Flexible mechanical coupling for water, wastewater, and industrial piping. Plain-end steel pipe in nominal sizes ½ in through 48 in. AWWA C219 compliant.
The Dresser Style 38 is a bolted mechanical coupling engineered for flexible, leakproof connections on steel pipe in water, wastewater, and industrial piping systems. No threading, beveling, or precise pipe alignment required — installs with standard wrenches only.
The resilient gasket design absorbs vibration, accommodates thermal pipe movement, and allows angular deflection — enabling curves to be laid using straight pipe lengths without bends or elbows. Compliant with AWWA C219.
The Style 38 is supplied with one of six gasket compounds depending on service media, temperature, and chemical compatibility. Select the gasket matching your application from variant options at checkout or contact us for compounds not shown.
For highly corrosive service, the Style 38 is available in all-stainless steel construction (Type 316 standard; Type 304 substitutable). Middle ring: Type 316 SS per ASTM A240 with No. 1 mill finish (optional A380 pickle-and-passivation finish). Followers: Type 316 SS only — single-piece thru 12 in, 2-piece bar follower for larger sizes. Bolts: Type 316 with rolled threads. Nuts: Type 316 with Xylan coating. Meets AWWA C219.
SS Working Pressure: 150 PSI · Test Pressure: 250 PSI. Stainless steel couplings are custom-built and made to order with extended lead times — consult factory for project requirements.
| Nom. Size (in) | Pipe OD (in) | Ring Length (in) | Bolts (Qty × Dia × Length) | Working Press (PSI) | Max Test (PSI) | Weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ½ | .840 | 3½ | 2 × ½ in × 6 in | 1500 | 2250 | 2 |
| ¾ | 1.050 | 5 | 2 × ½ in × 7¼ in | 1500 | 2250 | 3 |
| 1 | 1.315 | 5 | 2 × ½ in × 7¼ in | 1500 | 2250 | 4 |
| 1¼ | 1.660 | 5 | 2 × ½ in × 7¼ in | 1500 | 2250 | 4 |
| 1½ | 1.900 | 5 | 2 × ½ in × 7¼ in | 1500 | 2250 | 5 |
| 2 | 2.375 | 5 | 2 × 5/8 in × 8¼ in | 1500 | 2250 | 7 |
| 2½ | 2.875 | 5 | 3 × 5/8 in × 8¼ in | 1500 | 2250 | 13 |
| 3 | 3.500 | 5 | 4 × 5/8 in × 6 in | 1100 | 1650 | 13.5 |
| 4 | 4.500 | 5 | 4 × 5/8 in × 6 in | 1000 | 1500 | 16.5 |
| 5 | 5.563 | 5 | 4 × 5/8 in × 6 in | 1205 | 1808 | 23.5 |
| 6 | 6.625 | 7 | 6 × 5/8 in × 8¼ in | 1029 | 1544 | 31 |
| 8 | 8.625 | 7 | 6 × 5/8 in × 8¼ in | 807 | 1211 | 38 |
| 10 | 10.750 | 7 | 8 × 5/8 in × 8¼ in | 657 | 986 | 49 |
| 12 | 12.750 | 7 | 8 × 5/8 in × 8¼ in | 558 | 837 | 56 |
| 14 | 14.000 | 7 | 8 × 5/8 in × 10-3/4 in | 510 | 765 | 60 |
| 16 | 16.000 | 7 | 10 × 5/8 in × 10-3/4 in | 449 | 673 | 70 |
| 18 | 18.000 | 7 | 10 × 5/8 in × 10-3/4 in | 401 | 602 | 75 |
| 20 | 20.000 | 7 | 12 × 5/8 in × 10-3/4 in | 362 | 543 | 86 |
| 22 | 22.000 | 7 | 14 × 5/8 in × 10-3/4 in | 330 | 495 | 98 |
| 24 | 24.000 | 7 | 14 × 5/8 in × 10-3/4 in | 304 | 456 | 105 |
| 30 | 30.000 | 7 | 16 × 5/8 in × 10-3/4 in | 243 | 364 | 120 |
| 36 | 36.000 | 7 | 18 × 5/8 in × 10-3/4 in | 253 | 379 | 181 |
| 40 | 40.000 | 7 | 18 × 5/8 in × 10-3/4 in | Consult Factory | Consult Factory | 198 |
| 42 | 42.000 | 10 | 20 × 5/8 in × 15 in | 346 | 519 | 351 |
| 48 | 48.000 | 10 | 22 × 5/8 in × 15 in | 304 | 456 | 399 |
Working pressures per Dresser Style 38 Steel Pipe Submittal (2021), calculated per Barlow’s formula at ½ minimum yield. Sizes above 48 in available — consult factory.
| Pipe Size Range | 5 in Ring | 7 in Ring | 10 in Ring |
|---|---|---|---|
| ½ in thru 2 in OD | 6° | 6° | — |
| Above 2 in thru 14 in OD | 4° | 4° | 4° |
| Above 14 in thru 30 in OD | 2° | 4° | 4° |
| Above 30 in thru 37 in OD | 1½° | 3° | 3½° |
| Above 37 in thru 42 in OD | — | 2½° | 3½° |
| Above 42 in thru 54 in OD | — | 2° | 3° |
Pipe end must remain past end of gasket by minimum 1 in after deflection.
No special tools required beyond a torque wrench and basic hand tools.
| Bolt Diameter | Required Torque (Ft. Lbs.) |
|---|---|
| 3/8 in & ½ in | 35 |
| 5/8 in | 75 |
| ¾ in | 90 |
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