What Is Hot Tapping?
Hot Tapping Process
The hot tap procedure involves attaching a welded or bolt on branch connection and valve on the outside of an operating pipeline, and then cutting out the pipe-line wall within the branch and removing the wall section through the valve. Hot tapping avoids product loss and disruption of service to customers.
What is required for hot tapping?
For a hot tap, there are three key components necessary to safely drill into a pipe; the fitting, the valve, and the hot tap machine. The fitting is attached to the pipe, some by welding, some by bolt on applications. In many cases, either a threaded or flanged fitting is attached to the pipe.
The Hot Tap Machine
The hot tap machine is designed to be the safest, most cost effective, and quickest way to perform a hot tap.
There are various types of hot tap machines available on the market today, each with its own unique features and capabilities. The most common types of hot tap machines include:
- Hydraulic Hot Tap Machine
- Electric Hot Tap Machine
- Pneumatic Hot Tap Machine
- Manual Hot Tap Machine
Each type of machine offers its own benefits and advantages, depending on the specific needs of the project.
Hot Tap Pipeline
At Tap Master, we offer hot tap pipeline services to meet the needs of our clients. Our team of experienced professionals can safely install hot taps on various types of pipelines, including water lines, oil and gas lines, and more.
Hot Tapping Water Lines
Water lines are one type of pipeline that often requires hot tapping services. Hot tapping allows for a connection to be made without interrupting water service, making it an efficient and cost-effective solution for adding new connections to existing water lines.
Industries Served
- Municipal Water and Waste Water Piping Systems
- Water and Waste Water Treatment Plants
- Mechanical and HVAC Systems
- Hotels
- Universities/Schools
- Hospitals
- Casinos
- Commercial Buildings and Piping Infrastructure
- Chemical Plants
- Power Plants
- Mining
Utility Industry
The ability to safely tie-in to a pressurized system while under full operating conditions. Hot Taps can be performed on almost any type of pipe, ranging from steel, ductile, cast iron, ACP, HDPE and PVC. Taps are done on lines containing water, waste water, gasses, fuels, steam, and many other chemicals. Pressures up to 1440 psi can be Hot Tapped safely with no interruption of service.
HVAC Industry
Tapping into a gas line can be bothersome to local residents when their service is interrupted. Hot tapping is the process of adding pipe to an existing line without turning the flow off. The main concern with this method is safety. Protecting the environment is a priority along with the well being of crewmen during the operation.
Manufacturing Industry
Hot tapping provides a safe, reliable, and effective means to create a branch connection on ”live” piping and pressure vessels while they continue to remain in service. This eliminates lost revenue by avoiding often costly and inconvenient outages. Hot taps are typically used as a tie-in point for new piping but are also often performed as a means to deploy instrumentation without shutdown. They are frequently performed as an essential step in preparation for line stopping.
Hot tapping is a means of adding a branch connection to an existing transmission main without a shutdown of service. Below are examples of common tapping methods.
