What is a Pipe Sleeve? Its Functions and Uses

A pipe sleeve is a higher-size pipe section to protect the inner pipe from higher loads or to provide free movement in a certain direction. Through these pipe sleeves, the lower-size pipe or cables can easily run. In the process and power piping industry, there are many instances where pipe sleeves are used. In this article, we will learn the common applications of pipe sleeves in the piping and pipeline industry.

What is a Pipe Sleeve?

As already stated, a pipe sleeve is a protective cover to safeguard the original pipe. Depending on the purpose and application, A pipe sleeve can be made of various materials like Carbon steel, Cast Iron, Stainless steel, Copper, Nickel, Aluminum, PVC, Rubber, Composites, etc. Carbon steel pipe sleeves are quite common. They create a barrier between the main pipe and its surrounding. Pipe sleeves do not restrict the thermal growth of piping and hence the thermal cycle remains unaffected. Refer to Fig. 1 for typical pipe sleeve applications.

Pipe Sleeves
Fig. 1: Pipe Sleeves

Applications of Pipe Sleeves

Pipe sleeves find wide applications in the piping industry. Some of the common uses of pipe sleeves are:

  • While running through the dike-wall or bund walls in the tank farm area if a pipe is not required to be anchored, it is routed through pipe sleeves.
  • For buried pipes, while crossing rail or roads, or bridges and culverts, the original main pipe may be routed through pipe sleeves to protect the main pipe from heavy loads from vehicles and trains.
  • Pipe sleeves are also commonly used in piping insulation.
  • Plumbing pipe sleeves are used in industrial and residential buildings.
READ  Selection of Pipes for a Plant: Pipe Selection Guidelines

Functions and Uses of a Pipe Sleeve

Pipe sleeves can also be used to repair a pipe temporarily to avoid costly shutdowns. By properly deciding the sleeve pipe thickness they can be welded directly over the main pipe and can serve the purpose of the main pipe. Pipeline sleeves are used for the temporary repair of pipeline leakages.

Full encirclement pipe sleeves are used in the weaker sections of the pipe to provide reinforcement on the parent pipe. They are also widely used during hot tapping operations where branch connection is taken from operating lines.

PVC pipe sleeves are widely used for cable and wiring solutions, mostly for building applications.

In some situations, spacers are provided to support the pipe or pipeline inside the pipe sleeve. This type of arrangement with equidistant spacer supports is quite common for buried composite piping systems (FRP and GRP piping systems) where running through rail or road crossings.

Anup Kumar Dey

I am a Mechanical Engineer turned into a Piping Engineer. Currently, I work in a reputed MNC as a Senior Piping Stress Engineer. I am very much passionate about blogging and always tried to do unique things. This website is my first venture into the world of blogging with the aim of connecting with other piping engineers around the world.

9 thoughts on “What is a Pipe Sleeve? Its Functions and Uses

  1. It is a good passion, to blogging in social media about our experiments, work and profession. Witch help to others to gain the knowledge, which was not limited to ourself

  2. When inserting a pipe through the bundwall of a tank farm, what and how is the best method to prevent leak between the pipe and the bundwall?

  3. Well articulated post, gives a detail knowledge of the product without being unnecessary lengthy.
    Would like to know more about piping components from you blog.
    Have a agood day

  4. Dear Sir

    Keep posting. Its helps new people in the industry to learn about different stuffs of oil & gas without struggling.

    Good work . Keep it up

  5. Do you have any reviews/literature regarding pipe sleeves for in-service welding according to API 1104 Annex B ?

  6. Can you please also explain the “what is the methodology for the installation of the sleeves and the watermain”?

  7. Thank you for this information. I am not in your field, but I work with engineers. This was an easy read and very simple to grasp. Thanks again!

  8. You know which standard should i check to find out what kind of sleeve is used for a explosive room.
    Im working with fire protection system.

    Best regards

  9. Is a sleeve necessary for the following conditions when a pipe crosses the road within the station’s piping scope?

    Steel pipe crossing a black road (tramac road).
    Steel pipe crossing a grader road.
    Steel pipe crossing either a black road (tramac road) or a grader road, but it is difficult to install a sleeve due to the proximity of another line and insufficient gap for the sleeve.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts