Early 2000
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.
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-tapping plug into the main.
You can now abandon or renew the tee 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.
Challenges
Many different tee making repair difficult using standard equipment. Tees are missing an internal stopper to shut down the service branch. Compliance requires expensive line-stopper procedures. Leads to increased restoration costs. Increases in pipeline pressures from population growth cause leaks in outdated service tees that need renewal. The Tool implementation can be seen as an expense 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. Stops 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 Now, gas operators have a tool in the engineering arsenal to repair thousands of outdated services safely.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 drove numerous enhancements. Gas-free adaptations have broadened its capabilities. Today, 1000+ tools are in use in Canada & US.
Compatible Tees Without Internal Stopping Mechanism
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- Cap Tee
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- Plug Tee
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- Mueller Tee
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- Elbow Service
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- Punch Tee Saddle
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- PE Bolt-On Tee
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.
Key Safety Features
Easy to Install Stoppers
Tool Structure
Base Tool (2500BV, 3000BV)
Add Any Tee Adapter Kits or Parts
