What is the Safe T Stopper?

The tool attaches a ball valve on top of the tee. It creates a seal under a cap or around a plug. Remove the cap or plug.

To stop the gas:

  • Insert a rubber stopper below the branch.
  • Tighten a self-tap plug into the main.

Now the tee can then be abandoned or renewed according to company procedures.

Why Use it?

The Canadian Gas Association and the American Gas Association, along with their member companies, are dedicated to fostering a positive safety culture among their employees across the natural gas distribution industry. All employees, as well as contractors and suppliers providing services to us, are expected to prioritize the highest safety standards for employees, customers, the public, and our pipelines.

Early 2000’s

Many distribution companies introduced new regulations prohibiting the use of a steel pin or wooden dowel to pin off a service tee. The mandate leads to the mandatory use of line stoppers, increasing the cost of service renewals and abandonment projects. This is expensive.

The Safe-T-Stopper Tool Platform is one of the tools helping to keep workers safe and save money.

Challenges:

Many different tee making repair difficult using standard equipment.

Many tees are missing an internal stopper to shut down the service branch.

Need to employ expensive line-stopper procedures to comply. Leads to increased restoration costs.

Increases in pipeline pressures due to population growth cause leaks on outdated service tees that need renewal.

Tool implementation can be perceived as expensive rather than an investment in safety.

Solution:

Removes the operator’s exposure to working on live gas while saving money.

Works on many tees using specialized adapters.

Stop off open-gut tees in a standard excavation.

Now, gas operators have a tool in the engineering arsenal to repair thousands of outdated services safely.

Many achieve cost savings after one or two uses of the tool.

Reduces methane emissions.

From 2005 to Now

Safe T Stopper was introduced in 2005.

Worker feedback paved the way for numerous enhancements.

Gas-free adaptations have broadened capabilities for use.

Today, there are 1000+ tools in Canada & US.

Compatible Tees Without Internal Stopping Mechanism

How Does It Work?

The tool attaches a ball valve on top of the tee. It creates a seal under a cap or around a plug.

Special tool adapters remove the plug or cap and stop the gas with a rubber plug or a steel self-tap plug.

STS TOOLS

Key Safety Features

Easy to Install Stoppers

Tool Structure

Base Tool (2500BV, 3000BV)

Add Any Tee Adapter Kits or Parts

Pressure Ratings

Contingent on the tee style configuration and abandonment or renewal procedure.

80 PSI – Most common Homemade / Manufactured Tee with a cap or a plug. A detachable rubber stopper or self-tapping plug prevents the gas from escaping. The tee is then cut and capped or removed.
125 PSI—Special Tool Package: A homemade or manufactured Tee with a cap or a plug.
60 PSI – Special Situations: – Street Tees on a Coupling and Bolt-On PE Tees, where the tee is removed and replaced with a plug.
Note: Pressure ratings are typical; please contact Mazco if you are unsure. Do not attempt the Safe T Stopper operation at pressures exceeding the rated limits.
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