Victaulic Couplings Demonstrate Earth-Shaking Results During Testing


Third-party ATLSS Center testing confirms Victaulic couplings maintain operational integrity during seismic events

ORLANDO - AHR Expo (Booth #3726) - Victaulic, the world's leading manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining systems, put its products through extensive third-party testing and confirmed that Victaulic couplings maintain operational integrity of piping systems during seismic events.

Victaulic couplings were tested at the ATLSS center, a member of the nationally recognized NEES (Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulations) testing group. Victaulic couplings ranging in size from 4" to 16" (100 to 400 mm) were exposed to accelerations up to 50 percent greater than the Northridge, California earthquake of 1994. This earthquake, which registered 6.7 on the Richter scale, is estimated to be the costliest seismic disaster in United States history with over $20 billion in property damage.

The water-filled assemblies of couplings and pipes, with configurations of both rigid and flexible couplings, were pressurized to 200 psi/1375 kPa for the duration of all tests. No pressure loss or leakage was noted during any of the tests.

The grooved mechanical pipe joining method is used extensively in HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, mining, industrial, utilities, oilfields, water and wastewater systems. The use of Victaulic grooved couplings in areas at high risk for seismic events can be traced back to the early 1940's, where they were used to provide stress relief at equipment connections. Since then, Victaulic has provided many years of successful performance in seismic areas and has become a choice method for joining pipe in many projects that face seismic movement.

Most recently Victaulic was used in the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, formerly known as the Burj Dubai, completed in January 2010, as well as the Burj Al-Arab and Jumirah Beach Hotel in Dubai. These renowned facilities face seismic concerns for their unique and high-profile structures, and the use of Victaulic couplings helped engineers accommodate for seismic and other building movements (sway, settlement, expansion, contraction) that the piping system may experience.

Other facilities that have utilized Victaulic for its ability to withstand seismic activity include the Beijing Olympic Stadium in China, AT & T Park in San Francisco, the Incheon International Airport in Korea, Kanyon Levent in Turkey and the Taipei 101 Financial Center in Taiwan.

To read more about Victaulic's results in the seismic testing program and view photos, visit www.victaulic.com/Docs/lit/26.13.pdf

About Victaulic
Founded in 1925, Victaulic is the world's leading producer of mechanical pipe joining systems. Headquartered in Easton, Pa., Victaulic has manufacturing and distribution facilities worldwide and employs more than 3,500 people. The company develops products for a full range of industrial, commercial and institutional piping system applications. For more information, visit www.victaulic.com.

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