Smith-Blair Style 313 Ductile Iron Service Saddle - Galvanized Bales, 1-1/4-18 in

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 electro-galvanized steel bales 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 4 in (3 and 4 in NPT on the extra-large body from 4 in pipe up), 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 in through 16-18 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

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 subject to change by the manufacturer. Smith-Blair's spec describes a fabricated, epoxy-coated strap-and-stud assembly with ductile iron spherical washers (in place of the cast bales) on 16 in and larger saddles and on 3 and 4 in taps at 14 in and up, while the price book lists these sizes with this bale build; confirm the hardware with us at order for 14 in and larger.

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.

Choose the size and pipe OD in the first option and the tap in the second; the part number shows in the last option.

• 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 bales, 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.