When to Use Grooved pipe joints？

We previously have introduced different types and combinations of threaded fittings - which have been around for more than a century.

Here we're introducing another common way to join pipe; using grooved fittings. 
An attic sprinkler system using a grooved elbow with couplings.  Use of "mechanical" couplings that could allow faster joining of pipe came to life in by Lieutenant Ernest Tribe. Just a few years later the Victory Pipe Joint Company renamed itself to Victaulic (a combination of "victory" and "hydraulic"), and grew to expand the technology worldwide. 

Today, Victaulic and other manufacturing leaders provide grooved fittings that are often used for pipes in fire sprinkler systems. It is not uncommon for both mains and branch lines to be grooved today.

What are common grooved fittings, and how do they work? Let's introduce them.  An in-rack sprinkler with a branch line using (starting with the sprinkler) a groove x thread reducing elbow
​with a grooved coupling, a grooved piece of pipe, and a grooved tee (connection not shown). PIPE
Let's start with the pipe. In order to give grooved fittings an opportunity to "grip" the pipe and remain in place, they need an opportunity to resist the pressure of the water that is trying to "pull away" the pipe from the fittings which join them together. A grooved coupling about to connect two grooved-end pipes. Note the loose nut and bolt on the right-hand side, allowing the coupling to be expanded and "slip" over the pipe on the left. In order to create a groove in the pipe, steel can either be "roll groove" or "cut groove". Roll groove pipe involves pressing an indentation into the pipe near the end of the pipe. This allows a grooved fitting to slip over the end of the pipe and fit into the groove. Roll groove pipe has the advantage of not reducing the pipe thickness, so it can have more tolerance for corrosion than thinner pipe, similar pipe with threads, or pipe with cut grooves.

Pipe which is cut groove involves cutting into the pipe rather than pressing it. This cutting removes a portion of the pipe wall, making a thinner but smooth interior pipe wall. This thinner wall makes it more susceptible to corrosion, however, for pipe systems with a minor slope, the smooth inside of the pipe does not create a ridge where water can sit and corrode the pipe. Roll Grooved Pipe (top) and Cut Grooved Pipe (bottom). Note the ridge on the inside of the pipe wall for roll groove pipe, and the thinner pipe wall along the cut groove pipe. A tape measure with a "go" or "no-go" measurement to determine if the groove is within manufacturer tolerances. ELBOWS & TEES
Let's start with the basics. Elbows allow bends of 90-degrees (most common), 45-degrees, 22-1/2 degrees, and 11-1/4 degrees.

Why not every possible angle? What if I need to have a 60-degree bend because of my building?

First, it wouldn't be economical to make a fitting of every bend. Second, is that using just two 90-degree elbows back-to-back we're able to create a "swing joint" and make any angle we could want, just by changing the elevation of the pipe that's being joined. Victaulic "FireLock" Grooved Fittings; 
90-Degree Elbow #001 (left), 45-Degree Elbow #003 (center), and Standard Tee #002 (right) One notable specialty with the grooved elbow is a "Drain Elbow", which has the elbow except it includes a drain outlet at the bend of the elbow. This is used all the time with fire department connections which come down a wall and need to be capable of being drained (to avoid having water-charged pipe freeze and burst). This is also called a "Drain-El" or is a Victaulic #10-DR. A wall-mounted fire department connection that is away from the riser, here showing the "Drain Elbow" with a ball drip below. The portion upstream of the check valve is intended to be dry unless the FDC is actively being used in order to avoid freezing water inside. COUPLINGS
Nice sketches, Joe, but that's not how things look in the field!

That's because unlike threaded fittings, the actual pipe joining is by a grooved coupling. The coupling has malleable iron bumps that grip the indent of one groove (pipe/fitting) and connect it to the second groove (the other pipe/fitting).  A grooved coupling (here a Victaulic #009N shown). OTHER FITTINGS
There are a host of other fitting types. Grooved Reducing Tees? Yep. Less common. Less common can equate to more expensive, or at least that's what I hear from contractors familiar with all the pricing nuances.

What other grooved fittings do I often see? 

Reducing fittings, which is a concentric, single-cast piece of metal that has a large groove on one end and tapers down to a smaller groove on another end. One note of caution is using these in the vertical orientation; I've heard it is much better, more stable, and stronger to use a reducing-fitting as opposed to a reducing-coupling when in a vertical orientation. One of my clients goes so far to say to not use reducing couplings at all (where the coupling itself has two different groove sizes). I wouldn't have the expertise to gauge that myself. A flange x groove reducer (left) and a grooved cap (right). There are also reducing adapters, than can accept a flange connection and convert it to a reduced groove connection. 

Crosses are also available, as are caps (like the Victaulic #006 shown above on the right) which can terminate the end of a branch line. These caps even have 1-inch threaded opening options for easy auxiliary drains. 
Many manufacturers have equipment and components with grooved ends that can readily attach to pipe and fittings.

The Top Five Benefits of Grooved Pipe Joints

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Grooved connections are the most versatile, economical and reliable pipe joining system available today. The benefits of grooved connections to contractors include safer job sites, lower installation costs, and faster installation. Groove connection was born more than 100 years ago and is a relatively new connection method. Groove connection is different from welding, threaded connection and flange connection, and has unique advantages in many application fields. So, what are the specific advantages of grooved pipe fittings? Below, I will list 5 advantages of grooved pipe fittings. I believe you will like it.

grooved coupling

Before introducing the 5 advantages of grooved pipe fittings, we should first know that there are two different types of grooved pipe fittings connectors, which are divided into flexible joints and rigid joints. Both types of connectors have their own benefits. If you want to know more, please click the link below. The article will explain the differences between the two different connectors and their respective advantages in more detail.

https://www.malleableiron-pipefitting.com/industry-knowledge/rigid-coupling-vs-flexible-coupling.html 

Five Advantages of Groove coupling

1. Safer

Groove connections are safer than any other method of pipe connection. Grooved connections can be installed without flames, eliminating the fire hazard often associated with welding. Welding is arguably one of the most dangerous industrial activities, with hazards including fire risks, electric shock, compressed gases and toxic fumes. Therefore, welding requires personal protection for eyes, hands, feet and body. Welding activities also require a fire watch during and after work, which can delay construction and increase costs.

On the other hand, the safety of installers on the job site is paramount. However, this becomes even more important in expansion or remodeling projects where buildings such as hospitals and schools may remain open and operational during construction. The benefits of trench connections can reduce risks to workers and building tenants in the projects described above.

2. Able to accommodate expansion and contraction of piping systems

The groove connection can effectively adapt to the thermal expansion and contraction of the piping system. It provides design flexibility, reduces stress on mechanical piping systems, and provides a method of installation that is more compact, easier to inspect, and more efficient than other piping joining methods.

The reason why the grooved connection can effectively adapt to the heat barrier and cold shrinkage of the piping system is mainly because the design of the grooved fittings allows the pipe to move within a certain range.

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3. Short installation time

During a renovation project, avoiding disruption to building occupants while minimizing cost overruns associated with night and weekend work can be a challenge. Grooved joint systems can solve these problems. Groove connection only needs to install a connector on the grooved pipe, and there is no noise pollution or light pollution in the whole connection process.

In many cases, existing plumbing systems can be rerouted and kept running while work is performed on the old system or a new system is installed. Grooved systems do not require a complete shutdown of the system, as there is no need to evacuate and dry the system, and no arc or flame is required to disassemble or reassemble joints. As a result, buildings can quickly return to full capacity. In this case, the benefit of grooved is simple: avoid downtime. To access the piping system connected to the grooved assembly, workers only need to disassemble the two fittings to remove the pipe segment. To do the job, the grooved coupling is easily put back on the pipe and the nut tightened.

4. Lower total installed cost

Although upfront material costs may be higher than welding, the benefit of grooving is reduced labor time and labor costs. Welding requires workers to master higher welding skills, and the learning costs for workers are also higher. The installation of the grooved connection is simple, and the learning cost of the workers is low. Groove connection is convenient and fast, and the installation time is shorter, so the total installation cost is significantly lower than other connection methods.

5.Compatibility with a wide range of materials

Grooved joints are available for a wide range of materials including carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, and aluminum. This makes them suitable for use in a variety of industries and applications, such as water and wastewater treatment, oil and gas, fire protection, and HVAC systems. The compatibility with different materials ensures that grooved joints can be used in different environments, conditions, and temperatures, making them a versatile and reliable option for piping systems.

China Hebei Jianzhi Foundry Group Co., Ltd. is an enterprise specializing in the production of grooved pipe fittings. The enterprise has the following advantages:

High precision: advanced casting technology, unique innovative investment casting technology, can achieve high precision and accuracy in the production of metal parts.

Rich experience: Founded in , the company has 40 years of casting experience and has been widely trusted by the market.

If you are interested in the products of Hebei Jianzhi Group, please click the link below, follow our YouTube channel, and welcome your consultation.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Grooved pipe joints.