The industry-standard field-joint solution
When a pipe leaves a 3LPE plant, the only un-coated zone is the bevel — and once that bevel is welded into a girth joint in the field, you have a 30 cm exposed-steel band that has to be protected with a system fully compatible with the mainline coating. For 90% of pipeline projects in the world, the answer is heat-shrinkable sleeves.
We supply the full grade range from 60 °C two-layer mastic sleeves through to 100 °C three-layer sleeves with epoxy primer — qualified to EN 12068, ISO 21809-3 and NACE SP0490.
Two-layer sleeves
Two-layer field joint coating systems are engineered as ready-to-fit assemblies for corrosion protection of girth weld joints in water, gas, transmission networks, pre-insulated piping, offshore and submarine pipelines.
| Material | Performance class | Compatible mainline coatings | Max operating temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mastic heat-shrinkable sleeve | EN 12068 Class C50 / ISO 21809-3 14A-1 | PE, FBE, Coal Tar, Asphalt Enamel | 65 °C |
| Offshore HSS (medium-temp) | EN 12068 Class C50 / ISO 21809-3 14A-2 | FBE, Asphalt Enamel, Coal Tar, HDPUF, PE | 65 °C |
| Offshore HSS (high-temp) | EN 12068 Class C HT / ISO 21809-3 14A-3 | FBE, AE, Coal Tar, PE, PP, TSA | 100 °C |
Three-layer sleeves
Three-layer field joint systems are engineered as ready-to-fit assemblies for 3LPE and 3LPP mainline pipelines — same chemistry as the mainline (epoxy primer + adhesive + cross-linked polyolefin backing) so the joint behaves like a continuation of the line.
| Material | Performance class | Compatible | Max operating temperature | Application form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSS (60 °C grade) | EN 12068 Class C HT / ISO 21809-3 14B-1 / NACE RP0303 | 3LPE | 65 °C | Wet film + dry film |
| HSS (80 °C grade) | EN 12068 Class C HT / ISO 21809-3 14B-2 / NACE RP0303 | 3LPE | 85 °C | Wet film + dry film |
| HSS (100 °C grade) | EN 12068 Class C HT / ISO 21809-3 14B-2 / NACE RP0303 | 3LPP | 105 °C | Dry film |
What's in each sleeve
- Backing: cross-linked polyolefin (polyethylene or polypropylene). The cross-linking is what gives the sleeve its "memory" — it shrinks back to its original molecular configuration when heated.
- Adhesive: hot-melt mastic (two-layer) or formulated hot-melt with epoxy primer (three-layer). The adhesive flows out under heat and bonds chemically to both the steel and the mainline coating.
- Optional epoxy primer: for three-layer systems on high-criticality projects, applied to the bare-steel joint before sleeve installation.
Installation in 25 minutes
- Surface prep — abrasive blast or power-tool clean to Sa 2½ at the joint
- Pre-heat — induction or torch to manufacturer's specified temperature (typically 60-100 °C above ambient)
- Position sleeve — wrap or telescope-fit over the joint, aligned with the spec
- Heat-shrink — torch the sleeve circumferentially until full shrink-down and adhesive flow are visible
- Inspect — visual check for full shrink, adhesive squeeze-out at edges, no wrinkles
- Holiday detect — 5 V/µm DC (or per project spec) for QA sign-off
Buying guide
Pick a sleeve by:
- Mainline coating — 3LPE → three-layer HSS; FBE/coal-tar/PE → two-layer HSS
- Service temperature — 60 / 80 / 100 °C grades
- Pipe diameter — sleeves come in widths from 4" (100 mm) to 60" (1500 mm)
- Climate at installation — wet-film grades for humid sites; dry-film grades for clean, dry sites
- Standards required — NACE / ISO / EN qualification
We carry stock for all standard sizes; custom widths and lengths available with 4-week lead time.
