‘Leakage and Corrosion Free’ Construction Research Institute Develops New Concept Weld-Free Pipe Joint Technology

A welding-free ring-type pipe joint system has been developed to solve leakage and corrosion problems in sprinkler pipe connections.

The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (hereinafter referred to as KICT) announced on the 2nd that its Building Energy Research Institute research team, together with Taeyang Hightech Co., Ltd. and HiMec Co., Ltd., jointly developed a new concept ring-type pipe joint system.

The ring-type pipe joint system is designed to block leaks by inserting a metal ring into the groove tape on the outside of the pipe, connecting two O-rings and a guide ring to the pipe, and fastening them with a housing. An advantage is that the pipes are connected on the inner surface without any physical deformation to ensure spraying capability and corrosion durability.

In particular, compared to existing technologies, KICT explained that it secured differentiation in terms of functionality, durability, and assembly workability.

Components and fastening method concept of ring-type piping joint system. Provided by Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology

First, the ring-type pipe joint system allows pipes and pipe joint parts to be pre-assembled at the factory and packaged as a set, enabling simple assembly work on site.

Also, the reducer used to connect larger diameter pipes to smaller ones (65mm→50mm, 50mm→40mm) is manufactured as an integrated unit, reducing assembly joints by about 20% compared to welding or threaded methods.

Most importantly, assembly work is convenient even for small pipes installed on apartment ceilings for sprinklers, reducing work time by up to half compared to existing methods. The durability assurance technology also lowers maintenance costs such as leakage and pipe replacement, which is considered a major strength.

The ring-type pipe joint system passed various safety performance tests including seismic performance and leakage performance, and obtained UL (Underwriters Laboratory) certification, an internationally recognized standard, in December 2022.

The developed technology has been applied and installed in common facilities such as senior centers, daycare centers, and guesthouses within three apartment complexes in Seoul and Busan. It is expected to be widely used in cooling water and gas plant piping facilities in ultra-high-rise apartments, officetels, multi-use facilities, knowledge industry centers, and data centers in the future.

Kim Byung-seok, president of KICT, said, “The newly developed ring-type pipe joint technology is a solution to corrosion and leakage defects in sprinkler pipes,” and added, “We hope this technology will minimize fire damage on site and contribute to ensuring public safety.”

Meanwhile, the ‘Act on Installation and Management of Firefighting Facilities’ has mandated the installation of sprinkler systems on the ceilings of all buildings, including apartments with six or more floors built after 2019.

Previously, fire protection piping was mainly connected by welding joints, threaded joints, or grooved joints.

However, welding is gradually being used less frequently on site due to frequent fires during work and the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. Threaded joints have the disadvantage of potential leakage defects due to corrosion. Grooved joints have limitations in that they cannot be used for small diameter pipes (50mm or less) due to the difficulty of creating grooves on the pipes.