DIRAX - The Ultimate Pipe Coating

 DIRAX: The Ultimate Field Joint Coating — Strength, Speed, and Durability in One System

When it comes to protecting pipeline field joints, there’s no room for compromise. The coating system has to perform — in the ditch, during pulls, and for decades after installation. That’s where DIRAX stands apart.

DIRAX isn’t just another heat-shrink system. It’s a multi-layer coating solution that uniquely combines the proven benefits of two-part epoxy technology with the toughness of triple-layer polyethylene (TLPE) mainline coatings — and then takes performance a step further.

The Foundation: Proven Epoxy Adhesion

At the heart of the system is S1301M, a high-performance two-part epoxy primer that ensures excellent adhesion to the steel substrate. This primer provides a strong corrosion-resistant foundation, allowing DIRAX to form a permanent bond that won’t age, crack, or delaminate over time.

The Strength of TLPE — and More

On top of the epoxy sits DIRAX’s reinforced heat-shrink layer, which mimics the structure of a TLPE mainline coating — a tough polyolefin adhesive and backing designed to handle abrasion, impact, and handling stresses.

But DIRAX takes it even further. Embedded within its backing is a woven fiber mesh that dramatically increases its tensile and peel strength. This reinforcement gives DIRAX the ability to withstand the high pulling forces that occur during HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling) or other trenchless installations, where conventional shrink sleeves or wraps can sometimes fail.

Pull-Through Ready in as Little as 30 Minutes

One of the most impressive features of DIRAX is its fast return-to-service time. Once applied and cooled, the coated joint can be ready for pull-through in as little as 30 minutes — a huge advantage for contractors and crews working under tight schedules. That means less waiting around and more productivity in the field, without sacrificing long-term coating performance.

Seamless Integration and Proven Longevity

DIRAX is designed to integrate seamlessly with factory-applied polyethylene or polypropylene coatings, creating a continuous corrosion barrier that resists moisture, soil stress, and mechanical impact. Its combination of epoxy adhesion and reinforced shrink sleeve toughness results in a system that performs under the most demanding conditions — from rocky HDD pulls to hot, humid installation environments.

Why Choose DIRAX?

✅ Combines the adhesion and corrosion resistance of epoxy with the mechanical toughness of TLPE
✅ Fiber-reinforced backing provides unmatched impact and peel resistance
✅ Fast pull-through — ready in as little as 30 minutes
✅ Bonds seamlessly to factory coatings
✅ Proven performance on HDD and conventional pipeline installations worldwide

DIRAX represents what today’s field joint coatings should be — fast, strong, reliable, and built for the real-world challenges of modern pipeline construction.

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Joint Specialists, Inc. stocks a full range of DIRAX materials and accessories, with quick turnaround times and decades of experience supporting field installations across North America.

If you’re looking for a field joint coating that’s tough enough for trenchless, fast enough for tight schedules, and proven to last, DIRAX is the answer.

DIRAX Application Instructions

 DIRAX Installation Guideline

    DIRAX is a relatively simple installation.  It does not require any significant skill.  A few of the common tips that we say over and over and over at training sessions are:  1)  You want a broad bushy yellow flame to shrink the sleeve (this requires that you have a regulator of some kind) and 2) Your torch needs to ALWAYS be moving - you can't stay in one spot for too long and you want to make sure it is the yellow flame in contact with the sleeve; not the blue flame and not the 'clear' flame right where it comes out of the torch.  

Clean exposed steel and adjacent pipe coating to be covered by DIRAX sleeve. Remove all contaminants such as oil. Use a solvent that contains no grease or oil type materials.

If not factory beveled, chamfer the adjacent pipe coating to an angle of preferably 15°, maximum 30°. Inspect the edge of the existing pipe coating. Disbonded sections have to be trimmed of and the coating edge has to be beveled again. To avoid possible contamination, it is recommended to use a scrape

Grid blast or sand blast the steel surface to remove loose and foreign materials. The surface should be cleaned to SIS 055900 - SA 21/2

Grid or sand blast the adjacent pipe coating over a distance of at least 200 mm (8"). The total width should be approximately 50 mm larger than the width of the Raychem supplied DIRAX sleeve. Note: prior to blasting, it is recommended to preheat the exposed steel to 40 - 50° C to avoid flash rust formation

Wipe the surface to remove dust and remaining blasting material. Use a clean dry cloth or air blow

Dose the two component Raychem epoxy. Use pre-dosed Raychem epoxy kits or use Raychem calibrated epoxy pumps. For pre-dosed Raychem epoxy kits, pour content of can B into can A and mix for approximately 1 minute. For easy disposal, it is recommended to pour this mixture back into can B and mix for another 30 seconds. As such, the remaining epoxy in both cans will cure and can be easily disposed off. Follow local regulations for safe disposal. 40°C 20°C 2 min Mixed epoxy primer has a pot life of approximately 30 minutes at ambient temperature. As long as the epoxy primer is still liquid, it may be used. For easy mixing and dispensing, the epoxy primer should be used at a temperature of min. 18° C. When necessary, keep the epoxy primer at a heated place or use a Raychem epoxy heater.

Preheat the bare steel surface and adjacent coating to minimum 70°C (160°F), using propane torches. Adjust flame length to approximately 20" (500 mm). In cold conditions extra heavy preheat torches can be used. Check preheat temperature with a contact pyrometer

Using the supplied applicator pad, apply the mixed epoxy primer over the entire surface to be covered. (When PE line coating is used, no primer should be applied over the polyethylene line coating.)

Immediately after application of the epoxy primer, and while the epoxy primer is still wet, loosely wrap the DIRAX sleeve centrally around the welded joint. If present, remove the protective release plastic from the adhesive side of the DIRAX sleeve.  Wrap the sleeve (adhesive side down) around the area to be coated. Make sure the sleeve overlaps the end of the inner layer by at least 50 mm (2”).

Preheat the inside adhesive layer just next to the closure for a few seconds, and press down on the sleeve end to make it stick to the other end.

Using a Raychem propane torch with a flame length of approximately 500 mm (20”), start heating one end of the closure area.

Immediately pat it down firmly with a gloved hand. Continue heating and patting every 10 cm (4”) until the whole patch area is finished.

Start heating the sleeve at the side of the leading edge, the side that first comes in contact with the ground forces. Move the torch continuously in a paint brush motion all the way around the sleeve

After you have finished heating the side at the leading edge, recover the remainder of the sleeve by heating toward the other end of the sleeve

During shrink down, check adhesive flow with finger occasionally. Wrinkles should disappear automatically

After the DIRAX sleeve has shrunk into the joint area and while it is still hot and soft, run a small hand roller over it to push out any trapped air. Pay particular attention to the weld and cutback area. Reheat areas if necessary.

The sleeve is fully recovered when all of the following have occurred: - The sleeve has fully conformed to the pipe and adjacent coating. - There are no cold spots or dimples on the sleeve surface. - Weld bead profile and other step downs can be seen through the sleeve. - Adhesive flow is evident on both edges, after sleeve is cool.

An 80 mm (3.2”) wide sacrificial sleeve is installed on the leading edge to function as a wear cone during pull thru of the pipe. Start by heating the leading edge area to 70°C (160°F).

Wrap the leading edge sleeve over the transition DIRAX - mill coating. Make sure that the closure is placed away from the main sleeve closure. Preheat the inside adhesive layer just next to the closure for a few seconds. Press down to make it stick to the other sheet end

Heat the closure area and immediately pat it down with a gloved hand.

Shrink the leading edge sleeve down by moving the torch all the way around the pipe in a paintbrush motion. Make sure the sleeve has fully shrunk and adhesive flow is evident on both edges.

Smooth down the edges of the sleeve with the Raychem silicone hand roller. Sleeve is fully recovered when all the following have occurred: - The sleeve has fully conformed to the pipe and adjacent coating. - There are no cold spots or dimples on the sleeve surface. - Weld bead profile and other step downs can be seen through the sleeve. - Adhesive flow is evident on both edges after sleeve is cool. Before the DIRAX can be exposed to the soil forces the joint should be cooled down to ambient temperature

DIRAX as ARO (Abrasion Resistant Overcoat)

Can DIRAX Be Used as an Abrasion Resistant Overcoat?

     That was the question this week.  The answer:  ABSOLUTELY.  The DIRAX coating system is designed to bond to many different substrates including epoxies and bare steel.  As a result, the DIRAX coating system can be installed on top of a previously installed FBE, Powercrete or Denso as an added physical protaction - and as a pure abrasion resistant overcoat.

     The installation only changes minimally from a normal field joint coating install.  DIRAX has been used for many, many years as a stand alone field joint coating.  With a long and unblemished record of successful installations, DIRAX is the best product on the market for protecting pipelines that will be involved in road bores or directional drilling applications. 

     Installed on everything from 2" pipe to 48" pipe; DIRAX offers a quick and repeatable installation that will protect your pipeline throughout its life.  There is no other product like it out in the marketplace.

DIRAX Road Bore Coating

DIRAX Directional Drilling Pipe Coating

     In the world of pipeline coatings, no application is more demanding on a coating than road bores, bundled road bores and directional drills.  The sheer force involved with dragging one or more pipelines through a bored out hole that might stretch for thousands of feet is incredible.  Sure, different types of mud are often used to bring lubrication into the picture, but gravity is still going to be pulling that pipe down to drag on the lower end of the bore hole.  There are still going to be potential rocks, tree roots, gravel and other debris that could possibly crash into that pipeline.  These are dangerous applications that will certainly impact the life of your pipeline.

    

     DIRAX is a multi layer coating system.  The first layer and the primary corrosion coating on the bare steel of your field joint is a two part, curing epoxy (S1301M).  The second layer brings a high shear copolymer adhesive.  The third and outermost layer is a radiation crosslinked high density polyolefin backing with a layer of a fiber mesh woven into the inside of it.  Then; at the front end; you do it all again with the wear cone which will be installed 1/2 on the leading edge of the DIRAX sleeve and half on the factory applied pipe surface.  On the front end; this is a 9 layer pipe coating all working together cohesively to keep anything from getting close to your pipe surface.

• DIRAX is highly resistant to shear and peel forces induced by soil and thermal movements.  DIRAX is tough.
• DIRAX offers abrasion and wear resistance at pull through comparable to mill applied coatings.  DIRAX creates a monolithic coating system for your field joints.
• The wear cone protects the leading edge of the sleeve against pull through forces and provides additional strength and security; increasing reliability.
• DIRAX sleeve is applied over wet epoxy.  There are no curing or waiting times before the strong mechanical and chemical bonds are formed.  Application is very fast; saving a lot of man hours. 
• Superior cathodic disbondment and hot water immersion resistance offers the optimum barrier against corrosion.
• Pre-attached closure strip allows fast, easy and repeatable application.
• Low preheat requirements mean faster installation time.

      As you see here; the DIRAX backing is supplied at 1.85mm and would shrink all the way down (if allowed) to reach a thickness of 2.3mm.  The adhesive is supplied at 1.2mm and gets thicker during installation.  Add the leader strip thickness and at the front edge of the DIRAX coating system you could have a coating more than 6mm thick!

Just a few of the data points for the DIRAX coating system

Road Bore Field Joint Coating

Directional Drilling Field Joint Coating

     Pipeline coating selections are always incredibly important.  Millions of dollars invested in an asset means that smart choices have to be made in order to protect that asset.  This selection process can be challenging enough when dealing specifically with field joint coatings, but it gets even more challenging when selecting field joint coatings on pipe that will be involved in a road bore or directional drill.

     Why?  Because the pipeline is going to be seeing immense stresses on those coatings and will never be visually inspected again.  I've seen cases where (in a product evaluation) a cold applied tape was applied to the field joints of a pipeline that was pulled through a bore hole (a short bore hole at ~80 feet) and when the pipe came out the other end of the hole, the cold applied tape was completely gone.  Those joints were buried with no coating of any kind.  I sure hope the CP system was a good one. 

     In other cases you might have a coating that is specifically in danger during a pull through.  Did you use a two part epoxy with sub optimal installation?  Are there icicles hanging down from the pipe?  What is going to happen when those icicles break off?  What is going to happen if the pipe strikes a rock along the way?  Will you be putting a pipeline into service that already has damaged areas and bare steel showing?  I sure hope your CP system is a good one. 

     That bring us to one of the unique things about the DIRAX coating system.  DIRAX utilizes a two part epoxy as the primary corrosion coating on the field joints.  As we all know, two part epoxies do have a number of strengths and two of those are cathodic disbondment resistance and excellent adhesion (as long as surface prep is properly done).  The DIRAX coating system then offers significant physical protection of that pipeline for the life of the pipeline.  During that boring process, your field joint is protected by several layers of different polyamide materials. 

    

DIRAX Road Bore Sleeves

DIRAX Bore Sleeves 

     When selecting a coating for a section of pipeline that will be involved in a road bore or directional drill, it is important that the right coating is selected.  When looking at factory applied coatings, you are most likely going to be looking at dual layer FBE coatings or Powercrete coatings.  Those are both special coatings designed to withstand the rigorous conditions of a road bore.  Someone is spending millions of dollars on this pipeline, we need to make sure that the steel you're buying is well protected!  Those same requirements exist for the field joint coatings as well.  Many companies allow either a two part stand alone epoxy to be used...or a DIRAX heat shrinkable coating system. 

Small sample of DIRAX material - note the fiber mesh woven into the backing.

     DIRAX is a multi layer field joint coating system that incorporates all of the best aspects of two part epoxy coatings and combines them with the best parts of a top of the line, unmatched heat shrinkable sleeve technology.  DIRAX incorporates S1301M Epoxy Primer, a high performance hot melt adhesive a fiber mesh and two radiation crosslinked polyolefin backing layers.  On the front end of a field joint, we are talking about a 9 layer coating that is fast and simple to install.  That just doesn't exist anywhere else.

     Boasting extraordinary peel resistance, sheer resistance, penetration resistance and abrasion resistance, DIRAX has it all.  Include the incredibly fast cure time (normally 30 minutes or less after installation) and the fact that coating integrity does not require any special skills from installers - and using DIRAX really is a simple decision.  Contact us today for pricing and technical expertise!  936 321 3333

Difference Between Normal Shrink Sleeves and DIRAX

Is DIRAX Different from Normal Shrink Sleeves?

     Absolutely!  DIRAX is like a normal shrink sleeve on steroids, and HGH and vitamin C.  Think of Arnold Schwarzenegger at his most muscular -- versus a professional football player.  Both are in great shape.  Both are healthy.  But when you look at the two side by side, there is just no question which is stronger. 

     Regular shrink sleeves; whether you're talking about WPCT or HTLP60 or HTLP80 or WPC100M or WPC120 or others; do an excellent job.  They have long, successful use histories and have been installed on all kinds of difficult pipeline applications.  They've been buried, offshore and above ground.  They've been installed in saturated soil.  They've been installed on deep water pipelines.  They've been used in high salt content water.  They've been installed on hot lines.  They've been installed in Alaska.  Regular sleeves are just about the most reliable pipeline coating to ever be sold.

     But when we start looking at truly extreme pipeline conditions - like directional drilling applications, road bores and even more so: bundled road bores; you're going to need a truly special coating.  That is where DIRAX comes in and truly shines.

     DIRAX is a mutli player shrink sleeve system all sandwiched together and hidden as a two component system: a shrink sleeve and a two part S1301M epoxy.  

     The DIRAX shrink sleeve component, though is likely to remind you of a clown car when you really get down and analyze it.  Starting on the outside and moving our way in:  The first layer is a high density, radiation cross linked polyolefin backing.  The second layer is an incredibly tough and rugged polypropylene mesh.  The third layer is another high density, radiation cross linked polyolefin.  The fourth layer is a high shear, high soil stress resistant, high peel hot melt adhesive that is specially designed to be practically immovable - especially under the incredible stresses associated with a bore pull.

     So keep all of that in mind, but add this in:  on the leading edge of the shrink sleeve; where it is most likely to see the most stresses; where it is most likely to crash into a rock; where it is most likely to be attacked by a tree root or some other kind of underground obstruction -- on that end we put a second DIRAX sleeve called a leader strip - which is 3" wide.  So at the front of your field joint - in the most dangerous location - you've actually got eight rock solid layers of field joint protection.  Yes:  8.  

     But beneath all of that, you have the secret sauce (so to speak).  Acting as the bonding agent between the shrink sleeve and the bare steel / factory applied coating is our S1301M two part epoxy.  This epoxy improves the shear, peel and CD even more dramatically.  

     Is there anyone else out there that can offer a 9 layer coating, with a proven track record, that can be installed with simple equipment and minimal training in just a few minutes per field joint?  Let me save you some google time -- no.  No one else has a product like this. 

Dirax Wrap-Around Heat Shrink Sleeve

Dirax Wrap -Around  Sleeve and Epoxy System

 A high performance fiberglass reinforced sleeve specifically designed for girth weld corrosion protection on pipes used in directional drilling applications.

Product Description:
DIRAX field-joint coating for directional drilling.
Construction: Three-layer system:

• First layer: Liquid epoxy, solvent-free two-component.  

• Second layer: High shear strength copolymer adhesive. 

• Third layer: Thick, fiberglass reinforced, radiation cross-linked polyethylene.

Additional component: Wear Cone as extra protection against pull-through forces, of the same construction as the main sleeve.

The DIRAX system is a wrap-around heat-shrinkable sleeve reinforced with fiberglass. DIRAX is designed to protect girth welds against corrosion and is the optimum joint protec-tion for PE and FBE coated pipes used in directional drilling applications. The reinforcement gives the backing greater wear resistance.

During installation, the epoxy is applied to the prepared pipe surface and the heat-shrinkable sleeve is immediately wrapped around the joint over the wet epoxy.Heat is then applied to the sleeve, which shrinks to form a tight fit around the joint. While curing, the epoxy forms strong mechanical and chemical bondsto the pipe surface & to the copolymer adhesive layer. The radiation cross-linked outer layer forms a tough barrier against mechanical damage and moisturetransmission. A wear cone is then applied over the leading edge of the sleeve. Note: Dirax is not suitable for "Push Through" applications.


Product Features/Benefits‡:

• Highly resistant to shear and peel forces induced by soil and thermal movements. The DIRAX is tough! ‡
• DIRAX offers abrasion and wear resistance at pull-through comparable to mill coatings. Provides a monolithic coating system.‡ 
• Wear cone protects leading edge of sleeve against pull-through forces. Provides additional strength and security---increases reliability. ‡ 
• Sleeve applied over wet epoxy---there are no curing or waiting times / formation of strong mechanical & chemical bonds Allows fast application---saves time! Ensures high performance!‡ 
• Superior cathodic disbondment and hot water immersion resistance. Offers the optimum barrier protection against corrosion.‡ 
• Pre-attached closure patch Allows fast and easy application. ‡ 
• Low preheat requirements Makes installation faster and saves time.

 Product Selection Guide:

Max operating temperature  - 60°C (140°F)
Compatible line coatings - PE, FBE
Min preheat temperature -70°C(158°F)
Recommended pipe preparation - SA 2½
Soil stress restrictions - None
Performance - EN 12068 Class C60

Product Thickness:

Backing (as supplied)  1.85 mm (0.073 in.)
Backing (fully free recovered)  2.3 mm (0.091 in.)
Adhesive (as supplied)  1.2 mm (0.047 in.)
Wear cone (incl. coating) (as supplied)  3.05 mm (0.12 in.)

Product Properties:

Chemical Resistance followed by Bursting Strength
Chemical Resistance Conducted for 168 hrs in 0.1N Nacl, 0.1NH2SO4
Resistance to UV radiation followed by Bursting Strength

Ordering Information:

DIRAX type products are available: as a kit, containing: -

• a Uni-sleeve (pre-cut sleeve with pre-attached closure patch) 
• a wear cone (also pre-cut with pre-attached closure patch)

Dirax is installed with S1239, S1301-M 2 and S1401  component epoxy primer which has to be ordered separately.

Best Field Joint Coating

     The  we live in focuses primarily on a single thing.  What is the cheapest and easiest thing that I can use?  It isn't always the case; and I am certainly being a bit unfair by saying that - but it is something I've seen again and again and again  in the last 13 years (my time in the pipeline world).  For many decision makers; cost is all that matters: "buy whatever is cheapest...it's all the same." 

All Field Joint Coatings AREN'T Created Equally

     So, when I do get the comment "I want whatever the best coating is - this pipeline is too valuable to scrimp on the field joint coatings" I tend to sit up and take notice.  Here is a person who cares about the future of this pipeline.  Here is a person who is committed to doing their best job possible; even if they are no longer with this company through the life of the line.  Here is a person with integrity.  Here is a person who cares about the long-term...not just about moving on to the next project or claiming that next promotion.

     In cases like this, where the request is for the "best" AND where we don't have an issue with elevated operating temperatures; the answer is clear.  The best possible field joint coating is ROCS.

The ROCS heat shrink sleeve system is absolutely unmatched in the coatings world.

     What you see here is a picture of the ROCS shrink sleeve.  The pattern you see is the fiber mesh (which is woven between two layers of HDPE, heat shrinkable backing.  The other side of this sleeve is a high shear adhesive.  All of this is installed on Covalence's S1301M liquid epoxy which chemically bonds with the adhesive of the ROCS shrink sleeve in order to form a truly cohesive field joint coating.

     Since the ROCS shrink sleeve system utilizes both a heat shrinkable sleeve and a liquid epoxy bonding agent; it literally offers the best of both worlds.  The liquid epoxy gives the coating system superior cathodic disbondment properties and sheer resistance.  The fiber reinforced shrink sleeve gives the coating system excellent electrical resistivity properties; superior abrasion resistance and fantastic penetration resistance. 

     Like all things in life; you get what you pay for.  The ROCS field joint coating system is expensive on the front end, during construction.  But the truth of the matter is that leaks, repairs and corrosion problems are incredibly expensive.  Taking a line out of service can cost almost a million dollars per day (as seen here).  There must be a point where 'cost' is not the number one factor when selecting a field joint coating; are we there yet?

DIRAX 24" Wide

DIRAX Shrink Sleeves for Road Bore Pipe

DIREX / DIRAX

          I think it has been well established that pipe that is involved in a road bore is just about the 'scariest' pipe there is.  Here you have both a factory applied coating - and a field joint coating - that are installed and inspected, and then we wave goodbye to that section of pipe as it is dragged down into a deep hole and never seen again.  Sure, that pipe will have an inspection pig go through it.  Sure, that pipe will be covered by some kind of a CP system (and it will be possible to detect current load increases if a corrosion problem occurs), but really - once that pipe leaves the sunshine and enters the darkness; you are pretty much depending on those coatings to survive and do their job throughout the life of the pipeline.   If they are damaged during the bore; you won't know until it is far, far too late.  That's why you pay for expensive pipe coatings like Powercrete on top of FBE or dual layer FBE.  That's why you should consider a product like DIRAX for your field joints. 

This is the DIRAX shrink sleeve as supplied.  As it is shrunk, it looks even more like alligator skin and is just as tough!

     DIRAX is installed on top of our S1301M epoxy primer.  The epoxy has been specially formulated to bond both physically and chemically to the adhesive of the DIRAX shrink sleeve system.  It works.  When fully (and freely) recovered; the backing of the DIRAX is 2.3mm thick.  That includes a layer of fiber mesh woven between two layers of polyethylene (fiber reinforced is kind of a big deal).  DIRAX is sold as a kit, which includes the shrink sleeve for coating the field joint (in a 12", 17" or 24" width); S1301M Epoxy and a 3" wide leader strip.

     Now getting back to where we started...the DIRAX is installed on the field joint and it needs to be wide enough to coat all bare steel and overlap onto the factory applied ARO by at least two inches per side.  In many cases, this can use the 12" wide sleeve - but some users....some users who know how scary it is that a coating cannot truly be inspected after being involved in a road bore -- those users who believe that using the best possible coating is important enough to spend a little extra - those users typically use a 24" wide DIRAX.  They know that a few extra dollars on the front end of a pipeline project -- in order to avoid the incredibly costly replacements, spills, corrosion problems and damage - is well worth it (not to mention that you can't put a price tag on restful sleep at night!).  People who want the best use DIRAX.  People who are want to take their absolute best shot at coating that field joint in the best possible manor - use DIRAX in a 24" width. *


*Let me be 100% clear and forthcoming.  I know from experience that 12" wide and 17" wide DIRAX sleeves do exactly what they are supposed to do.  I know that they survive the bore without damage and without being displaced.  I know that they continue to offer corrosion protection to those field joints for the life of the pipeline.  I know it because it has been done -- thousands of times -- and the number of problems I've heard about is exactly ZERO.  Some people just like to be extra cautious - they want to be able to look back someday and say "I did EVERY POSSIBLE THING I COULD HAVE" - and there is nothing wrong with that.  It's natural in many cases.  Why do people wear a belt AND suspenders?  Why do cars have seat belts AND air bags?  Why do my jeans have a button AND a zipper (what ever happened to button fly jeans anyway?)  Why do we have a lock, and a dead lock, and a chain, and a security system on our homes?  Because being certain carries great value with it.

DIRAX Heat Shrink Sleeves / DIREX Heat Shrink Sleeves

DIRAX Heat Shrink Sleeves / DIREX Heat Shrink Sleeves

Frequently Asked Questions about Dirax Shrink Sleeves

Q:  Is it DIRAX or DIREX?

A:  The correct nomenclature is DIRAX - but I've seen DIREX written many, many times on inquiries, purchase orders and even on specifications!

Q:  Do we have to use the S-1301M epoxy with the DIRAX sleeves?  Can we use only the sleeve?

A:  No.  The S-1301M must be used or the sleeve won’t bond properly to the pipe.

Q:  Will we receive enough epoxy to successfully install all of the DIRAX sleeves?
A:  Yes. If the contractor is organized and has the proper number of field joints welded, cleaned and prepared for coating before the epoxy kit is mixed.  There are often unforeseen events that may lead to extra epoxy being needed.

Q: Do we need to wait until the epoxy cures to install the sleeve?

A:  No.  Install the sleeve over the wet epoxy.  The sleeve and epoxy are designed to work together.

Q: Do you have any tips for most efficiently using the epoxy?

A: Yes.  Be sure you are properly preheating the pipe.  This will allow you to put the epoxy on in a very thin coat (which is how it is supposed to work) and avoid wasting epoxy.

Q:  It is cold outside and the epoxy is very, very difficult to mix.  Is this normal?

A:  In cold weather, the epoxy does get thick.  We recommend storing the epoxy in a truck or building so that it doesn’t get so cold. 

Q:  We ran out of epoxy and need some immediately, can you overnight it to us?

A:  No.  The epoxy is a hazardous material and is not packaged in a way that allows overnight shipments.  We can ship via freight truck or via UPS ground.

Q:  How long do we have to wait before we can begin the bore/pull?

A:  The epoxy layer of the sleeve must be cured and the sleeve must be cool before pulling.  This typically occurs within 20-30 minutes but since cure times are greatly influenced by ambient weather conditions, only the people onsite can determine when exactly the epoxy cures.

Q:  Do we put epoxy on the steel and the FBE/ARO? 

A:  Yes.  The epoxy needs to be everywhere that the sleeve will be (and the leader strip which is the 3” wide sleeve).  The only possible exception is when you are working with PE coated pipe.

Q:  Do we wrap the sleeves around the pipe snugly or with a large ‘gap’ underneath the pipe?

A:  Wrap the sleeve snugly.

 

Q:  Is there a limit to how large of a pipeline can use DIRAX?

A:  No there is not.  We’ve had extensive evaluations in the past on lines as large as 42” and the DIRAX sleeve survived the bore with flying colors

Q:  What are the standard widths of DIRAX and which one should we get?

A:  Standards are 12”, 17” and 24”.  At a minimum, we recommend that a sleeve be wide enough to coat all bare steel and overlap onto adjacent factory applied coating by at least 2” per side.  Some end users specify that the overlap onto adjacent factory applied coatings must be at least 3”, 4”or even 6” per side.