Reuse of Metallic Gaskets for Piping Systems

[spayette]

Gasket manufacturers do not recommend reusing metallic gaskets such as sprial wound, CMGC, RTJ, and double jacketed types since the metal components are typcially yielded during assembly.

However, can anyone cite good operating experience reusing gaskets of any of these types and can you identify the services where this has been successful and the number of times gaskets have been typically reused.

 

[SMF1964]

No success here. The few times when a gasket was placed back in service (due to unavailability and need to return to service) gasket leakage was the outcome.

 

[metengr]

We don't re-use gaskets in high temperature steam pipe flange joints, on valve body to valve bonnet joints or on access doors in lower drums or on steam drums. The gaskets on our power piping components are normally Flexatallic design and during removal of flange studs, the gaskets typically are damaged beyond re-use.

 

[stanweld]

Confirm the comments from SMF1964 and metengr. When old spiral wound gaskets were "inadvertantly" reused, leakage occurred.