The Academy of Joint Integrity was launched last year to raise awareness of sealing technology and to provide professional accredited training services to support its global client base.

It remains essential that gaskets and sealing products are installed, assembled and tightened to industry best practice. So to enhance the training to an unrivalled level, The Academy of Joint Integrity (part of the FDS Group) has invested in another state-of-the-art FADU specifically for North Sea customers.

The FADU enables the user to tighten a bolted joint and see the impact of tightening procedures on screen through the innovative load monitoring software. The benefits of this interactive training are already being appreciated in Aberdeen with many operators and engineering firms signing up for training and lunch and learn sessions.

Gary Milne, Group technical training manager, said: "The FADU is a fantastic tool for both the trainer and the candidate. The trainer can easily convey the complex interactions of the flanges, bolts and gasket, whilst the candidate can clearly see the importance of following correct procedures."

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By embracing such technology The Academy of Joint Integrity is able to provide its clients with the key training tools to embrace the issues relating to the assembly and tightening of flanged bolted connections. Candidates attending the training courses can experience first hand the effect of applying bolt loads to flanges containing different gaskets and view graphically the interplay between the flange, fasteners and the gasket using various assembly and tightening procedures. The unit utilises both an API Ring Type Joint and an ASME B16.5 raised face flange. The two flange arrangements are fully interchangeable and give the client direct experience of tightening the full range of gaskets, including solid metal ring type joints (RTJ), spiral wounds, Kammprofiles and soft gasket types. This capability is unique to The Academy of Joint Integrity and was requested specifically to support the offshore market.

Key to the unit's appeal is the immediate feedback via our load monitoring software. This automatically displays data on bolt stress, gasket compression, and torque- preload relationships in real-time, in an easily understandable layout. The software takes the calculation and guesswork out of interpreting results and the data logging facility can be used to capture data from experimentation or record the results of each student's performance. This is beneficial when the client requires evidence of competence.

Since The Academy of Joint Integrity was created, it has always been clear about its purpose to not simply train people to bolt up flanges but to educate its clients about the importance of joint integrity and the key aspects of gasket technology. "This unique blend of experience and knowledge means we can relate to the oil and gas industry’s unique requirements"

There are many factors to bear in mind when considering the design of a bolted joint - the type of flange, the gasket material and the type and grade of bolts. No matter how good the selection of the components is, the correct assembly and appropriate tightening of flanged joints is essential to ensure safe performance and a leak tight joint.