Compensation for misalignments, simplified maintenance and excellent resistance to abrasion and diluted chemicals.

Elastomeric expansion joints in direct contact with drinking water must be certified for drinking water applications. The required certification depends on local regulations and is defined by the competent authorities. In Europe, many countries have their own approval schemes for drinking water, such as WRAS in the UK, DVGW in Germany, KIWA in the Netherlands and ACS in France. These certifications are often recognized or accepted in other European countries. Drinking water certification helps ensure that materials in contact with water do not alter its quality. Distributed water must meet strict requirements for color, turbidity and chemical composition, including limits for metals and other substances that could affect human health.

Many drinking water certification schemes distinguish between different temperature categories, such as cold water, hot water and very hot water. The applicable category is defined during testing and approval of the material. Therefore, a material certified for potable water applications is not necessarily approved for all water temperatures, and the scope of certification should always be verified.

The most widely used elastomeric blend for drinking water applications is EPDM. It offers excellent resistance to hot water, aging, ozone and bad weather, while having very good mechanical properties. Our quality DW elastomer is certified for drinking water applications.

Dilatoflex® elastomeric expansion joints can be used in underground pipelines exposed to ground settlement and other pipe movements. However, they must not be installed in direct contact with the surrounding soil, as this would restrict their movement. Instead, they must be installed in a chamber or manhole that provides sufficient clearance for their operation. This solution is particularly well-suited for underground installations where access is difficult or impossible for many years. Our users' experience confirms that Dilatoflex® elastomeric expansion joints provide reliable, long-term service in this type of application, without requiring replacement for extended periods.