BS 6129-1:1981

Foreword
Cooperating organizations
Code
1. Scope
2. References
3. Definitions
3.1 Nominal size (DN)
3.2 Movement
3.3 Expansion joints
3.4 Effective area
3.5 Expansion joint components
3.6 Associated equipment
4. Materials for convolution manufacture and
     precautions to avoid corrosion in service
4.1 General considerations affecting the choice of
     material for the convolutions of a bellows
     expansion joint
4.2 Precautions during storage, installation and use
     to avoid damage due to corrosion
4.3 Typical materials used in the fabrication of
     bellows convolutions
5. Application and use of expansion joints
5.1 General
5.2 Thermal expansion of various pipe materials
5.3 Unrestrained expansion joints
5.4 Restrained expansion joints
5.5 Special service conditions
6. Definition of design conditions and working
     conditions and classification of inspection
     procedures
6.1 General
6.2 Design conditions
6.3 Working conditions
6.4 Classification of inspection procedures
7. Information to be provided by the purchaser and
     the manufacturer
7.1 Information to be provided by the purchaser
7.2 Information to be provided by the manufacturer
8. Pre-installation inspection and testing
8.1 General
8.2 Class I
8.3 Class II
8.4 Class III
9. Identification, protection, packing, transportation
     and installation
9.1 Identification
9.2 Protection
9.3 Packing and transportation
9.4 Installation
10. Testing of systems containing expansion joints
10.1 General
10.2 Cases where a standard pressure test, in accordance
     with 10.1.5 on a system including expansion joints
     is not reasonably practicable
11. Guide for maintenance of expansion joints after
     installation
11.1 General
11.2 Inspection after first full movement
11.3 Periodic inspection after an agreed interval of
     time
11.4 Accessibility
12. Modifications to pressure systems incorporating
     expansion joints
12.1 General
12.2 Examples of modifications hazardous to systems
     containing all types of expansion joints
12.3 Examples of modifications particularly hazardous
     to systems containing unrestrained axial expansion
     joints
12.4 Examples of modifications particularly hazardous
     to systems containing restrained expansion joints
13. Certification
Table
1. Classification of inspection procedures
Figures
1. Typical system using unrestrained expansion joint
2. Examples of unsafe practice in a system using
     unrestrained expansion joints
3. Diagrammatic explanation of cold pull of
     unrestrained expansion joint
4. Typical system using a tied double expansion joint
     with hinged-end tie-bars
5. Typical system using a tied double expansion joint
     with spherical-ended tie-bars
6. Typical system using two single gimbal expansion
     joints
7. Typical system using one single hinged expansion
     joint and two single gimbal expansion joints
8. Typical systems using single hinged expansion
     joints
9. Examples of unsafe practice in systems using gimbal
     expansion joints
10. Examples of cold pull in a piping system with
     restrained expansion joints
11. Systems using a pressure-balanced expansion joint

Guidance on selection, application and location of the various forms of joints with particular reference to choice of materials, shop tests, packing, protection, installation, system tests and maintenance.

This British Standard gives information and recommendations on the selection, application and testing of metallic bellows expansion joints for use in pressure systems.