Pipe Shoes

Pipe shoes are specialized mechanical components that provide rigid support and elevation for pipes, typically designed to distribute weight and prevent movement or deformation, often tailored to specific pipe diameters and insulation requirements.
Various Types of RedLineIPS Pipe Shoes
Various Types of RedLineIPS Pipe Shoes

What is a Pipe Shoe?

Pipe shoes are specialized pipe supports designed to protect and stabilize pipelines from the stresses of load, thermal expansion, and movement. Made from durable metals, these devices are attached to the bottom of pipes, providing a robust and secure platform that reduces direct contact with the supporting structure. Pipe shoes are essential in maintaining the integrity and operational safety of industrial piping systems.

RedLineIPS Pipe Shoes

RedLineIPS pipe shoes serve as structural elements that elevate a pipe from the base surface, preventing direct contact between the pipe and the supporting structure or the ground. This separation is crucial for several reasons:

Types of RedLineIPS Pipe Shoes

RedLineIPS pipe shoe supports come in various types, each tailored to specific demands within a piping system. These diverse types of pipe shoes collectively play a pivotal role in enhancing the longevity and efficiency of industrial piping systems by offering tailored support to counteract the myriad challenges they may encounter. Among the types of pipe shoes are:

Non-Welded Pipe Shoes: Weld-Free Efficiency

Non-Welded RedLineIPS Pipe Shoes provide a practical solution for supporting piping systems across various industries without the need for welding. These pipe supports are designed for easy attachment using clamps, and are commonly called Clamp-on Pipe Shoes, Clamped-on Pipe Shoes, or Clamped Pipe Shoes. They can also utilize U-Bolts, and are commonly called Bolt-on Pipe Shoes or Bolted Pipe Shoes. This type significantly reduces installation time and avoids the complexities associated with welded supports. For more information about U-Bolts visit our page here.

RedLineIPS Clamp-On Pipe Shoe
RedLineIPS Clamp-On Pipe Shoe

Key Features of RedLineIPS Non-Welded Pipe Shoes

The key advantage of RedLineIPS Non-Welded Pipe Shoes lies in their simplicity and speed of installation. By circumventing welding, these supports eliminate the need for hot work permits, line shutdown, and specialized labor, leading to lower labor, downtime and operational costs. Their design accommodates a wide range of pipe diameters, offering flexibility across different applications.

Eliminating welding from the installation process not only preserves the pipe’s structural integrity by avoiding heat-affected zones but also enhances workplace safety by reducing fire hazards. These pipe shoes are also easy to inspect and maintain, ensuring the longevity of both the support and the piping system.

RedLineIPS U-Bolt Pipe Shoe
RedLineIPS U-Bolt Pipe Shoe

RedLineIPS Non-Welded Pipe Shoe Supports usually come with corrosion-resistant liners on the bolts or the clamps so they can mitigate the effects of galvanic and crevice corrosion that cause Corrosion Under Pipe Supports (CUPS). Refer to our liners page here for more details.. This, combined with the reduced need for maintenance and replacements, renders them a cost-effective solution for industrial piping systems.

Welded Pipe Shoes: Cost-Effective Supports

Welded pipe shoes are the most cost-effective solution for preserving the integrity of insulated piping systems. These shoe supports not only support the weight of the pipe but also serve as guides, effectively restraining thermal movements in piping systems. Additionally, they can prevent undesirable metal-to-metal contact between uninsulated pipe walls and supporting steel.

Some of RedLineIPS pipe shoes have a flexible design that allows them to be utilized as either welded or non-welded shoes, depending on engineering specifications. Among this type is Saddle Shoes, which can be attached to a pipe using full welds, tack-welding, or without any welding, which would rely on the pipe’s size and weight to remain in place.

RedLineIPS Gusset T Pipe Shoe
RedLineIPS Gusset T Pipe Shoe
Key Features of RedLineIPS Welded Pipe Shoes
RedLineIPS Pipe Shoe with Saddle
RedLineIPS Pipe Shoe with Saddle

Pre-Insulated Pipe Shoes: Resilience in Extreme Conditions

Pre-Insulated Pipe Shoes, also commonly called Cold Shoes, represent a specialized category of non-welded (clamped) pipe shoes. They are designed to support pipes in extreme temperature environments where heat transfer is not desirable. These shoes feature a high-density polyurethane foam system, providing exceptional resilience in temperatures as low as -300°F. They are particularly well-suited for applications in LNG plants, carriers, and terminals.
Cogbill’s RedLineIPS Cold Shoe
Cogbill’s RedLineIPS Cold Shoe
Key Features of Pre-Insulated Pipe Shoes

At Cogbill, we specialize in crafting custom pipe shoe designs, serving markets locally, nationally, and globally for over two decades. Our experienced fabricators, certified welders, and advanced manufacturing processes equip us to meet every pipe support challenge with precision and excellence.

Your piping system deserves the best, and at Cogbill, we ensure it receives precisely that. For more information about our custom-manufactured pipe shoes or for a quote, contact us today.