Couplings and fittings that help shipbuilders save time, cut costs and improve safety retain ABS seal of approval.
Victaulic, a manufacturer of mechanical pipe-joining systems, has received updated and renewed ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) Type Approvals for a range of grooved-end couplings and fittings.
The newly issued approval certificates are valid until end June 2017. They cover products that are reliable, safe and faster to install than other joining methods, and that are ideally suited to many applications in the shipbuilding and marine piping industries. Applications include fresh water, potable water, sea water cooling and ballast systems; bilge pipes; vents and overflows; compressed air, sanitary, fire main and fire suppression systems.
Among the products approved is the Victaulic Style 177 QuickVic flexible coupling - part of the Victaulic patented installation-ready product line. It installs in half the time as standard flexible grooved couplings without the need to disassemble the bolts, nuts, gasket and housings - making installation faster, easier and safer than any other solution currently available. ABS Product Type Approval for the 177 coupling includes sizes 2” to 4” (50mm – 100mm) with a pressure rating of 232 psi/1600 kPa.
Also approved are Victaulic ZeroFlex rigid couplings (Style 07), flexible couplings (Style 77 and 75), reducing coupling (Style 750), Roust-A-Bout coupling (Style 99) and flange adapters (Style 741 and 743). The products are manufactured from ductile iron conforming to ASTM A-536 and are available in varying sizes from 1” – 12” (25mm - 300mm) according to product type. Certified for pressure ratings up to 232 psi/1600 kPa, they deliver high performance and reliability, while offering many advantages over welding and flanging.
In addition Victaulic has secured ABS approval for its mechanical tee outlets (Style 920 and 920N), tees (No. 20), elbows (No. 10, 11, 12 and 13), reducing tees (No. 25), concentric reducers (No. 50), caps (No.60) and wye type Vic-Strainer (Style 732). This means that shipbuilders can select with confidence from a comprehensive range of ABS-approved products from a single supplier to meet a variety of pipe-joining needs and reap the benefits of time and cost savings, along with reliability and durability.
Alongside approval by ABS, Victaulic products are also Type Approved by numerous other maritime agencies which belong to the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
Joe Seremula, Victaulic Maritime Product Certification Coordinator, said: “Type Approval certification from ABS – and other regulatory authorities - is very important to us at Victaulic, as we strive to maintain the highest standards of quality and performance. Victaulic products have been approved by a number of IACS member agencies since the 1920s and are used on many vessels built by leading shipyards around the world. We will continue this tradition by investing heavily in the research, development and regulatory compliance that our customers expect from Victaulic as an innovative leader in the maritime industry. Our products, processes and people are all dedicated to solving problems and creating opportunities that will aid the shipbuilding industry for many years to come.”