The
high quality, low maintenance steel pipe systems has caused a noticeable
shift in attitudes toward steel. Steel pipes have gained international
reputation for quality pipe solutions for oil & gas industry,
petroleum industry, hospitals, laboratories, refineries, shipping and
food and automobile industries. The distinctive features of steel pipes
are:
Toughness : Toughness requirements for a pipe is more complex
than the tensile property requirements. The steel pipe toughness level
is specified to guard against crack propagation.
Fittings Properties : Fittings are components of the steel pipe
that are usually of complex geometry and not made from linepipe, such as
bends, tees, flanges, valves and set-on and set-in forged branches.
Flexibility : Steel pipes can be designed and fabricated to any
height and strength, this enables the customer reduce costs by designing
a line for the optimum structure spacing. Steel structures are also
easily modified in the field, making them easy to rework.
Ease of Installation : When compared to lattice structures, the
speed and ease of installation of steel tubing is a proven winner. Also,
the behavior of a steel tubing is easily predicted, while a lattice
structure, with its hundreds of bolted joints, is difficult to quantify
precisely.
Uniformity : Constant taper without twists, knots, splits or
bows provides uniform diameters every time. Steel also has uniform
material strength throughout the entire structure providing more
consistent and predictable results than wood. Being an inherently
ductile material, steel tends to bend rather than break, resulting in
structural reliability and reducing the chance of catastrophic failure
in the field.
Maintenance : After installing steel pipes, there's no need to
retighten hardware later due to shrinkage. Steel retains its shape and
strength and isn't susceptible to damage by insects, rot or fires.
Corrosion Protection : A variety of finishes are available with
steel, including galvanized, paint over galvanized (powder coat or
liquid), dulled and darkened galvanizing and weathering steel.
