ASTM F2934-12(2023)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F2934 − 12 (Reapproved 2023) An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
Circular Metallic Bellows Type Expansion Joint for HVAC
Piping Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2934; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This specification establishes the minimum require-
2.1 ASME/ANSI Standards:
ments for the mechanical design, manufacture, inspection and
B16.25 Butt Welding Ends
testing of circular metallic bellows-type expansion joints used
B16.5 Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings
to absorb the dimensional changes resulting from piping
B31.1 Power Piping Code
thermal expansion or contraction, as well as the movements of
2.2 ASME Standard:
terminal equipment and supporting structures.
Section IX Welding and Brazing Qualifications
2.3 EJMA Standard:
1.2 Additional or better features, over and above the mini-
Standards of the Expansion Joint Manufacturers Association
mum requirements set by this specification, are not prohibited
2.4 Pipe Fabrication Institute Standard:
by this specification.
ES-3 Fabrication Tolerances
1.3 The layout of many piping systems provides inherent
flexibility through natural changes in direction so that any
3. Terminology
displacements produce primarily bending or torsional strains,
3.1 Expansion joint definitions shall be in accordance with
within acceptable limits. Where the system lacks this inherent
those in the EJMA standards.
flexibility the designer should then consider adding flexibility
through the use of metallic bellows-type expansion joints.
3.2 Definitions:
3.2.1 double expansion joint—expansion joint consisting of
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
two bellows joined by a common connector.
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
3.2.1.1 Discussion—The common connector is anchored to
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
some rigid part of the installation by means of an anchor base.
and are not considered standard.
The anchor base may be attached to the common connector
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
either at installation or at time of manufacture. This anchor
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
base is an intermediate anchor and is not usually designed to
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
withstand the full thrust load of the piping run. The dual
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
expansion joint is installed in the middle of the piping run and
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
the thrust is directed to the middle. Each bellows acts as a
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
single expansion joint and absorbs the movement of the pipe
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
section in which it is installed independently of the other
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
bellows.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASME
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F25 on Ships International Headquarters, Two Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990, http://
and Marine Technology and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F25.11 on www.asme.org.
Machinery and Piping Systems. Available from Expansion Joint Manufacturers Association (EJMA), 25 North
Current edition approved May 1, 2023. Published June 2023. Originally Broadway Tarrytown, NY 10591, http://www.ejma.org.
approved in 2012. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as F2934 – 12 (2018). Available from Pipe Fabrication Institute (PFI), 511 Ave. of Americas, #601,
DOI:10.1520/F2934-12R23. New York, NY 10011, http://www.pfi-institute.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2934 − 12 (2023)
3.2.2 externally pressurized expansion joint—typically used 3.2.9.1 Discussion—Universal expansion joints are usually
for straight runs of pipe accommodating axial movement, and furnished with control rods to distribute the movement between
incorporate an all stainless steel flexible bellows, an internal the two bellows of the expansion joint and stabilize the
guide ring/sleeve, an enclosure with end plates at each end. common connector when a universal expansion joint is used
3.2.2.1 Discussion—Externally pressurized expansion joints for lateral movement only and installed at a change in direction
are typically configured with a service pipe extending through of the piping and is intended to absorb the thermal growth of
the bellows, and the bellows attaching to the end of the service that section of the piping, it must be designed with tie rods
pipe and the end plate. The external side of the bellows is suitable to absorb the full pressure thrust of the expansion joint.
exposed to the pressure of the medium being conveyed by the
service pipe and the inside of the bellows is exposed to 4. Ordering Information
atmosphere.
4.1 An expansion joint is a unique product and must be
3.2.3 gimbal expansion joint—expansion joint designed to
specifically designed for the intended service. It is the respon-
permit angular rotation in any plane by the use of two pairs of
sibility of the piping system designer to supply sufficient
hinges affixed to a common floating gimbal ring.
engineering data necessary for the complete design. The
3.2.3.1 Discussion—The gimbal ring, hinges, and pins are
information compiled by the piping system designer must be
designed to restrain the thrust of the expansion joint as a result
complete and contain all pertinent data detailing the conditions
of internal pressure and extraneous forces, where applicable.
under which the expansion joint is expected to operate.
3.2.4 hinged expansion joint—expansion joint containing
4.2 Orders for each expansion joint shall include the fol-
one bellow designed to permit angular rotation in one plane
lowing information:
only by the use of a pair of pins through hinge plates attached
4.2.1 Title, designation number, and latest revision of this
to the expansion joint ends.
specification.
3.2.4.1 Discussion—The hinges and hinge pins are designed
4.2.2 Size—The nominal pipe diameter or specific ducting
to restrain the thrust of the expansion joint as a result of
diameter.
internal pressure and extraneous forces. Hinged expansion
4.2.3 Type of Expansion Joint—Single, double, universal,
joints should be used in sets of two or three to function
guided, hinged, gimbal, swing, or pressure balanced.
properly.
4.2.4 Flow Characteristics:
4.2.4.1 Flow Medium—Indicate whether the medium is gas
3.2.5 internally pressurized expansion joint—typically in-
corporates an all stainless steel flexible bellows containing the or liquid.
4.2.4.2 Flow velocity, medium density, or viscosity, or
pressure on the internal side.
3.2.5.1 Discussion—Internally pressurized expansion joints combination thereof.
4.2.4.3 Flow direction.
can be configured to accommodate a wide range of move-
ments. 4.2.5 Pressure in psig (N/mm )—Design, operating, and test
pressures.
3.2.6 pressure balanced expansion joint—expansion joint
4.2.6 Temperate in °F (°C)—Design, operating, and instal-
designed to absorb axial movement or lateral deflection, or
lation temperatures.
both, while restraining the pressure thrust by means of tie
4.2.7 Movement—Axial (extension, compression); lateral
devices interconnecting the flow bellows with an opposed
(single plane, multiplane); angular; torsional (to be avoided).
bellows also subjected to line pressure.
Differentiate between start-up, operational, or field installation
3.2.6.1 Discussion—This type of expansion joint is usually
tolerance movements.
intended for use where a change of direction occurs in a run of
4.2.8 Materials—Material types (including that for the bel-
piping. The flow end of a pressure balanced expansion joint
lows shall be specified by the purchaser (see 5.1 for material
sometimes contains two bellows separated by a common
restrictions).
connector, in which case it is called a universal pressure
4.2.9 Internal Liner—Liner shall be specified when needed
balanced expansion joint. Inline pressure balanced expansion
because of flow velocity or other flow conditions. Specific
joints do not require a change in direction of the piping.
criteria for liners is shown in Section C-3 of the EJMA
3.2.7 single expansion joint—simplest form of expansion
Standards (see 6.6).
joint, consisting of single bellows construction, designed to
4.2.10 External Cover—To protect personnel having close
absorb all movement of the pipe section in which it is installed.
access to the bellows, when thermal insulation is to be added in
3.2.8 swing expansion joint—expansion joint designed to
the field, or when external mechanical damage is possible (see
absorb lateral deflection or angular rotation, or both, in one
6.5).
plane.
4.2.11 End Fittings—The type of end connections such as
3.2.8.1 Discussion—Pressure thrust and extraneous forces
flanged, threaded, or others to match the mating piping or
are restrained by the use of a pair of swing bars, each of which
terminal equipment.
is pinned to the expansion joint ends.
4.2.12 Accessories—Specify what accessories are required
3.2.9 universal expansion joint—expansion joint containing and the conditions under which they operate. Consider items
two bellows joined by a common connector for the purpose of such as insulation lugs, tie, limit, or control rods, pantographic
absorbing any combination of axial movement, lateral linkages, trunions, gimbals, drains, purge connections, anchor
deflection, and angular rotation. bases, and interplay monitoring devices.
F2934 − 12 (2023)
4.2.13 Dimensional Limitations—If space limitations exist 5.1.4 All material incorporated in the work covered by this
specify the maximum overall length, maximum outside specification shall be new. The use of rebuilt or used products
diameter, minimum inside diameter, and installation toler- is not allowed under this specification.
ances. 5.1.5 Materials for hinge or gimbal hardware, or other
sliding parts, shall be chosen to minimize galling of the
4.2.14 Operating Forces—Specify calculated bellows
contacting parts.
spring forces and pressure thrust forces if they are required for
subsequent anchor design or other piping systems analysis. If
5.2 Manufacture:
there are maximum allowable values, these must also be
5.2.1 Expansion joints shall be designed and fabricated in
specified.
accordance with requirements set forth in the ordering data and
4.2.15 Installation Position—horizontal, vertical (flow up or
the EJMA Standards.
down). Specify if liner drainage holes are required.
5.2.2 Nonstandard flanges shall be designed and fabricated
4.2.16 Cycle Life Requirements—Specify an anticipated
in accordance with Appendix 2 of Section VIII, Division 1, of
number of thermal cycles over the intended life of the the ASME Code. Flanges machined from plate shall not be
expansion joint.
used at pressures exceeding 150 psi (1034 kPa) and tempera-
tures exceeding 450 °F (232 °C). Hubbed flanges machined
4.2.17 Testing Requirements—Specify testing requirements
from plate or bar stock shall meet the requirements of
in addition to the hydrostatic test required by 9.4 (for example,
Appendix 2, Paragraph 2-2(d) of Section VIII, Division 1, of
vacuum testing, testing at operating temperature).
the ASME Code.
4.2.18 Inspection Requirements—Specify inspection re-
5.2.3 All welding shall be accomplished in accordance with
quirements in addition to the inspection required by Section 9
ANSI B31.1.
(that is, radiographic, fluorescent penetrant, or mass spectrom-
5.2.4 Welding personnel and welding procedures shall be
eter).
qualified in accordance with the applicable sections of Section
4.2.19 Piping Code Requirements—Specify any piping or
IX of the ASME Code.
design code that must be used as the basis for design in
5.2.5 All fabrication details not covered by the referenced
addition to those specified in 5.2.
codes and standards shall be taken from the appropriate ANSI
4.2.20 Special Requirements—Specify the magnitude of
standard. If no standard applies, accepted industry practice
special system conditions such as vibration, shock, or hydraulic
shall govern.
surge. When vibration is present the customer shall provide the
5.2.6 The bellows shall be of tested and proven convolution
natural frequency of the equipment. The design engineer shall
geometry.
design the bellows natural frequency to b
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