Sweco Fab, Inc., the ASME CODE fabrication subsidiary of PT&P, built the forward section of an International Space Station service module for NASA in Fall, 1999. The main purpose of the full-scale mock-up service module will be to replicate the International Space Station for use in astronaut training at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL).

The Neutral Buoyancy Lab, located at the Sonny Carter Training Facility near NASA Houston Johnson Space Center (JSC), is a large pool of water used in astronaut training to simulate the gravity conditions in space. The forward section manufactured by Sweco Fab, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Piping Technology & Products, is made up of ASTM A-304L material and weighs approximately 2500 lbs. The unit was on display at NASA’s Inspection Day 1999 and will soon be employed in International Space Station astronaut training.

The photograph above shows the entrance of the “Pipeline 2000” exhibit at Houston’s Museum of Natural Science

This part of the exhibit was fabricated by SWECO Fab, Inc. a division of Piping Technology & Products, Inc. of Houston, Texas.

High-Temperature Personnel Protection Shields

In industrial environments, safety is critical, especially around high-temperature piping systems. While full insulation may not always be required for process reasons, it’s necessary to protect personnel from accidental contact with hot surfaces. This is where personnel protection shields, also known as “touch guards” or “heat guards,” play a vital role. These shields are designed to create a physical barrier around hot pipes, vessels, and equipment, ensuring worker safety without requiring a complete insulation system.

The Ultimate Safeguard for Industrial Safety

Personnel protection shields are made from materials that can withstand high temperatures, such as expanded metal, sheet metal, or perforated materials like stainless steel. The key to their effectiveness is in creating an air gap between the hot surface and the shield. This air gap, combined with the shield material’s ability to radiate heat, reduces the shield’s outer surface temperature, making it safe to touch. This simple design prevents burns and other injuries, safeguarding personnel in areas with high-temperature lines.

The Essential Barrier for Hot Lines

The personnel protection shields are used when insulating the line is not necessary but operating temperatures require safeguarding personnel from contact with the pipe. These shields are designed for 8″ pipe operating at 800°F and are made of 304 stainless steel, expanded and rolled to a 20″ diameter.

Improve your facility’s safety. Learn more about our custom personnel protection shield solutions.

This damper was fabricated from a combination of 304 stainless steel and Inconel®. It is designed as a shut-off damper to control the flow of flue gas in an ammonia plant. The damper will be connected to a motor-driven control system by the linkage shown in the picture. The overall dimensions are 10′ x 6′ with a weight of 2,200 lb. It was painted with standard inorganic zinc primer and top coat per customer specifications. The damper went through visual inspection, dye-penetrant, and functional testing before being shipped to the customer. Refractory lining, utilized to withstand the high temperatures, will be added during installation.

Do you have an application that requires a damper? Get pricing today!

Sweco Fab, Inc., a division of PT&P, fabricated a variety of six spectacle blinds that will be used for selective line isolation. The spectacle blinds are fabricated from A516-70 carbon steel with sizes ranging from 4″ to 14″ diameter and per ASME B16.48 code. The function of a spectacle blind is to allow a line to be in either full shut-off mode or full flow mode, depending on which side is being utilized. Spectacle blinds are a lower cost alternative to double block and bleed valves where OSHA requires positive isolation of piping segments for safety reasons.

Want to learn more about spectacle blinds? View a webinar about Sweco Fab today!

This high pressure knock-out drum has a 2.5″ thick shell fabricated from ASTM SA516 Grade 70, and a SA105 and SA350 carbon steel flange. The drum has a 48″ diameter, a total length of 15’8″ and weighs over 23,000 lb. It underwent a hydro-test and design test per ASME section VIII-1 “U” stamp vessel prior to shipment.

Do you require a vessel or knock-out drum for your project? Get pricing today!