SPECIFICATION 23

Flexible spherical expansion joints shall employ peroxide cured EPDM in the covers, liners and Kevlar® tire cord frictioning. Any substitutions must have equal or superior physical and chemical characteristics. Solid steel rings shall be used within the raised face rubber flanged ends to prevent pullout. Flexible cable bead wire is not acceptable. Sizes 2” (50mm) and larger shall have two spheres reinforced with a ductile iron external ring between spheres. Flanges shall be split ductile iron or steel with hooked or similar interlocks. Sizes 16”(400mm) to 24” (600mm) may be single sphere. Sizes 3/4” (19mm) to 11/2” (38mm) may have threaded two piece bolted flange assemblies, one sphere and cable retention. Connectors shall be rated at 250 psi (1.72MPa) up to 170°F (77°C) with a uniform drop in allowable pressure to 215 psi (1.48MPa) at 250°F (121°C) in sizes through 14” (350mm). 16” (400mm) through 24” (600mm) single sphere minimum ratings are 180 psi (1.24MPa) at 170°F (77°C) and 150 psi (1.03MPa) at 250°F (121°C). Higher rated connectors may be used to accommodate service conditions. All expansion joints must be factory tested to 150% of rated pressure for 12 minutes before shipment. Safety factors to burst and flange pullout shall be a minimum of 3/1. Concentric reducers to the above ratings may be substituted for equal ended expansion joints.

Expansion joints shall be installed in piping gaps equal to the length of the expansion joints under pressure. Control rods need only be used in unanchored piping locations where the manufacturer determines the installation exceeds the pressure requirement without control rods. If control rods are used, they must have 1/2” (12mm) thick Neoprene washer bushings large enough in diameter to take the thrust at 1000 psi (.7 kg/mm2) maxi- mum on the washer area.

Submittals shall include two test reports by independent consultants showing minimum reductions of 20 DB in vibration accelerations and 10 DB in sound pressure levels at typical blade passage frequencies on this or a similar product by the same manufacturer. All expansion joints shall be installed on the equipment side of the shut off valves. Expansion joints shall be type SAFEFLEX SFDEJ, SFEJ, SFDCR or SFU and Control Rods CR as manufactured by Mason Industries, Inc.