Stainless steel corrugated pipe - overview, features, specifications and types

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The use of insulation as a means of protecting communication lines is a 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, which were optimally suited for laying the channel in the straight direction, but did not allow complex installation with rotary waste without deformation of the insulating material. Today, stainless steel corrugated pipes are increasingly used, protecting the line from mechanical influences and unwanted contact with aggressive media.

What is a corrugated pipe?

In standard versions, these are metal pipes with fins on the outer surface. The main technical and physical difference between such products is the possibility of bending, which, in fact, allows installation in any conditions. Internal surfaces are usually smooth, but special sputtering and coatings may be present to increase the life of the structure. What's more, the stainless steel corrugated pipe for water can have a separate circuit,enclosed in a shell. Such modifications are usually used in the organization of heating or gas supply systems, where there are increased requirements for the reliability of the infrastructure.

Product performance features

Wide possibilities for application in different conditions can be called the main advantage of corrugated pipes. Not only do they allow for various connection configurations, but they are also easy to cut. To work with models of a standard size, it is enough to use metal shears - the thin-sheet structure, despite the ribbed surface, is quite amenable to cutting. Further, during the installation, the product can be given any shape up to knots. This is especially true in situations where it is planned to install a corrugated pipe for heating by means of convectors and radiators. Compact devices are often used in cramped conditions where it is not possible to mount straight rigid circuits with massive corner joints. A corrugated pipe, depending on the model, can maintain a given bend without destroying its own structure. Although products of this type, precisely because of the specifics of the design, cannot have a thick shell, they have a lot of 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 thickness of the walls just plays a negative role,allowing material to be bent. Therefore, in potentially dangerous places from the point of view of damage, it is recommended to carry out the circuit in an additional protective casing. Another negative exploitation factor is associated with maintenance problems. A ribbed surface, unlike a smooth one, quickly accumulates dirt and is more difficult to wash off. Also, many note the aspect of aesthetic perception. At a minimum, a stainless steel corrugated pipe looks unusual - the same prominent 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 casing design.

Varieties of corrugated pipe

The main difference between products within the segment can be called the scope, which determines some of the 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 for laying lines using standard fittings. A separate class is the stainless steel corrugated pipe for the chimney, which has the largest diameter, is integrated into the nozzle of the heating unit, and during operation protects the walls of the duct from soot and thermal effects. Electrotechnical stainless corrugated pipes are also popular. On the contrary, they differ in small diameters and act only asprotective shell.

Key Features

The most important parameters are dimensional values, as well as indicators of temperature resistance and the 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. At the same time, the bending radius has a corridor from 40 to 90 mm.

Limiting temperature conditions for pipes of this type can be designated in the range from -60 to 110 ° С. 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, for industrial corrugated pipes for heating, the temperature resistance characteristics can be expressed in the ability to withstand 400 ° C. The standard working pressure is 1.5 MPa, and values over 10 MPa already imply the risks of destruction of the structure, especially if the thermal effects exceed the permissible values.

Additional consumables and accessories

Auxiliary equipment is used to perform two tasks - to improve the individual performance of the pipe and to ensure installation operations. The first category is represented by heaters, hydro- and vapor barriers, which can be used to wrap the internal circuit. There are alsospecial sealing compounds used during the installation of the product. The second category of mounting fittings is fittings, seals and fittings for stainless steel corrugated pipes, thanks to which the connecting operations are carried out directly. Some models also have special profiles that do not participate in the connection nodes to the main channel, but can act as coolant supply regulators.

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, it is necessary to remove the insulation from the surface of the pipe along a length that does not exceed the distance of the loop entering the fitting. In the process of work, it is necessary to avoid deformations, expressed in flattening of the pipe. When creases form, the damaged area is cut off. As already mentioned, such products can bend, but they cannot be purposefully 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 the screed device it is worth performing a test passage of the coolant with an optimum operating 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 pour the line with concrete.

Corrugated pipe manufacturers

In Russia it is widelyimported high-quality products from the companies Lavita, Kofulso, Hydrosta, etc. are common. In particular, the Latvian company Lavita offers inexpensive stainless steel pipes intended for heating systems. They have thin walls, so there are some complaints about 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 fittings, which are provided with 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, on the contrary, belong to the budget household class. These are universal products endowed with average technical and physical properties and suitable for solving typical problems in laying communications.

Question of price

Pipes are supplied in coils 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 set of reinforcing elements is available for 3-3.5 thousand rubles. Bays of 10 m are sold for 1.5-2 thousand. Also, a lot depends on the design features and characteristics of the materials. Recently, additional polymer coatings have been 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 coil20 m.

What to consider when choosing?

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 also focus on the intended purpose. It is one thing to select 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 is distinguished by a special yellow plastic sheath. Fittings for such systems also have features. Manufacturers provide fittings with insulators that prevent the risk of ignition from a spark. 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 potent chemical environments. If a corrugated pipe is chosen for electrical circuits, then insulating water-repellent properties should come first, which will protect the wiring from shorting.

Conclusion

Traditional materials for the installation of pipeline channels are often criticized for their low technical and operational qualities, almost absent ergonomics and functionality. In installing smooth and thick cast-iron pipes, the master should not so much 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 plumbinginfrastructure, stainless steel corrugated pipe is used, which does not limit the choice of installation configurations and optimally adapts to specific application conditions. This may be a short section of the supply from the boiler to the central heating line, and 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 the thin pipe, but this problem is also solved by auxiliary protective shells.