Flange Adaptors & Couplings

Water distribution networks are built from a mixture of pipe materials laid over decades. Ductile iron mains installed in the 1980s sit alongside older cast iron, asbestos cement and steel sections. New connections are made in polyethylene or PVC-U. Joining pipes of different materials, different outside diameters and different standards requires a flexible and reliable method that does not depend on the pipes sharing the same nominal diameter or end preparation. Universal flange adaptors and couplings were developed to solve exactly this problem.

A flange adaptor converts the plain end of a pipe into a flanged connection. A cone-and-collar sealing arrangement grips the outside of the pipe and compresses the sealing ring against it, producing a leak-tight joint without welding, threading or special end preparation. The flange face conforms to EN 1092-2, allowing direct connection to valves, pumps, meters and other flanged equipment. Wide-tolerance flange adaptors accommodate the range of outside diameters found across different pipe materials and different standards for the same nominal size.

Repair couplings and straight couplings join two plain-ended pipes without flanges. The coupling body slides over both pipe ends and the compression rings seal against the outside diameter of each pipe. They are used for in-line repairs to burst or damaged pipe sections, for extending existing mains with new pipe material and for making connections across isolation joints. Wide-tolerance couplings are designed to accommodate the worst-case combination of tolerances found between dissimilar pipe materials.

Stepped couplings join two pipes of different outside diameters, for example where a new PE main is connected to an existing asbestos cement main of the same nominal bore but a different outside diameter. The stepped bore accommodates the diameter difference within a single coupling body, avoiding the need for a reducing piece or a custom fabrication.

Anchor-type flange adaptors and couplings incorporate a mechanical joint that resists end-load forces. In long straight runs or on hilly terrain, unanchored joints can be pulled apart by the thrust from bends, tees and closed valves. Anchor couplings use gripping teeth or set bolts that bite into the pipe wall and transfer the axial load into the coupling body rather than relying on friction alone.

All flange adaptors and couplings in our range are WRAS approved for drinking water service. Material is ductile iron with fusion-bonded epoxy coating and stainless steel tie-bolt hardware. Sealing rings are available in EPDM for clean water duty and NBR for petroleum-contaminated ground or industrial service. We supply to water utilities, framework contractors and plant hire companies across Europe.