Structure and Support

Glass plants are normally supported in a tubular structre formed of galvanised steel tubes. This type of structure is proved robust and flexible over many years.

SUPPORT OF COLUMN

Glass plants and pipeline should be supported correctly. To prevent inducing undesirable stresses in the glass, support should be rigid. When supported, glass should be in compression.

Generally, glass plant and equipment are supported in a rectangular tubular structure. This structure is formed of galvanised mild steel tubing with the cast iron fittings which are described in this catalogue. This type of structure provides enough flexibility for future modifications and is strong enough to support a glass unit.

 
 

Following rules should be followed while supporting a glass unit in a tubular structure:

1. The structure must be rigid. To give lateral support it must be braced back to the nearest wall or any rigid feature.
2. All glass columns are build up from a fixed point on which whole weight of the column should be taken. If total loads exceeds the permissible limits, counter balance supports should be used to relieve excessive weight.
3. With change in temperature, glass column and tubular structure expands at different rate. Therefore glass unit must be free for vertical movement above the fixed point. Hence, above the fixed point, guides supports should be used to give lateral support.

STRUCTURE TUBES, GALVANISED

For forming the structure, “B” class galvanised tubes, Mild Steel with Epoxy Coated, Stainless Steel 304 & 316 are used in size of 1/2", 1", 1.1/4", 1.1/2" and 2". Cut tubes are available in required length to form a standard size structure. Cut tubes are provided with rubber plug at both the ends.

Tube size NB Inches
NB mm
External Diameter
 1/2"
15
19.5
 1"
25
32.5
 1.1/4"
30
41.5
 1.1/2"
40
48.3
 2"
50
60.3
 
Available cut lengths
Structure
 
NB (mm)
 
 
 
 Dimension
15*
25*
30*
40*
50*
 
For Vertical installation
For Vertical installation
2500
-
2500
-
-
-
3000
-
3000
3000
-
-
3500
-
3500
3500
-
-
4000
-
-
4000
-
-
6000
-
6000
6000
6000
6000
 
For Frames
For Frames
400
-
365
355
345
335
500
-
465
455
445
435
600
-
565
555
545
535
800
-
765
755
745
735
1000
-
965
955
945
935
1200
-
1165
1155
1145
1135
1500
-
1465
1455
1445
1435
For Frames
For Frames
400
435
445
445
455
465
500
535
545
545
555
565
600
635
645
645
655
665
800
835
845
845
855
865
1000
1035
1045
1045
1055
1065
1200
1235
1245
1245
1255
1265
1500
1535
1545
1545
1555
1565
STRUCTURE FITTINGS

Following structure fitting are available to use with galvanised tubes in order to form a tubular structure for a glass plant. These fitting are made of Cast iron. Also available in Stainless Steel 304 & 316 and are suitable to the galvanised tubes described earlier. These slidable fittings are provided with grub screws to fix it at required position on a galvanised tube. These fittings are specially made to construct a tubular structure which provides enough flexibility for future modifications without involving any hammering and welding.

STRUCTURE FITTINGS - GENERAL DATA
NB
TUBE DIA
ID
OD
d
25
32.5
35
45
1/2"
30
42.5
45
55
1/2"
40
48.3
51
61
1/2"
50
60.3
63
73
1/2"
STRUCTURE FITTINGS - BASE

These are to be used with vertical tubes. Holes are provided for foundation.

Cat.Ref.
NB
D
H
PCD
dØ
 BS25*
25
150
75
110
4 x 14Ø
 BS30*
30
150
75
110
4 x 14Ø
 BS40
40
150
75
110
4 x 14Ø
 BS50
50
175
75
125
4 x 14Ø
 
STRUCTURE FITTINGS - COUPLER

These are generally used to couple the vertical tubes where more length is require.

Cat.Ref.
NB
H
H1
 CL25
25
150
200
 CL30
30
150
200
 CL40
40
150
200
 CL50
50
150
200
 
STRUCTURE FITTINGS - BEND

These are used to build frames on vertical tubes.

Cat.Ref.
NB
H
L
 BN25*
25
50
55
 BN30*
30
65
70
 BN40
40
70
80
 BN50
50
85
95
 
STRUCTURE FITTINGS - TEE

These are used to build frames on vertical tubes.

Cat.Ref.
NB
H
L
 T25*
25
50
55
 T30*
30
65
70
 T40
40
70
80
 T50
50
85
95
 
STRUCTURE FITTINGS -DOUBLE BEND
Cat.Ref.
NB
H
L
 BN25
25
50
55
 BN30
30
65
70
 BN40
40
70
80
BN50
50
85
95
 
STRUCTURE FITTINGS - DOUBLE TEE
Cat.Ref.
NB
H
L
 DT25
25
50
55
 DT30
30
65
70
 DT40
40
70
80
 DT50
50
85
95
 
STRUCTURE FITTINGS - EQUAL BRACKET
Cat.Ref.
NB
h
L
L1
 EBT25*
25
40
65
50
 EBT30*
30
52
75
60
 EBT40
40
62
85
60
 EBT50
50
72
95
60
 
STRUCTURE FITTINGS - UNEQUAL BRACKET
Cat.Ref.
NB
NB1
h
L
L1
 UBT25/15*
25
15
35
65
50
 UBT30/15*
30
15
40
75
60
 UBT40/25
40
25
50
85
60
 UBT50/25
50
25
55
95
60
 
STRUCTURE FITTINGS - CROSS
Cat.Ref.
NB
H
L
 X25
25
50
45
 X30
30
65
55
 X40
40
65
70
 X50
50
65
85
 
STRUCTURE FITTINGS - SUPPORT
Cat.Ref.
NB
H
L
d
 SPT15*
15
40
35
13
 SPT25*
25
55
50
13
 SPT30*
30
55
57
13
 SPT40
40
55
62
13
 SPT50
50
55
67
13
 
STRUCTURE FITTINGS - PLUGS

These are used to plug the open ends of galvanised tubes.

Cat.Ref.
NB
 PLUG15
15
 PLUG25
25
 PLUG30
30
 PLUG40
40
 PLUG59
50
 
STRUCTURE FITTINGS - STUDS

These are used as screwed rods with supports.

Cat.Ref.
d
L
STUD5/16-150
5/16"
150
 STUD3/8-150
3/8"
150
 STUD1/2-200
1/2"
200
 
STRUCTURE DIMENSIONS

For columns

DN
Recommended tube size NB (mm)
Minimum Structure size Depth X Width
80
25
500 x 500
100
25
500 x 500
150
25,30
600 x 600
225
30
800 x 800
300
30
800 x 800
400
30
1000 x 1000
450
30,40
1000 x 1000
600
40,50
1200 x 1200
 
For vessels (IN HEATING BATHS)
Size (Liters)
Recommended tube size NB (mm)
Minimum Structure size Depth X Width
20
25
500 x 600
50
25
600 x 800
100
25,30
800 x 1000
200
30
800 x 1200
 
For vessels (IN HEATING MENTLES)
Size (Litres)
Recommended tube size NB (mm)
Minimum Structure size Depth X Width
20
25
400 x 600
50
25
600 x 800
100
25,30
800 x 800
200
30
800 x 1000
 
For vessels (IN VESSEL HOLDERS)
Size (Litres)
Recommended tube size NB (mm)
Minimum Structure size Depth X Width
20
25
500 x 600
50
25
600 x 800
100
25,30
1000 x 1000
200
30
1000 x 1000
 
COLUMN BASE SUPPORT FRAMES

These channel frames are used as fixed support in erection of columns. These are supplied with full threaded jacking rods and U bolts.

Cat. Ref.
PCD
L1
L
H
 FCSH225
310
1000
800
75
 FCSH300
395
1000
800
75
 FCSH400
495
1200
1000
75
 FCSH450
585
1200
1000
100
 FCSH600
710
1400
1200
100
GROUTING OF BASE

1. Take one Cast Iron BASE and four foundation Bolts, each with 2 nuts.
2. Fit the bolts in BASE so That base is raised upto 150mm from head of bolts.
3. Put this assembly on the floor and prepare a rough surface for proper bonding of grouting.
4. Make a concrete block over the bolts of about 200 x 200mm upto the base of BASE i.e. 150mm high.
5. Prepare separate block for each BASE instead of making one big common block. for all BASES.

ASSEMBLING OF STRUCTURE

1. Mark the position of required fittings on all the vertical tubes, slide them in correct sequence and lightly tighten.
2. Assemble one side frame of the structure by adding the cross tubes between two vertical tubes.
3. Assemble other side frame of the structure by adding the cross tubes between other two vertical tubes.
4. Build up the cross tubes in one side frame and tighten lightly.
5. Add the other side frame on it and tighten all the fittings firmly.
6. Hoist the structure and brace it to some existing rigid feature.
7.Grout the foundation bolts and fix the structure bases with that.
8. Adjust bracing to obtain a correct plumb in structure.
9. Adjust the horizontal frames in correct level.
10. Assemble the support tubes at their positions.