Reinforced Electrofusion Branch Saddles
Built for large bore PE mains, this reinforced hdpe electrofusion saddle lets a branch be placed and installed after the main pipe is complete, and with an under-pressure drilling kit the same fitting works as a live-pipe hdpe electrofusion tapping saddle for repair bypasses, outlet replacement, or water and gas pipe relocation.
Where it fits
One Part in the Branch-Connection Family
A branch off a PE main can be made in four different ways, and the choice is usually decided by when the branch position becomes known rather than by price. The saddle is the option that lets the main be finished first.
HDPE tees and crosses
A factory-made branch where the position is fixed at the fabrication stage. Efficient when the branch is known before the main is laid, and impossible to move afterwards.
See HDPE tees and crossesElectrofusion saddle (this page)
The branch is placed and fused after the main pipe installation is complete. The branch part works as an electrofusion coupler, which is stated as more convenient than butt fusion and faster on site.
Sweep bends and direction changes
Where the route turns rather than branches. Specified ahead of installation in the same way as a tee, so the alignment is settled on the drawing.
See HDPE sweep bendsFlange adaptors and custom fittings
Tie-ins the standard range does not cover. Customised HDPE components are produced in metric and inch sizes, so a non-standard connection is quoted rather than improvised.
See customised productsSelection matrix
Main Size, Branch Diameter, Method and Timing
Four columns decide the part. The stated envelope for this saddle is a branch of up to 1200 mm with no limitation on the main pipe size, which is what makes it usable on large-bore mains.
| Main pipe size | Branch diameter | Connection method | Timing on site | Confirm before ordering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No limitation stated | Up to 1200 mm | Electrofusion branch part | After the main is complete (post-installation placement) | SDR, material grade and the fusion parameters for your pipe |
| No limitation stated | Up to 1200 mm | Electrofusion branch, tap made under pressure | On a live main in constant operation | Under-pressure drilling tool kit selection and operator certification |
| No limitation stated | Up to 1200 mm | Butt fusion alternative | Planned ahead of installation | Whether the joint can be made in the trench space you actually have |
SDR, PE100 grade, pressure rating and fusion parameters are not published for this product. Treat every cell above as an envelope and confirm the project values on the submittal — they are set by the pipe you are tapping, not by the saddle.
The decision that matters most
Post-Installation Placement or Live Tapping
The two situations look similar on a drawing and behave completely differently on site. The saddle covers both; the tooling and the procedure do not.
Main already complete, branch not yet needed
There is no need to consider the location of branches in advance during main pipe construction. The saddle is placed and installed where the branch is needed after the main installation is finished, so a late change of plan costs a fusion rather than a section of new main.
Live main in constant operation
Where a branch is required off a pipe that cannot be shut down, the reinforced saddle is used with an under-pressure drilling tool kit. This is the stated solution for safe live pipe tapping, enabling a maintenance or branch addition without interrupting service.
Under-pressure tapping workflow
Four Steps From Saddle to Branch
The sequence below is the order the under-pressure drilling tool kit is used in. Fusion parameters are not published for this product, so step one is confirmed against your pipe data rather than assumed from this page.
- Fuse the reinforced saddle onto the main Surface preparation and fusion on the live main. The saddle is designed as a reinforced branch body, so the fusion joint carries the branch load rather than the pipe wall alone. Confirm the fusion parameters for your pipe before the first joint.
- Fit the valve to the saddle outlet The valve is what makes the rest of the operation safe: once it is closed, the branch is isolated and the drilling can be carried out without losing line pressure.
- Drill through under pressure The under-pressure drilling tool kit cuts the main through the open valve. This is the operation that requires a trained operator and the correct kit for the main size — it is the step that cannot be improvised on site.
- Tie in the branch and commission Withdraw the tool, close the valve and connect the branch pipe. Because the branch part works as an electrofusion coupler, the tie-in is fused rather than butt-welded, which saves time in a confined trench.
Fusion voltage, time and cooling data are not given on the product page. Send the pipe SDR and grade with the line list and the factory will return the parameters for the joint, together with the tool kit selection for the main size.
Size and pressure logic
Why Large-Bore Mains Need Their Own Derating Check
A branch is a local change in wall geometry, so the pressure story on a large-bore main is not the same as the story on the pipe run. The saddle removes the main-size limit; it does not remove the derating question.
No limitation on main pipe size
The stated envelope allows the saddle to be specified against large-bore mains without stepping up to a fabricated tee, which is what keeps deep-trench and retrofit work economic.
Branch up to 1200 mm
The branch diameter range is stated up to 1200 mm, covering the outlet sizes that large water and gas networks actually ask for.
Pressure rating and derating factors are not published for this product, so the working pressure of a tapped branch is confirmed project-specific against the main, the SDR and the operating temperature. Do not carry a derating factor across from another product range.
Standards and documentation
What Is Confirmed, and What Has to Be Requested
Two things get confused in a submittal: what the fitting is certified to, and what the manufacturing company is certified to. They are listed separately below.
| Item | Status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| EN 12201 / EN 1555 | Referenced for PE electrofusion fittings | Read the standards note for how the two water and gas regimes differ. |
| ISO certified manufacturing | Stated at manufacturer level, producing since 1992 | Request the current certificate scope with the submittal pack. |
| Watermark / WRAS / NSF | Cited at manufacturer level | Confirm that the scope covers this product before it is written into a specification. |
| Pressure rating, SDR, material grade, fusion parameters | Not published for this product | Confirm project-specific on the submittal — never carry a value across from another range. |
Send this with your line list
- Main pipe outside diameter, SDR and material grade.
- Branch diameter required, up to 1200 mm.
- Whether the main is live or dry at the time of tapping.
- Operating pressure and temperature, and the medium.
- The certificate scope your project has to satisfy.
What comes back
- The saddle configuration for the main size and branch diameter.
- Fusion parameters for your pipe, and the under-pressure tool kit selection.
- The submittal pack with the documentation your specification calls for.
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View productFrequently Asked Questions
what branch size can this electrofusion saddle handle?
the branch side is offered in sizes up to 1200mm diameter, and the supplier states there is no limit on the main pipe size, so the saddle can be matched to large bore pe mains.
can a branch be added after the main pipe is already installed?
yes. the saddle is designed to be placed and installed where the branch is needed after the main pipe installation is complete, so branch locations do not have to be fixed in advance.
how is the saddle connected to the pipe?
the branch part adopts electrofusion and works like an electrofusion coupler, which the manufacturer describes as more convenient and time-saving than butt fusion for this connection.
can it be used for live pipe tapping?
yes. combined with the under-pressure drilling tool kit, the reinforced saddle offers a solution when a branch connection is required off a live pipe in constant operation.
which situations typically call for this saddle?
typical uses stated by the manufacturer include bypassing a gas pipeline section due for repair, outlet pipe replacement, water pipe alteration, and gas pipe relocation.
how do i request a quotation or technical information?
use the product page inquiry form or contact the supplier directly. include your project details, main pipe and branch sizes, operating conditions, and required quantity so the review can be prepared.