In industrial piping systems, pipeline blinds play a critical role in isolating sections for maintenance, shutdowns, and safety procedures. At Impel Engineering, we supply and fabricate a variety of pipeline blinds and locking systems tailored to suit process piping, energy, and resource sector applications.
Types of Pipeline Blinds
Line Blinds (Figure-8 Blinds):
Used for permanent or semi-permanent isolation, these are installed between flanges and rotated or swapped to isolate or open flow paths.
Paddle Blinds (Slip Blinds):
These are solid metal plates inserted between flanges to completely block flow. They’re commonly used during shutdowns or where full isolation is needed.
Spacer Blinds (Ring Spacers):
Often used with paddle blinds, these donut-shaped components allow flow when inserted and help simplify the changeover process in spectacle blind assemblies.
Spectacle Blinds:
A dual-purpose component, one end blocks flow (paddle) while the other allows flow (spacer). It’s mounted as a single unit and rotated depending on the operational needs, making it ideal for regular maintenance access.
Locking Systems for Pipeline Blinds
To ensure safety and operational integrity, various locking mechanisms can be installed with pipeline blinds:
Valve Locking & Interlocks: These can be integrated to ensure a valve cannot be opened unless the blind is in a safe position.
Mechanical Lockout Devices: Prevent unintentional removal or rotation of blinds, especially important in high-pressure or hazardous systems.
Tagged Locking Systems: Used in combination with lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures for regulatory compliance and safety auditing.
Whether you need fabrication, supply, or design consultation, Impel Engineering can assist with your isolation system requirements.
Contact us today to discuss the right blind solution for your project.
