Raychem GRS Gas Repair Sleeve

 

A Little Pipeline Safety Time Capsule: The Story of Raychem’s GRS Sleeve (1973)

If you’re a safety-minded person—or just someone who enjoys a bit of pipeline history—you’ll appreciate this one. Every industry has moments that make us look back, shake our heads, and say, “Wow… things were really different back then.” And in the world of pipeline coatings, June 1973 in Richmond, Virginia, gave us a perfect example.

At that time, Raychem had developed a product called GRS—Gas Repair Sleeve. Its purpose was straightforward: seal a leaking natural gas line. But the installation method? Well… that’s where the story gets interesting.

GRS was a heat-shrinkable repair sleeve, and like all early shrink technologies of that era, it required an open flame for installation. Yes, you read that correctly:

Open flame.

On a gas line.

That’s already leaking.

Down in a hole.

It’s the kind of detail that makes today’s safety professionals cringe—and also appreciate just how far the industry has come in engineering, risk management, and installation practices.

Technically speaking, GRS was a wraparound product. It used Raychem’s classic rail-and-channel closure system, allowing the sleeve to be wrapped around the pipe, locked into place, and then shrunk to form a seal. For its time, it was clever engineering, and thousands of these sleeves were installed across the country.

But unsurprisingly, as safety standards evolved, GRS didn’t make the cut for the long term. The product was officially discontinued in the 1990s, though many operators still encountered them in the field years later—testament to just how widespread they once were.

Looking back, GRS is a reminder of two things:

1. Innovation often starts with bold ideas, even if those ideas don’t stand the test of time.

2. Safety evolves, and what once seemed acceptable can later become unthinkable as we learn, improve, and push the industry forward.

And that’s what makes these historical snapshots so fascinating. They show us where we’ve been—and how much better we’re doing today.

Self-Healing Stopaq

 

What “Self-Healing” Really Means in the World of Stopaq

If you’ve spent any time around modern corrosion prevention technologies, you’ve probably heard the phrase “Stopaq is self-healing.” But what does that actually mean in real-world conditions? We recently put it to the test in our shop—and the results were impressive.

A couple of weeks ago, we were experimenting with some Wrappingband on pipe sections that were extremely dirty. (That part isn’t central to this post, but trust me—another write-up is coming that will show just how well Stopaq bonds even when the substrate is far from ideal.) For this test, instead of using the standard Outerwrap PE, we capped the system with a Covalence heat-shrink sleeve.

Once everything cooled, we made a few cuts to see how the system behaved. These were very basic peel tests, and—no surprise—there was full cohesive failure, even though the pipe surface was in awful shape. But here’s what really stood out: the amount of Stopaq Wrappingband that oozed out of the cut. It pushed its way into the opening immediately, exactly as a self-sealing visco-elastic coating should. It was one of those “wow” moments that perfectly demonstrates the material’s nature.

Then we took things further. Using a hammer and a screwdriver, we intentionally damaged the coating system all the way down to bare steel. And within just a few hours, the Stopaq material had already flowed back in, filling and sealing the area that was much larger than a typical pinhole.

That’s the essence of self-healing:
When Stopaq is damaged—during backfill, by a careless worker, by debris, or even by a stray rock kicked up by equipment—it doesn’t wait for someone to come fix it. The material migrates, fills, wets, and reseals the vulnerable area before anyone even knows there was a problem.

This is one of the biggest reasons asset owners trust visco-elastic technology. It delivers long-term protection, even in the messy, unpredictable conditions of real job sites.

More testing photos and details coming soon!

Wireline Splice with Heat Shrink Tubing

 

Why Raychem WCSM Is the Field-Proven Choice for Splicing HDD Drill Wire and Repairing Cable Jackets

In the world of horizontal directional drilling (HDD), you don’t always get ideal working conditions. Mud, weather, tight timelines, and constant mechanical stress are part of everyday life on a drill site. When it comes to wireline—also known as HDD drill wire—any splice or cable repair has to be fast, repeatable, and strong enough to survive the forces of going underground.

That’s exactly where Raychem’s WCSM heavy-wall heat shrink tubing has earned its reputation.

A Heavy-Wall Heat Shrink Designed for Tough Jobs

WCSM is built with a thick, rugged polyolefin heat-shrink sleeve and a fully bonded internal sealant layer. As it shrinks with heat, the material conforms tightly to the cable, and the sealant flows into every gap, creating a durable, watertight, dirt-tight seal.

This combination makes WCSM a go-to solution for two important HDD applications:

• Splicing HDD drill wire / wireline

• Repairing damage to cable jackets

These are high-consequence tasks. HDD wireline carries location data, communication signals, and power to the downhole tools. A weak splice or exposed jacket can lead to downtime, signal failure, or even full pullback interruptions—none of which anyone wants in the middle of a bore.

Fast Installs—With No Complicated Prep Work

One of the biggest advantages of WCSM is how quickly it can be installed. Crews don’t need specialty tools or extensive surface prep. A propane torch or industrial heat gun is all that’s required.

Once the sleeve is positioned over the splice or damaged jacket:

1. Apply heat evenly.

2. The sleeve shrinks and the sealant activates.

3. Within seconds, the splice is fully sealed and protected.

When the sleeve cools to ambient temperature, the cable can immediately handle the rigors of an HDD pullback. And if the job demands speed, the sleeve can be quench-cooled to get drilling operations moving even faster.

Built for High Voltage and Harsh Environments

WCSM is rated for use on electrical lines carrying 1,000 volts or more, which gives crews confidence when working on critical power-carrying cables and specialty drill wire. When used in jacket repair applications—without direct exposure to conductor voltage—the safe operating range increases even more.

This voltage rating, combined with the mechanical strength and environmental sealing of the product, makes WCSM suitable for a broad range of industries:

• HDD and trenchless construction

• Underground utilities

• Power and electrical contractors

• Industrial cable installers

• Field service and maintenance crews

Any Size. Any Length. Ready When You Are.

Another reason WCSM is such a widely used field solution is its flexibility. It comes in multiple diameters to match everything from small communication lines to larger power cables. And because it’s cut-to-length, crews can order exactly what they need:

• 6-inch sleeves

• 12-inch sleeves

• 24-inch sections

• 48-inch sections

• Or custom lengths beyond that

No wasted material. No improvising on site. Just the right size for the splice or repair.

A Simple Product That Solves a Big Problem

In HDD operations, small issues can quickly turn into big headaches—especially when underground cable integrity is at stake. Raychem WCSM is one of those straightforward, reliable products that saves time, reduces rework, and gives crews confidence that their splice or repair will hold up under pressure.

If your team regularly splices HDD wireline or repairs field-damaged cable jackets, adding WCSM to your standard toolkit is a smart investment. If you need help selecting the correct size or want lengths pre-cut for a particular project, we’re always here to help.