When it comes to installing, upgrading or maintaining pipelines, it’s important to choose the right specialist pipe fittings and valves to ensure a leak-free, reliable and low-maintenance system. Whether you’re installing new branch connections, retro-fitting fire hydrants or replacing outdated sections of pipeline, the fittings and valves you select play a vital role in maintaining operational integrity, and performance. From preventing leaks to future-proofing maintenance requirements, the right components really do make all the difference, both to the network asset owner and the customers.
In line with the launch of our new and improved range of specialist pipe fittings and valves for the water industry, this guide will take you through everything you need to consider when selecting the perfect solutions for your project.
What are specialist pipe fittings & valves?
Specialist pipe fittings and valves are key components of a piping system that allow you to connect, control or isolate sections of pipe all while withstanding high-pressure applications. These components are engineered to meet the specific needs of the potable water sector, providing robust and reliable solutions for complex distribution networks.
These valves and fittings include:
- Hi-Flow Drilling Saddles: A unique under pressure drilling saddle, for branch connections, where the riser has an inbuilt non-mechanical, maintenance free, knife valve. This allows for a safe and simple drilling connection operation, as well as offering significant future use advantages.
- Sandwich Valves: The Sandwich Valve is a slimline, non-mechanical, maintenance free, knife valve and was derived to allow for future simple isolation of hydrants or air valves without the need for full shutdowns or other means of isolation. Providing a quick means of maintenance or exchange. Since then they have also been used for temporary access points i.e. camera insertion and temporary isolation when drilling.
- Service saddles: in instances where direct drilling or tapping into a main isn’t suitable, a service saddle fitting that attaches to a water main to create a service connection.
- Stainless steel fittings: Repair clamps used to fix leaking or failing pipelines, and under pressure tee fittings for branch connections.
What regulations do pipe valves and fittings need to meet in the UK?
For UK water suppliers, these pipe fittings that are intended to carry or receive water from the public mains water supply must meet the regulations set out by WRAS (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme). This ensures quality, reliability and safety of the parts. Here at Hy-Ram, all of the materials and coatings we use to manufacture our range of specialist pipe fittings and valves are WRAS approved, and also comply with the relevant requirements of DWI (Drinking Water Inspectorate) Reg 31.
How to use Hi-Flow Drilling Saddles
Hi-Flow Drilling Saddles are designed to create connections on live pipelines without requiring full system shutdowns. Traditionally, these saddles were suitable for use on PVC, ductile iron, cast iron, steel and asbestos cement. Our new and improved design means they can now also be used on PE pipes, making them a more versatile option than ever before.
Key benefits of Hi-Flow Drilling Saddles:
- No shut-down required for under pressure installation
- Integrated knife valve eliminates the need for additional valves, reducing potential leak points and costs
- Maximum flow capacity means optimal performance without compromising the integrity of the main pipeline
- Robust build, made from ductile cast iron
- Low riser height – only 150mm, making it a compact and efficient solution
- Ideal for through-bore hydrant installations
- Maintenance-free, contamination-resistant option for pipeline connections
How to use Sandwich Valves
Our updated Sandwich Valve is now able to facilitate the conversion of imperial pipe systems to modern metric standards, making it invaluable for water companies and infrastructure projects managing legacy pipeline networks.
Originally developed to simplify the isolation of hydrants or air valves, it has since evolved into a versatile solution for temporary access points, such as camera insertions or pipeline drilling.
Benefits of the Sandwich Valve:
- The non-mechanical design means the Sandwich Valve is maintenance-free for its entire lifecycle unlike standard mechanical valve products
- Low riser height with a face to face dimension of only 70mm, compared to 112mm of a typical standard gate valve
- Our valve unit can only be operated by the valve plate supplied by Hy-Ram, therefore making it tamper resistant
- Our unit will suit all major hydrant brands
- Available in multiple configurations, the valve can act as a flange converter to bridge the gap between imperial and metric systems
- Our Sandwich Valves have been trusted by water suppliers across the UK without any performance issues or reported failures for 20+ years.
Which specialist pipe fittings & valves are best?
The best choice depends on a range of factors, including the pipeline’s purpose, material, and whether the project involves a new installation or an upgrade to an existing system. Here’s what you should consider when designing a future-proof pipeline system that’ll perform for decades to come.
Pipeline material
Our range of fittings and valves has compatible options with various materials, including ductile iron, PVC, steel, asbestos cement, and PE pipes. For modern projects using PE pipes, look for solutions like Hy-Ram’s Hi-Flow Drilling Saddle, which works with traditional pipeline materials, as well as modern PE plastic pipes.
Project type
- Installing new pipelines? Prioritise fittings and valves that support long-term maintenance, e.g. Sandwich Valves for easy hydrant isolation, offering future proofing to network operations by reducing ongoing opex costs.
- Upgrading or retrofitting? Choose fittings that allow integration of new components with legacy systems, such as converting imperial pipe standards to metric.
Maintenance requirements
Opting for low-maintenance solutions is the best way to reduce long-term costs. Non-mechanical designs eliminate the need for ongoing servicing – which means less time and money spent on maintenance.
Components with integrated valves, like the Hi-Flow Drilling Saddle, reduce the number of fittings required, keeping maintenance simple all while reducing potential leak points.
Operational priorities
Consider the specific demands of your operation, such as pressure requirements, flow capacity and tamper resistance.
Our recommendations
For live hydrant/air valve or pipeline/developer services connections…
The Hi-Flow Drilling Saddle is the best choice for creating leak-free connections, on existing potable water mains within its range and capacity, without system shutdowns.
For new hydrant/air valve installations…
The Sandwich Valve is the ideal option thanks to its compact design, tamper resistance and compatibility with both new and legacy potable water mains.
For service connections…
Service saddles provide reliable support for creating connections across a range of materials and pipe sizes, on potable water mains.
Need help choosing the right specialist pipe fittings & valves?
We get that every pipeline project is unique, and the right specialist fittings and valves depend on your specific needs and priorities. By choosing Hy-Ram, you gain access to proven, reliable products and over 45 years of expertise.
Still not sure which fitting is best for your project? Our team is here to help! Get in touch today to discuss your requirements.