What is BS 4371 – specification for fibrous gland packings about?
Gland packing has long been the traditional sealing solution for many industries thanks to its low upfront cost and flexibility.
BS 4371 is a British Standard that specifies the description, materials, lubricants, size, mass, packaging and marking of nine types of fibrous gland packings.
Note: BS 4371 does not specify electrical cable gland packings.
Who is BS 4371 - specification for fibrous gland packings for?
BS 5106 on ‘specification for fibrous gland packings’ is useful for:
- Manufacturers and suppliers of centrifugal pumps
- Manufacturers and suppliers of fibrous gland packings
- Product design engineers / innovation teams
- Quality control / testing personnel
- Compliance / audit teams
BS 5106 on ‘specification for fibrous gland packings’ is also useful for sectors that use fibrous gland packings for their pipe systems such as:
- The oil and gas industry
- The railways
- The energy sector
- Water supply authorities
- Sewage systems management entities
Why should you use BS 4371 - specification for fibrous gland packings?
Gland packing utilises a braided rope-like material that is packed around the shaft of the pump. This fills the space between and prevents fluid loss from around the shaft.
BS 4371 guidelines provide you with specifications for manufacturing fibrous gland packings of different materials. Tests are specified in BS 4371 for the determination of lubricant content, size, mass and ignition loss.
The information to be supplied by the purchaser at the time of enquiry and/or order is also provided in BS 4371. A cross sections and tolerances table has been provided in BS 4371 for your reference. Loose fibre packing, lubricated plaited cotton packing, and braided asbestos yarn packing are some types of packings discussed in BS 4371.
BS 4371 guidelines help you to follow best practices when manufacturing fibrous gland packings so that users can mitigate risks to life and property by avoiding leakages in their pipes.