Metraloop expansion joints for seismic applications
A safe, cost-effective seismic expansion joint.
Piping used in applications and locations subject to seismic conditions have their own set of unexpected random movements and greater costs to overcome. There is a solution – the ultra-flexible Metraloop.
The random motion common to earthquakes requires that seismic expansion joints be capable of movement in any direction. Of the 6 possible directions, Metraloop sees axial movement of the hose in only two of them – compared to four in an "L" shaped assembly. Metraloop's orientation can be changed relative to the piping, further minimizing the likelihood of compressive movement.
Metraloop offers significant cost and safety benefits not found in comparable seismic expansion joints.
It is an inexpensive alternative to dual-tied bellows expansion joints and especially ball joints.
During an earthquake, it protects equipment by allowing boilers, chillers, fan-coil units and other systems to move independently of the building.
Metraloops installed at the connection also prevent nozzles from cracking or shearing off.
And the AGA-certified Metraloops, installed in gas lines as they cross the building's seismic joints or at the connection to gas-fired equipment, protect against fire and the devastation that results.
Typical installations of Metraloops for seismic service are shown in the figures above. For more detailed installation instructions for seismic applications, refer to the NUSIG (National Uniform, Seismic Installation Guidelines) book.
To assure operation in seismic applications, the Metraloop expansion loop has been accepted for use by the California Office of Statewide Health, Planning and Development and the City of Los Angeles; and certified by the American Gas Association.
There's no limit to the seismic applications that Metraloop can handle. It can even be designed with lined hose for high velocity, double-braid for high pressures, and all stainless steel construction for media compatibility.
† When ordering a Metraloop with double-braid, please include the letter "D" at the end of the Model #. Example: MLW30200D
* Spring Force: These values reflect the total force required to move the Metraloop its full rated movement for 150 P.S.I. at 70 F.
For higher pressures please contact Metraflex.
** Loops are available in half sections for ease of handling and shipping. If this option is selected add half inch to the "end to end" dimension.
† When ordering a Metraloop with double-braid, please include the letter "D" at the end of the Model #. Example: MLW30200D
* Spring Force: These values reflect the total force required to move the Metraloop its full rated movement for 150 P.S.I. at 70 F.
For higher pressures please contact Metraflex.
** Loops are available in half sections for ease of handling and shipping. If this option is selected add half inch to the "end to end" dimension.
† When ordering a Metraloop with double-braid, please include the letter "D" at the end of the Model #. Example: MLW30200D
* Spring Force: These values reflect the total force required to move the Metraloop its full rated movement for 150 P.S.I. at 70 F.
For higher pressures please contact Metraflex.
** Loops are available in half sections for ease of handling and shipping. If this option is selected add half inch to the "end to end" dimension.
† When ordering a Metraloop with double-braid, please include the letter "D" at the end of the Model #. Example: MLW30200D
* Spring Force: These values reflect the total force required to move the Metraloop its full rated movement for 150 P.S.I. at 70 F.
For higher pressures please contact Metraflex.
** Loops are available in half sections for ease of handling and shipping. If this option is selected add half inch to the "end to end" dimension.
† When ordering a Metraloop with double-braid, please include the letter "D" at the end of the Model #. Example: MLW30200D
* Spring Force: These values reflect the total force required to move the Metraloop its full rated movement for 150 P.S.I. at 70 F.
For higher pressures please contact Metraflex.
** Loops are available in half sections for ease of handling and shipping. If this option is selected add half inch to the "end to end" dimension.
Copper sweat ends with bronze hose & braid
(† See Temp Correction Factor)
PIPE SIZE
MODEL #
MOVEMENT
END TO END
LENGTH
PSI SINGLE BRAID
†PSI DOUBLE BRAID
*SPRING FORCE LBS.
WEIGHT LBS.
1/2" (15mm)
MLSNSF80050
±4"
7-3/4"
12-3/4"
706
1130
45
2.5
3/4" (20mm)
MLSNSF80075
±4"
9-1/2"
16-1/2"
577
923
47
2.5
1" (25mm)
MLSNSF80100
±4"
10-1/4"
18-7/8"
470
752
53
3
1-1/4" (30mm)
MLSNSF80125
±4"
11-1/8"
20-3/8"
361
577
66
4
1-1/2" (40mm)
MLSNSF80150
±4"
11-5/8"
22-1/2"
329
526
70
4.5
2" (50mm)
MLSNSF80200
±4"
13-3/8"
24-1/2"
317
507
78
12
2-1/2" (65mm)
MLSNSF80250
±4"
15"
27"
272
435
83
18
3" (80mm)
MLSNSF80300
±4"
16-1/2"
29"
201
322
90
24
4" (100mm)
MLSNSF80400
±4"
22"
32"
142
227
120
31
† When ordering a Metraloop with double-braid, please include the letter "D" at the end of the Model #. Example: MLWNSF30200D
* Spring Force: These values reflect the total force required to move the Metraloop its full rated movement for 150 P.S.I. at 70 F.
For higher pressures please contact Metraflex.
** Loops are available in half sections for ease of handling and shipping. If this option is selected add half inch to the "end to end" dimension.
Fittings - Sched. 40 Carbon Steel Hose & Braid - Series 300 Stainless Steel
(† See Temp Correction Factor)
PIPE
SIZE
MODEL #
MOVEMENT
END TO
END
LENGTH
PSI
SINGLE
BRAID
†PSI
DOUBLE
BRAID
MAX
SATURATED
STEAM
PRESS.
*SPRING
FORCE
LBS.
WEIGHT
LBS.
1/2" (15mm)
MLTNSF80050
±4"
15"
15-1/4"
1075
1720
300
45
5.5
3/4" (20mm)
MLTNSF80075
±4"
15-1/4"
16-1/8"
792
1267
300
47
5.5
1" (25mm)
MLTNSF80100
±4"
16"
17-3/4"
571
914
300
53
8
1-1/4" (30mm)
MLTNSF80125
±4"
16-3/4"
19-1/8"
531
850
300
66
10
1-1/2" (40mm)
MLTNSF80150
±4"
17-1/2"
21-1/2"
472
755
300
70
14.5
2" (50mm)
MLTNSF80200
±4"
20"
23-1/2"
500
750
300
78
18
2-1/2" (65mm)
MLTNSF80250
±4"
21"
27-1/4"
387
619
300
83
29
3" (80mm)
MLTNSF80300
±4"
24"
30"
288
431
216
90
43
4" (100mm)
MLTNSF80400
±4"
30"
35"
232
371
186
120
59
† When ordering a Metraloop with double-braid, please include the letter "D" at the end of the Model #. Example: MLWNSF30200D
* Spring Force: These values reflect the total force required to move the Metraloop its full rated movement for 150 P.S.I. at 70 F.
For higher pressures please contact Metraflex.
** Loops are available in half sections for ease of handling and shipping. If this option is selected add half inch to the "end to end" dimension.
Fittings - Sched. 40 Carbon/Steel Hose & Braid - Series 300 Stainless Steel
(† See Temp Correction Factor)
PIPE
SIZE
MODEL #
MOVEMENT
END TO
END
LENGTH
PSI
SINGLE
BRAID
†PSI
DOUBLE
BRAID
MAX
SATURATED
STEAM
PRESS.
*SPRING
FORCE
LBS.
WEIGHT
LBS.
2" (50mm)
MLFNSF80200
±4"
14-1/2"
23-1/2"
500
750
300
78
24
2-1/2" (65mm)
MLFNSF80250
±4"
17-1/2"
27-1/4"
387
619
300
83
36
3" (80mm)
MLFNSF80300
±4"
18-1/2"
30"
288
431
216
90
50
4" (100mm)
MLFNSF80400
±4"
24-1/2"
35"
232
371
183
120
69
5" (125mm)
MLFNSF80500
±4"
30-1/2"
40"
191
306
153
186
101
6" (150mm)
MLFNSF80600
±4"
36-1/2"
46"
165
264
132
202
163
8" (200mm)
MLFNSF80800
±4"
48-1/2"
58"
212
230
115
260
309
10" (250mm)
MLFNSF81000
±4"
60-1/2"
67"
175
200
100
283
484
12" (300mm)
MLFNSF81200
±4"
72-1/4"
74"
160
188
94
390
666
† When ordering a Metraloop with double-braid, please include the letter "D" at the end of the Model #. Example: MLWNSF30200D
* Spring Force: These values reflect the total force required to move the Metraloop its full rated movement for 150 P.S.I. at 70 F.
For higher pressures please contact Metraflex.
** Loops are available in half sections for ease of handling and shipping. If this option is selected add half inch to the "end to end" dimension.
Fittings - Sched. 40 Carbon/Steel Hose & Braid - Series 300 Stainless Steel
(† See Temp Correction Factor)
PIPE
SIZE
MODEL #
MOVEMENT
END TO
END
LENGTH
PSI
SINGLE
BRAID
†PSI
DOUBLE
BRAID
MAX
SATURATED
STEAM
PRESS.
*SPRING
FORCE
LBS.
WEIGHT
LBS.
1/2" (15mm)
MLWNSF80050
±4"
9"
15-1/4"
1075
1720
300
45
5
3/4" (20mm)
MLWNSF80075
±4"
9-1/4"
16-1/8"
792
1267
300
47
5
1" (25mm)
MLWNSF80100
±4"
10"
17-3/4"
571
914
300
53
7
1-1/4" (30mm)
MLWNSF80125
±4"
10-3/4"
19-1/8"
531
850
300
66
9
1-1/2" (40mm)
MLWNSF80150
±4"
11-1/2"
21-1/2"
472
755
300
70
13
2" (50mm)
MLWNSF80200
±4"
14"
23-1/2"
500
750
300
78
16
2-1/2" (65mm)
MLWNSF80250
±4"
17"
27-1/4"
387
619
300
83
26
3" (80mm)
MLWNSF80300
±4"
18"
30"
288
431
216
90
39
4" (100mm)
MLWNSF80400
±4"
24"
35"
232
371
186
120
54
5" (125mm)
MLWNSF80500
±4"
30"
40"
191
306
153
186
91
6" (150mm)
MLWNSF80600
±4"
36"
46"
165
264
132
202
140
8" (200mm)
MLWNSF80800
±4"
48"
58"
212
230
115
260
267
10" (250mm)
MLWNSF81000
±4"
60"
67"
175
200
100
383
434
12" (300mm)
MLWNSF81200
±4"
72"
74"
160
188
94
390
586
† When ordering a Metraloop with double-braid, please include the letter "D" at the end of the Model #. Example: MLWNSF30200D
* Spring Force: These values reflect the total force required to move the Metraloop its full rated movement for 150 P.S.I. at 70 F.
For higher pressures please contact Metraflex.
** Loops are available in half sections for ease of handling and shipping. If this option is selected add half inch to the "end to end" dimension.
Fittings - Sched. 40 Carbon/Steel Hose & Braid - Series 300 Stainless Steel
(† See Temp Correction Factor)
PIPE
SIZE
MODEL #
MOVEMENT
FACE TO
FACE
LENGTH
PSI
SINGLE
BRAID
†PSI
DOUBLE
BRAID
*SPRING
FORCE
LBS.
WEIGHT
LBS.
2" (50mm)
MLGNSF80200
±4"
20"
23-1/2"
500
750
78
18
2-1/2" (65mm)
MLGNSF80250
±4"
23"
27-1/4"
387
619
83
29
3" (80mm)
MLGNSF80300
±4"
24"
30"
288
431
90
43
4" (100mm)
MLGNSF80400
±4"
30"
35"
232
371
120
60
5" (125mm)
MLGNSF80500
±4"
36"
40"
191
306
186
99
6" (150mm)
MLGNSF80600
±4"
42"
46"
165
264
202
150
8" (200mm)
MLGNSF80800
±4"
56"
58"
212
230
260
286
10" (250mm)
MLGNSF81000
±4"
68"
67"
175
200
283
461
12" (300mm)
MLGNSF81200
±4"
80"
74"
160
188
390
622
† When ordering a Metraloop with double-braid, please include the letter "D" at the end of the Model #. Example: MLWNSF30200D
* Spring Force: These values reflect the total force required to move the Metraloop its full rated movement for 150 P.S.I. at 70 F.
For higher pressures please contact Metraflex.
** Loops are available in half sections for ease of handling and shipping. If this option is selected add half inch to the "end to end" dimension.
The sizes, pressures and movements shown reflect our standard Metraloops. Higher pressure, greater movements and special materials, such as all stainless steel construction are available. Please contact your local Metraflex representative or the factory for more information.
Metraflex reserves the right to change product specifications, designs and standard equipment without notice and without incurring obligation.
Refer to the following pages for installation configurations and technical assistance.
Use the charts below for all styles (except copper) of Metraloop expansion loops and Fireloops and all end fittings. Please contact factory for copper expansion loop (MLS) pressure loss information.
The Metraflex Company, 2323 W. Hubbard Street, Chicago, IL 60612 | 800-621-4347 | 312-738-3800 | Fax 312-738-0415 |