Expansion joints allow for expansion and contraction in construction due to weather changes. They are used in bridges, sidewalks, railroad tracks, and piping systems to minimize maintenance expenses and ensure functionality. Including expansion joints in building and plumbing systems reduces pressure and cracking, making them cost-effective.
Expansion joints are devices that are used to allow for heat induced expansion and contraction that occurs under various atmospheric conditions. They are often used in the construction of bridges and sidewalks. The actual joints can be something as simple as a putty-filled area that sags without opening during weather changes, or some type of interlocking metal device that allows the teeth of the joint to move in response to changes in weather. temperature and humidity levels. Expansion joints are usually placed at strategic points in the building, allowing sections to expand and contract slightly without weakening the overall structure.
In addition to use in sections of sidewalks and bridges, expansion joints are also used with railroad tracks. As with bridges, joints are placed at key points along the rails and allow the metal rails to contract and expand as the weather changes. The end result is that the tracks remain intact and correctly aligned. Using these types of track joints helps minimize railroad maintenance expenses, allowing railroads to focus on other areas of operation.
Similarly, expansion joints are also useful with piping systems. The ability to expand and contract as weather conditions change from hot to cold helps ensure that the system remains functional, even in extreme weather conditions.
The concept of an expansion joint is used in many different types of construction. Walls made of building materials such as brick or cinder block are also regularly fitted with these joints today. This approach can help minimize cracks in the veneer of the wall, in the same way that including expansion joints between sections of a sidewalk helps reduce cracks by providing room for materials to expand and contract. .
There is no doubt that the inclusion of expansion joints in building and plumbing systems can make a huge difference in the life of many different building projects. By providing an easy means to allow room for the natural expansion and contraction of materials, the pressure on the overall structure is reduced. With a lower incidence of cracking or leaking, these joints pay for themselves in a short period of time.
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