Everything to Know About Viega MegaPress

17 Jun.,2024

 

Everything to Know About Viega MegaPress

Viega&#;s MegaPress system has revolutionized plumbing and pipefitting.

Are you interested in learning more about Pipe Assembly Fit Up Station Manufacturer? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

With its versatility, hundreds of applications and configurations up to 4", MegaPress makes projects safer, faster and more efficient for contractors.

With fittings in carbon steel, multiple stainless steels and marine alloys, MegaPress is approved for more applications than any other pressing system. Because the line is so comprehensive and versatile, a lot of contractors are familiar with only a few aspects of MegaPress and might have questions about other applications or features. To check out all approved applications for MegaPress, view our full applications chart here.

 

Benefits and applications of MegaPress

MegaPress is faster, safer and more secure than traditional methods of joining pipe. It takes under 10 seconds, on average, per press connection. And because there&#;s no heat or flame, it&#;s safer, appropriate for more jobsites and doesn&#;t require a fire watch.

MegaPress can be installed under almost any conditions and without having to drain the entire system. Its speed and versatility save hours of labor and allow for more accurate estimating.  

MegaPress is approved for more than 800 applications, everything from fuel oil and compressed air to water and steam. But just because you don&#;t see a specific application listed on our spec sheets, doesn&#;t mean you can&#;t use MegaPress. If you don&#;t see the medium or application in which you&#;re interested, contact Tech Support. Chances are we&#;ll be able to answer the question right away; if not, we&#;ll research it and get back to you.

The difference between ProPress and MegaPress fittings. ProPress is for copper and stainless steel. When we talk about ProPress, we are using the Viega trademark name for Copper Tube Size (CTS) press technology. MegaPress is used on Iron Pipe Size (IPS) systems like carbon steel, galvanized, and stainless steel applications. For more details on the difference between these press technologies, watch our TechTalk Live.

Also, there is more than one type of MegaPress. Here&#;s a breakdown:

MegaPress

  • For use with Schedule 5 to Schedule 40 carbon steel pipe
  • More than 150 configurations from ½" to 2"
  • 3-piece ball valves with stainless ball

MegaPressG

  • For use with Schedule 5 to Schedule 40 carbon steel pipe
  • HBNR sealing element approved for use in gas and fuel oil applications
  • Over 200 configurations from ½" to 4"
  • Ball valves up to 2&#; are available in 4 connection configurations including built-in union
  • Approved for underground applications in accordance with code and local AHJ

MegaPress FKM

  • For use with Schedule 5 to Schedule 40 carbon steel pipe
  • FKM sealing element for installation in higher temperature applications
  • More than 200 configurations from ½" to 4"
  • 3-piece ball valves with blowout-proof stem and stainless ball
  • For use in hydronic heating, compressed air, fire protection, cooling water

MegaPress Stainless

  • 304 and 316 IPS stainless steel alloys available
  • For use with Schedule 5 to Schedule 40 pipe
  • MegaPress Stainless 316 comes with EPDM (NSF certified) or FKM sealing elements
  • 3-piece ball valves for both alloys

 

More on MegaPressG

We get a lot of questions about MegaPressG, the newest addition to the MegaPress systems. Contractors want to know how it can be used and how it&#;s different from MegaPress.

MegaPressG is specifically engineered for heat, oil and chemical exposure and is the first fitting approved for connecting gas pipe up to 4". It&#;s a carbon steel alloy with corrosion-resistant zinc nickel coating, an HNBR sealing element and a graphite separator ring engineered to withstand high temperatures. It&#;s available in sizes and configurations from ½" to 4" and approved for underground use according to local codes. Learn more here.

For more information on MegaPressG and how to alleviate deflection, watch our Tech Talk Live.

 

MegaPress and steam

MegaPress is rated for low-pressure steam, up to 15 psi with an FKM sealing element and up to 5 psi with an EPDM sealing element.

When using MegaPress for steam, it&#;s important to use the correct materials for the different parts of the system. Many steam systems use Schedule 40 carbon steel pipe for distribution and thicker Schedule 80 for condensate return to fight corrosion and pinhole leaks (unless stainless steel is used for the return).

MegaPress fittings are designed for Schedule 5 to Schedule 40 pipe. We don&#;t recommend using MegaPress carbon steel for use with Schedule 80 on steam condensate return. It&#;s better to use MegaPress stainless to better withstand corrosion.

 

Steel or copper for steam?

Some contractors insist you should never use copper for steam and steam condensate piping systems. It expands too much, they say since copper expands about 50% more than steel. As steam moves through a system at high speed, coupled with constant temperature fluctuations between cycles, it causes the copper to expand and contract. This torsion on soldered joints can cause them to leak. Stainless steel expands at about the same rate as copper but the connections are typically more stable.

We agree that steel pipe is stronger and the preferred material for steam. However, that doesn&#;t mean copper can&#;t work in low-pressure applications.

The key is using ProPress copper fittings rather than soldered copper fittings. ProPress fittings are better able to absorb the torsion caused by expansion and can even act as swing joints in the system.

 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Pipe Turining Rolls. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

MegaPress sealing elements

We offer three different MegaPress sealing elements to cover the maximum number of applications. Here&#;s a breakdown of the three types and their uses:

EPDM:

Ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber (EPDM) is a synthetic, cured all-purpose elastomer that offers excellent resistance to chemicals and other harsh environmental conditions. With operating temperatures from 0°F to 250°F, EPDM is suitable for any non-potable water application (hot water included), as well as compressed air, technical gases, non-medical oxygen and ketones. Each EPDM fitting is marked with a green dot. MegaPress EPDM has more than 13 pre-approved applications.

For more information on EPDM watch our Tech Talk Live.

 

HNBR

Hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) is a specialty-purpose elastomer optimized for heat, oil and chemical exposure. These are primarily geared toward gas applications, from natural and propane to mixed and manufactured gases, along with oils and lubricants. Each HBNR fitting is marked with a yellow dot and is approved for temperature ranges from -40-180F.

FKM

Fluoroelastomer (FKM) is a specialty-purpose elastomer with excellent resistance to chemicals. It&#;s the most versatile of the sealing elements with more than 800 approved applications and is rated for 14°F to 284°F with spikes up to 356°F for 24 hours. These qualities make the FKM sealing element suitable for industrial environments with harsh, corrosive conditions. Each FKM fitting is marked with a white dot.

This overview provides basic information about MegaPress and answers some questions you might have. Viega technical consultants Bo DeAngelo, Troy Locke and Colton Henkowski go into even greater depth in a three-part series on our TechTalk LIVE sessions on Instagram. Check them out below:

For more information on FKM watch our Tech Talk Live.

 

3 Part Series:

Here is a resource for MegaPress brochures, sell sheets and more. For questions about MegaPress, call Technical Support at (800) 976- or message us at

Pipe Clamps - The Complete Guide

Which pipe clamps are the best?

When it comes to selecting the best pipe fixings for a job, there is no &#;one size fits all&#; solution. In fact, selecting the best fixings depends on each unique installation environment and application requirements.

What needs to be taken into account when selecting the best pipe clamp?

Temperature:

Temperature variations can cause pipes to expand and contract. If the correct fixings and clamps are not used to take into account the pipe movement due to temperature changes, the installation could fail and cause damage to the building.

Before you can select the right clamps to deal with thermal expansion, you first need to calculate the level of thermal expansion on the pipework.

Weight:

All pipe clamps have a maximum load bearing capacity, which means you need to select a clamp which is suitable for supporting the load required.

As an example, you may require special heavy duty pipe clamps with a high safe working load to ensure the pipes are secured properly. These can also help you achieve maximum bracket distances between clamps as they are able to take more force.

Materials:

Pipes made from different materials will react very differently in certain scenarios. For example, there are many different types of plastic pipe (PE, PVC, PA, PP etc). Each has a different temperature resistance, and different resistance levels to chemicals such as oils, greases, acids, chlorine etc. This can affect what type of clamp should be used. For example, plastic pipes should usually be secured with a lined metal clamp or plastic clamp. An unlined metal clamp can lead to corrosion if used on a plastic pipe.

Then there are different types of metal pipe &#; steel, iron, copper and so on. This can determine what kind of pipe clamp can be used, for example, stainless steel pipe clamps cannot be used to fix a copper pipe as the two metals will react. So a nylon coated or plastic clamp must be used.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Pipe Turning Rolls.