How to properly install an expansion joint

To guarantee the useful life and correct operation of an expansion joint, according to the process variables, it is essential to take into account the following aspects when installing the flexible element.
When the parts are received at the plant where they will be installed, it should be observed if any damage occurred during transportation. If so, the location, length, characteristics must be verified and immediately inform the technical department so that its installation is authorized or not.
The pipe must be prepared to receive the expansion joint, but never the opposite, as this would require stretching, compressing and/or laterally or angularly moving the bellows, until the necessary dimension for its installation is achieved. This would cause additional movements than the allowable ones, which, added to those projected, would reduce its useful life.
Install the parts respecting the direction of flow indicated on their body. This will avoid dynamic changes of the fluid and obviously pressure losses and pulsations.
Some joints are provided with carrying bars, which must be removed after hydrostatic testing and before the line comes into operation. These fixing devices are bars or rods always identified in yellow.
Rigorously follow the recommendations of Flexilatina de Colombia regarding fixed points (anchors), distance between guides, supports, etc.
Do not use bellows, tensioners, hinges, gimbals or any type of external structure to move the piece.
Do not use any load element on the bellows.
Do not clean the bellows with abrasive materials (grates, chips, etc.).
Do not produce torsional movements at the ends of the expansion joints to align the flange holes with those of the pipe counterflanges. The bellows are not designed to absorb torsional movements.
Do not carry out any hydrostatic test on the line, without first verifying the correct installation of the fixed points and guides. Simple supports and spring supports are not adequate guides.
Do not exceed the hydrostatic test pressure of 1.5 times the design pressure, specified on the joint nameplate.
Do not use carrying bars or movement limiters to contain the reaction force produced by internal pressure.
Any axial, lateral or angular pre-tensioning that is indicated in the design of the part must be strictly respected during installation.
The course limiters (if any) must be locked in their final position, according to values indicated in the designs corresponding to the last stage of assembly and before the hydrostatic test.
If steam cleaning of the system was planned, and such condition was not observed in the project, the joints must be removed, replacing them with spools of pipe until the cleaning process is completed. Later the pieces can be reinstalled on the line.
Because the bellows are very thin-walled, they must be suitably protected during welding of the joint in the line and/or other system components close to it.
Metal expansion joints do not require any specific maintenance, the only recommendation is to carry out periodic visual inspection not only of the joint but also of the anchors and supports of the Installation, observing the regularity of their behavior over time.