Fire protection and pipe-joining specialist Victaulic has launched its new Firelock Installation-Ready Style 009V rigid coupling for joining fire protection piping systems in Europe and the Middle East. Further extending the widely used range of Installation-Ready Technology, this new coupling features several practical design updates that directly address jobsite feedback and help mitigate labour risks.
First, the Style 009V introduces ‘one-touch tightening’ and extended track neck bolts. Whereas previous couplings required installers to tighten the bolts in an alternating pattern, the Style 009V enables each bolt to be tightened fully, one at a time, providing easier, faster and accurate installation, says the US-based manufacturer. The new bolt design avoids spinning, allows for easy one-hand assembly, enhanced engagement into the coupling housings, and additional security to avoid pinching fingers.
The enhanced gasket design with pipe-stop tabs eases riser installations.
Another key improvement is the installation indicator, a new bolt pad design that makes visual confirmation of correct installation even easier. Previously, installers looked at bolt pad shift on each half of the coupling, says Victaulic. Now with the Style 009V, the new design locks into place and the installer can simply check whether there is metal-to-metal contact without the need for evaluating bolt pad shift nor torque requirements. This increases contractor confidence that every joint is properly installed.
The new design also includes an enhanced gasket design with integrated pipe-stop tabs that provides proper alignment in both vertical and horizontal installations and ensures consistent pipe end separation. This is particularly beneficial when joining vertical pipes in riser systems.
The bolt pad design with installation indicator facilitates easier visual confirmation of proper installation without torque requirements.
“We spend a lot of time on jobsites and listen carefully to what installers tell us,” says Graeme Leonard, Victaulic’s Fire Protection Division Manager for the EMEA region. “They face constant pressure to work faster but also need to know the job is done correctly. The design improvements in the Style 009V are a direct result of that feedback. It’s not about reinventing the wheel; rather making smart optimisations that make an installer’s job easier and more efficient. Ultimately, it’s about giving them the confidence that the joint is right first time, every time, without any guesswork.”
According to him, the new design enables even faster and easier installation than other couplings from the Victaulic FireLock Installation-Ready range, resulting in risk reduction and lower labour cost. The visual verification at the installation indicator results in enhanced reliability, fewer installation errors, less rework, and fewer callbacks. By making installation simpler and verification clearer, Victaulic is effectively lowering the barrier to entry for new installers. This allows contractors to maintain high-quality standards with smaller or less experienced crews and decreases the learning curve for apprentices.
The Style 009V Firelock Installation-Ready rigid coupling is engineered specifically for the pressures and requirements of fire protection systems. It is available in sizes DN32 to DN300 | 1¼-inch to 12 inches and for pressures up to 365 psi or 25 bar. Approvals include FM, cULus, LPCB, and VdS (VdS for DN32 to DN80 only), among other global fire protection listings.