Mechanically Attached Pipe Fittings MORE COST-EFFECTIVE PIPE FABRICATION THROUGH STANDARDIZATION

摘要

This article is excerpted from a standardization case study published by the Department of Defense upon the completion of MIL Spec Reform. All case studies are available on the Internet at www.dsp.dla.mil (click on Library, then click on Standardization Case Studies).Following the end of the Cold War, the Navy sought to lower the cost of maintenance while maintaining fleet material readiness. Repair of shipboard piping systems offered potential cost savings. A typical contains miles of pipe and thousands of joints carrying everything from fuel to steam. Shipboard pipe is joined by various methods such as welding and brazing. When pipe and fittings are installed in Navy ships, they must be tested for quality and integrity to ensure performance and to protect the health and safety of the ship and her personnel. As new pipe-joining technologies emerge, they must be thoroughly tested and approved before being used in U.S. Navy ships. Sometimes, this testing process can delay the introduction of promising technologies for years and preclude the realization of substantial savings.