timstoreyAcording to the piping class of a plant where I´ll have to perform a branch connection, a sockolet has has to mounted for 4″ x 12″ connection. As an alternative for tie-in, which means cutting and most important, closing the pipeline, i´m planning to perform a Hot Tap, wich doesn´t need a reinforcement. Do I have to weld the sockolet anyway?. The length of my hot tap machine may not be long enough to drill with the sockolet and the valve mounted.
Regards,
Zero
You should meet the plant standards, or have the piping engineer approve any variations from those standards. A 4″ sockolet is a very large sockolet, is post weld heat treating required? Why wouldn’t the hot tap have the same reinforcing requirements as the sockolet?
Sorry to ask so many questions, but more information is needed to get a good answer.
Tim Storey