Smith-Blair · Service Saddle
Style 313 Service Saddle
Double Strap, Epoxy-Coated Ductile Iron Body — Epoxy-Coated Carbon Steel Straps
300 PSI Max Working Pressure
-20°F to +180°F Temperature
Nitrile (Buna-N) Gasket
Epoxy-Coated Ductile Iron Body
Epoxy-Coated Steel Straps, DI Spherical Washers
5/8 to 2-1/2 in CC and NPT Taps
NSF/ANSI 61 and 372
AWWA C800
19.38-25.85 in Pipe OD
20 lb Weight
Description
The Smith-Blair Style 313 is a double-bale ductile iron service saddle with a TaperSeal gasket, used to connect branch lines, instruments and other appurtenances to the pipe. Two epoxy-coated carbon steel straps spread the clamping load across a wide, wraparound body with a heavy tapping boss, and the TaperSeal lip lets the saddle hold higher pressures with minimal nut torque.
Choose the pipe size and OD range in the first option and the outlet in the second: CC (AWWA corporation-stop thread) from 5/8 to 2 in and NPT from 3/4 to 2-1/2 in, 18, 20 and 24 in nominal pipe; not every tap is made on every pipe size.
Application: tapping pipe for branch and service connections and installing air and vacuum valves, drain valves, pitot tubes and other service equipment.
Key Features
- Working pressure up to 300 PSI, depending on size and application
- Double bales and a wide saddle body give stability and sealing pressure on larger mains and larger outlets
- Gasket is fully cemented in its cavity to hold it in place
- Canted ears for full tangential tightening; open ears slip on without removing the nuts
- Meets applicable AWWA C800 standards; certified to NSF/ANSI 61 and NSF/ANSI 372
What Ships and What It Needs to Run
Included: the epoxy-coated ductile iron saddle body with the gasket cemented in place, two fabricated epoxy-coated carbon steel straps with welded studs, ductile iron spherical washers, nuts and flat washers, ready to install.
Outlet: supplied with the CC or NPT tap chosen in the options; the outlet connection is made with pipe thread compound, not tape.
Genuine Smith-Blair equipment, factory-new in original packaging — sold and supported by Watermain Supply, an independent industrial supplier.
12-Month Smith-Blair Warranty
Smith-Blair warrants its products to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for one year from the date of shipment by Smith-Blair. Dated proof of purchase, such as a bill of sale, is required to establish eligibility. Smith-Blair will repair or, at its option, replace a defective product; the product is returned to the factory or warehouse Smith-Blair designates.
Working Pressure
Up to 300 PSI. depending on size and application. Smith-Blair notes that the allowable pressure depends on the type of pipe, pipe diameter, service conditions and installation workmanship.
Materials Specifications
| Body |
Ductile iron 65-45-12 per ASTM A536, Flexi-Coat fusion-bonded epoxy finish per AWWA C213; wraparound design with wide skirt and heavy tapping boss |
| Straps |
Carbon steel per ASTM A36, 0.25 x 1.25 in flat bar, Flexi-Coat fusion-bonded epoxy finish; near-360° support of the pipe at the tap |
| Studs |
HSLA steel per AWWA C111/A21.11, 5/8-11 UNC, welded to the strap (GMAW, qualified welders), epoxy finish with threads left clean |
| Spherical washers |
Ductile iron 65-45-12 per ASTM A536, Flexi-Coat epoxy finish; full bearing for the strap nuts and align the straps with the body |
| Nuts |
Carbon steel per ASTM A307, 5/8-11 UNC heavy hex semi-finished, Fe/Zn coated per ASTM F1941 |
| Flat washers |
Carbon steel per ASTM F844, 5/8 in Type A plain, Fe/Zn coated per ASTM F1941 |
| Gasket |
Nitrile (Buna-N) per ASTM D2000, TaperSeal hydro-mechanical lip, compounded to resist water, oil, natural gas, acids, alkalies, most (aliphatic) hydrocarbon fluids and many other chemicals; -20°F to +180°F |
Materials subject to change by the manufacturer.
Pipe Applications
Steel, ductile iron and cast iron pipe per the datasheet; Smith-Blair's spec adds stainless steel, asbestos cement and aluminum. Bale saddles are not recommended on PVC or HDPE pipe; Smith-Blair's stainless strap styles are built for those.
Sizes
| Nominal size - pipe OD |
NPT taps |
CC taps |
| 18 in - 19.38-19.68 in |
3/4, 1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2, 2, 2-1/2 in |
5/8, 3/4, 1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2, 2 in |
| 20 in - 21.55-21.65 in |
3/4, 1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2, 2, 2-1/2 in |
5/8, 3/4, 1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2, 2 in |
| 24 in - 25.75-25.85 in |
3/4, 1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2, 2, 2-1/2 in |
5/8, 3/4, 1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2, 2 in |
Choose the size and pipe OD in the first option and the tap in the second; the part number shows in the last option.
Installation Notes
- Confirm the saddle type, tap size and pipe OD range before you start, then clean the pipe thoroughly where the gasket will seat, removing scale, dirt and debris.
- Check that the gasket sits properly in the body, then lubricate the pipe surface and gasket with a soap-and-water solution (anti-freeze may be required) that meets the water and pipe supplier's requirements.
- Mount the body as close to the final tap position as possible and set its orientation before tightening; do not move the body once it is on the pipe, as this can damage the gasket.
- Fit the straps, washers and nuts, with the washers on the open-lug side; tighten the nuts progressively and uniformly to the torque in the instructions, keeping the bolt lengths on both sides equal. Do not over-torque; a calibrated torque wrench is recommended.
- Make the outlet connection with a good-quality pipe thread compound that lubricates and seals (no tape products) and meets the water supplier's requirements; do not cross-thread or rock the body while threading.
- The torque is set to seal the gasket to the pipe: the saddle is not designed to give structural rigidity to connections or equipment, and Smith-Blair does not recommend bale saddles on PVC or HDPE pipe.
From Smith-Blair Installation Instructions TI-009 (311, 313 and 331 saddles with bales, Rev 08/26/21), in the Data Sheet tab.
Before You OrderAll Smith-Blair products are Made to Order and Non-Returnable.
Items typically shipped in 5 - 10 business days.
BSP and 1/2 in taps, 316 stainless or electro-galvanized strap assemblies, Viton or EPDM gaskets and anode connectors are built to order — email sales@watermainsupply.com with the pipe OD, pipe material and tap.
