If you've got a long task list ahead for your crew, you know that time is money. Though there are many tasks in the water utility industry that still take a long time, making connections doesn't have to be one of them anymore. At Team EJP, we like to put new products through their paces before adding them to our line as part of our commitment to deliver the best possible products to our customers, and a recent product we've tested and approved is the A.Y. McDonald Fast Connect. Here's a quick preview to help you learn what it's all about.
When you're making a connection, your crew is dealing with a number of different parts, all of which need to be tightened down to make sure the connection is watertight. But what if you could cut the work by two-thirds? That's where the Fast Connect comes into play. Incorporating A.Y. McDonald's field-tested Gripper Gasket, their plastic expansion sleeve that provides a snug fit, and special threads on the fitting will reduce the number of rotations your crew will need to make to finish the connection. The coupling is designed so that, rather than having to tighten both ends of the coupling, you'll only need to tighten one end.
The tighten-to-stop design of the coupler makes it easy to figure out when the connection is complete, rather than having to try tightening one end and then the other to get a leak-free connection. It's a great option to consider when you need to use standard fittings, but need to make the connection quickly. It's designed that the brass should not come into contact with the water at all, but on the off chance that it does, you can rest assured that the Fast Connect's no-lead brass won't leach anything harmful into your customer's water.
The Fast Connect comes in sizes 3/4”, 3/4” x 1”, 1”, 1 1/4”, 1 1/2” and 2” for CTS and sizes 3/4” and 1” for PEP that meets ASTM D2239 SIDR 7. This gives you fast options when you need to meet higher standards. If you're using CTS PE or PEP piping, you'll need to install insert stiffeners to help maintain the pipe's original shape and prevent leaks.
To use the Fast Connect coupler, you'll need to slide the brass components onto the pipe, followed by the Gripper Gaskets and finally the snug fitting plastic expansion sleeve to maintain the spacing and leak-free connection. You'll then slide the two halves of the brass components back together, then tighten one end while holding the other end steady with a wrench. As the two sides of the brass components thread together, they'll make the Gripper Gasket deform to fill any gaps, creating a tight seal between the gaskets, the pipe, the plastic expansion sleeve and the brass components.
When you add the Fast Connect to your supply shelf, your crew can finish tasks much more quickly and easily than before, giving them more time to get the job done right without having to rush to the next project. The reduced amount of rotation that is required also helps reduce the risk of repetitive strain injury in your workers. If you need more information or have questions about the Fast Connect's capabilities, the experienced professionals at Team EJP are here to help. Please feel free to contact us today to get started!
