SteelSpace®

CERTIFIED 316L STAINLESS STEEL SOCKET WELD SPACER RING

TRADITIONAL DESIGN

FOR A PRECISE
& EVEN GAP
EVERY TIME

ABOUT

FEATURES & BENEFITS

HOW IT WORKS

TYPES & SIZES

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FAQS

About

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For operators who prefer a more traditional approach to socket welding, Aquasol offers SteelSpace stainless steel socket weld spacer rings.

Composed of 316L stainless steel, SteelSpace provides the 1/16″ (1.6 mm) minimum gap required by US Navy & Military Codes and is known as the “Marine Grade” for its increased resistance to corrosion.

SteelSpace effectively does away with scribing, measuring, and fitting and helps to reduce and eliminate cracked welds.

SteelSpace, available in a variety of sizes ranging from ½” to 2″ in diameter, is designed with spring action to firmly secure itself in place during and after welding, as it becomes a permanent part of the joint. SteelSpace provides a reliable, easy-to-use solution that is ideal for use in the food, pharmaceutical, nuclear, and aerospace industries.

For operators who prefer a more traditional approach to socket welding, Aquasol offers SteelSpace stainless steel socket weld spacer rings.Composed of 316L stainless steel, SteelSpace provides the 1/16” (1.6 mm) minimum gap required by US Navy & Military Codes and is known as the “Marine Grade” for its increased resistance to corrosion.

SteelSpace effectively does away with scribing, measuring, and fitting and helps to reduce and eliminate cracked welds.

Features and Benefits

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Features and Benefits

Traditional Design

  • Constructed from high quality 316L stainless steel, one of the most common stainless steels used in the industry
  • Known as the “marine grade” due to its increased resistance to chloride corrosion
  • Provides the 1/16” (1.6 mm) minimum gap required by ANSI 31.1, Section III, ASME, US Navy and Military codes
  • Spring tension holds rings securely in place
  • Hollow center enables viewing during welding
  • Becomes permanent part of the joint

Increases Efficiency and Savings

  • Time and labor intensive tasks of scribing, measuring and fitting are completely eliminated
  • Weld accuracy is dramatically improved vs. manual processes
  • Eliminate and reduce cracked welds, saving money on costly repairs and replacement material

Numerous Applications and Industries

  • Food processing facilities
  • Pharmaceutical plants
  • Nuclear and aeronautical
  • Nuclear and conventional power piping
  • Petrochemical plants and refineries
  • Industrial hydraulics
  • Water heaters and boilers
  • Welded railroad air brake piping
  • Shipbuilding
  • Fertilizer plants
  • Breweries

Traditional Design

• Constructed from high quality 316L stainless steel, 

one of the most common stainless steels used in the 

industry.

• Provides the 1/16” (1.6 mm) minimum gap required 

by ANSI 31.1, Section III, ASME, US Navy and Military 

codes

 

Increases Efficiency and Savings

• Time and labor-intensive tasks of scribing, 

measuring and fitting are completely eliminated

• Eliminate and reduce cracked welds, saving money 

on costly repairs and replacement material.

How SteelSpace Works

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How SteelSpace Works

Squeeze

Squeeze outer edges of ring slightly to decrease outer diameter temporarily

Push in Place

Push ring inside pipe and release, allowing spring action to position securely against socket

Align

Once aligned against inner socket wall, commence welding, allowing the spacer to permanently become part of the joint

Weld

  1. Tack weld 3 or 4 times maintaining proper interpass temperature as specified by ASME B31.3 or welding engineer
  2. Square up the pipe after the first tack
  3. Proceed to weld without exceeding interpass temperature

Types & Sizes

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SteelSpace® Certified 316L Stainless Steel Socket Weld Spacer Ring
Item No DIMENSIONS THICKNESS DIAMETER Packaging
English (IN) English (IN) NOMINAL (DN)
STS-0.375 3/8″ 1/16″ 10 25 Per Bag
STS-0.5 1/2″ 1/16″ 15 25 Per Bag
STS-0.75 3/4″ 1/16″ 20 25 Per Bag
STS-1.0 1″ 1/16″ 25 25 Per Bag
STS-1.25 1 1/4″ 1/16″ 32 25 Per Bag
STS-1.50 1 1/2″ 1/16″ 40 25 Per Bag
STS-2.0 2″ 1/16″ 50 25 Per Bag

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FAQs

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Expansion and Contraction

As metal pipes are heated and cooled, they expand and contract. Therefore, a minimum 1/16″ gap between the socket weld and the pipe is required to facilitate the fluctuation of the metal. Without this gap, cracking and loss of weld integrity can occur.

Typically, welders will spend time estimating the correct gap size, creating more room for error. With SteelSpace, measuring and scribing are unnecessary. SteelSpace is designed to create the perfect gap with ease by acting as a pre-measured insert during welding that remains permanently in the pipe.

Composition

SteelSpace is constructed from high quality 316L stainless steel, one of the most common stainless steels used in the industry and known for its high corrosion resistance.

Spring Action

SteelSpace is flexible, which allows for simple adjustment. The welder can contract the ring by pinching its outside edges, allowing for easy navigation through the pipe. To fully insert SteelSpace, the welder simply releases the outside edges in the desired location, enabling the ring’s spring action to secure itself tightly inside the pipe even when placed sideways or upside down.

ASME

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers provides companies with codes and standards, which cover a vast range of welding applications and processes. According to the ASME website, the organization has more than 130,000 members in 158 countries. Policy makers in Congress, the White House Office of Science and Technology and many key federal agencies look to the ASME for the latest engineering and technical information.

Aquasol® designed SteelSpace to meet the standards and codes of the ASME in regards to its dimensions and other properties.

For further information on ASME, visit https://www.asme.org/.

Common Uses

SteelSpace is used in various industries where socket welding is required.

Some of these manufacturing areas include:

  • Food Processing
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Nuclear and Aeronautical
  • Nuclear and Power Plants
  • Petrochemical Plants and Refineries
  • Industrial Hydraulics
  • Water Heaters and Boilers
  • Railroad Air Brake Piping
  • Shipbuilding
  • Fertilizer Plants
  • Breweries
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