Large-diameter water transmission pipelines depend on field-joint coating to protect the steel exposed after welding.
Covalence® WaterWrap is a wrap-around, heat-shrinkable field-joint coating system designed for corrosion protection of buried large-diameter water pipelines operating at ambient temperature. It is supplied as a ready-to-fit assembly that is wrapped around the completed girth weld and heat-shrunk into place.
WaterWrap uses a two-layer design:
- A viscoelastic, low-preheat adhesive sealant
- A thick-walled, radiation-cross-linked HDPE outer layer
When installed correctly, the heat-shrinkable outer layer contracts tightly around the joint while the adhesive flows to seal the steel, weld area, and coating cutbacks. The objective is a continuous corrosion-protection system across the field joint.
WaterWrap is commonly considered for:
- Large-diameter water transmission and distribution lines
- Buried steel pipe operating at ambient temperatures
- Field girth weld joints
- Replacement pipe sections
- Large-radius bends
- Projects using a Weld-After-Backfill process, where the WaterWrap-WAB system is specified
One important advantage is its Permanent Change Indicator (PCI), which provides a visual confirmation related to heat application. This helps installers and inspectors verify that the sleeve received the appropriate level of heat during installation.
As with any field-joint coating, performance depends on following the project specification and manufacturer’s installation procedure. Pipe surface condition, coating compatibility, weld-bead profile, filler requirements, temperature, and heating technique should all be addressed before installation begins.
For water-pipeline contractors and utilities, WaterWrap offers a proven, practical approach to protecting a difficult but essential part of the pipeline: the field joint.
Contact Joint Specialists Inc. for WaterWrap material, product selection assistance, and support for large-diameter water-pipeline projects.
Steve Simpson
Joint Specialists Inc.
936-321-3333
steve@jsicoatings.com
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