a major role in helping to transfer pipe weight, vibration forces, internal pressure thrust, and thermal expansion forces.
- Prevent vertical movement
This type of pipe support clamp is to hold the position of the pipe firmly and support the load of the pipe and transfer it to the structure.
2. Guide Clamps
The guide clamp is a type of pipe support clamp that helps to control the direction of the pipe movement. Here are some of the functions of a guide clamp pipe support;
- Control lateral movement
The guide clamp keeps the pipe in position, thus helping to prevent the pipe from moving and keeping it intact in its original position.
- Allow axial movement
It allows movement along the pipe length and plays a great role in handling thermal expansion and contraction.
- Reduces friction and wear
Guide clamp is designed with materials that help to reduce friction and wear, increasing its lifespan and durability.
- Improves system stability
Guide clamp plays a major role in reducing vibration and unwanted pipe sway in long pipe runs.
3. Vibration Isolating Clamps
Vibration isolating clamps have different functions, which include:
- Absorb vibration
The vibration clamps help to absorb vibration that is caused by pumps or flowing fluids, preventing continuous shaking of the pipe.
- Lessen noise transmission.
It is also known to act as a sound barrier, thus preventing any kind of noise from water flowing through a pipe.
4. Heavy Duty Clamps
Heavy duty clamps play an integral role in many piping systems. This type of clamp is usually designed to hold up heavy-duty loads. Some of the main functions include:
- High load-bearing capacity
This type of pipe support clamp is known to support very large diameter pipes and carries the weight of heavy fluids, thick-walled pipes, and insulated piping.
- Vibration resistance
Heavy-duty clamps are designed with rubber or isolation lining to help absorb vibration, mostly used near pumps or compressors.
- Safe in high-pressure system
It helps to hold the pipes firmly in systems with high internal pressure and industrial process piping, preventing dangerous pipe displacements.
- Structural stability
Heavy-duty clamps play a great role in ensuring that they prevent the pipes from sagging or bending over long spans. It also ensures it helps in reducing stress on pipe joints and welds, thus maintaining proper pipe alignment.
5. Repair Clamps
Repair clamps are a type of pipe support clamp that is used to either temporarily or permanently fix damage to the pipe. Some of its functions include:
- Leak sealing
These type of clamps helps to seal cracks, thus preventing fluids loss in water, gas, or any industrial pipelines.
- Restore system operation quickly
It gives room for fast emergency repair, thus restoring the mechanical strength of the damaged pipes.
- Helps to avoid full pipe repair
Repair clamps play a major role in reducing repair cost which helps to avoid the need of placing new pipes.
6. Temperature-resistant Clamps
These types of pipe clamps plays major role in securing and supporting pipes under both low and low temperature. These clamps perform these significant roles in the piping systems:
- Withstand thermal expansion forces
It is normally designed in such a way that it can handle stress, which is caused by pipe expansion and contraction. Secondly, it also plays a major role in preventing clamp loosening due to repeated heating and cooling cycles or processes.
- Prevents material degradation
Temperature-resistant clamps are made with heat-resistant materials, which contributes in preventing brittleness or cracking that can cause material degradation.
By Material
7. Metal Clamps
There are different types of metal clamps, such as carbon steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum clamps, and copper. These types of metal clamps help to secure and stabilize pipes, withstand temperature and pressure changes, act as an anchor or guide, and lastly, they resist vibration.
8. Plastic Clamps
Plastic clamps are known to be light weight support made from materials such as PVC, polypropylene, among others. Its main function is to hold, secure, and stabilize pipes, prevent corrosion, act as an electrical insulation, and lastly help to reduce noise.
9. Lined and Isolating Clamps
These types of clamps are mainly designed to protect pipes from damage, reduce vibration, and prevent material damage.
By Design or Mounting Mechanism
10. Standard Two-bolt Clamps
These are two bolts, one on each side tighten to help secure, hold, and support pipes in mechanical, plumbing, and industrial installations. It helps to distribute loads, secure pipes firmly, reduce noise and vibration from the pipes, and keep the pipes aligned in a straight run.
11. U-bolts
A U bolt is a u shaped thread rod with nuts bolted to a support beam or bracket. Its main function is to help secure the pipe firmly to its structural steel. It is also best for rigid installation, where the flow of movement is required, and provides vertical support.
12. Saddle Clamps
Saddle clamps are curved saddle shape fits under the pipe or are mounted to a base using bolts or screws. It helps support the pipes’ resting surface and distribute load evenly.
13. Riser Clamps
This is a type of clamp anchored at the floor level that transfers pipe load to buildings structure.
Additionally, it helps to prevent downward and pipe movement and support vertical pipes between floors.
14. Beam Clamps
Beam clamps main function is to secure threads roods to steel grinders and transfer pipe load safely to structural steel. It also allows adjustable positioning along beam flanges.
15. Quick-release Clamps
Quick-release clamps allow fast assembly and disassembly, which enables maintenance or repositioning without any tools. These help to secure pipes or tubes temporarily or semi-permanently for a long period of time.
16. Pipe Rings and Strapping
Pipe rings and strappings help to secure pipes in their original position, which helps to prevent pipes from moving and can be opened without fully removing fasteners.
Secondly, it plays a major role in transferring the load of the pipe and its overall contents to the building structure.
Thirdly, it helps to reduce vibration and noise through the pipes, and it can also accommodate thermal expansion and movement.
How to Choose Pipe Support Clamp
· Pipe Size
It is advisable for one to know the pipe size before purchasing a pipe support clamp. This is mainly because some clamps are designed specifically to fit a certain pipe diameter and wall thickness of the pipe.
· Support Function
Different types of support clamps serve different functions and purposes. Its main function is to carry weight, control movement, stabilize the pipes, or protect the pipe system from damage.
· Environmental Conditions
Some environmental changes usually cause thermal expansion in pipes, and it is advisable to choose a pipe support clamp that gives room for these changes or movement.
· Material Compatibility
Pipe support clamps are made of different materials; thus, it is very important to choose a clamp material that is compatible with the pipe.
· Adhere to Standards and Codes
FAQs
1. What are the best practices when installing pipe support clamps?
There are several practices that one needs to practice during the installation of a pipe support clamp, such as:
Selecting the right clamp type, ensuring proper load calculation, maintaining the correct spacing between clamps, and using proper anchoring and fasteners.
2. What is the difference between a pipe hanger and a pipe clamp?
A pipe hanger is designed to help suspend pipes from the overhead structures, such as beams, roof, and ceiling, while pipe clamps are designed to secure and grip a pipe to a structure.
3. Can you use metal clamps on plastic pipes?
Yes.
It can be used on plastic pipes such as PVC, HDPE, and CPVC with proper precautions.
4. Why do some pipe clamps have a rubber lining?
The rubber lining in pipe clamps helps to improve performance, reduce vibration, control noise, prevent corrosion, and allow thermal expansion.
5. How do you calculate the right size of pipe clamp?
First, measure the pipe outside diameter [OD] and match the clamp size to the pipe.
6. What causes pipe clamps to fail?
Pipe clamps can fail due to various reasons, such as overloading, improper installation, vibration and fatigue, wrong type of clamp, environmental damage, thermal expansion stress, and material incompatibility.
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Whether your factory requires anchor clamps, repair clamps, or heavy-duty clamps, our pipe support systems are engineered for reliability and durability – Download our product catalogue now.
