Pig guide bars | Equal & reducing | 2" – 48"
A barred tee is a buttweld tee with steel guide bars welded across the branch opening, parallel to the flow in the run. The bars stop a pig from turning into the branch and keep its cups supported as it passes the opening, while product still flows into the branch. Barred tees are used on piggable oil, gas and water pipelines wherever a large branch leaves the main line. We supply them in pipeline, carbon, low-temperature and stainless grades, with the number, size and spacing of bars to your specification.
| Type | Equal and reducing barred tees |
| Size | 2" – 48" run |
| Tee body | MSS SP-75 (WPHY), ASME B16.9, EN 10253 |
| Grades | WPHY 42–70, WPB, WPL6, 316L, duplex |
| Bars | Number, size, spacing per your spec |
| Finish | Bars flush with run bore |
| Documents | EN 10204 3.1 std, 3.2 on request |
A pig seals against the pipe wall with cups or discs. At a branch opening the wall is missing, so the pig can lose its seal, tilt into the branch, or get stuck. Guide bars close the opening for the pig while leaving it open for flow.
Pipeline specifications commonly call for bars when the branch is about half the run diameter or larger. Small branches do not need bars because the pig cups bridge the opening. The rule in your company or project specification decides; we make the tee to that rule.
An alternative for some services is a sphere tee or flow tee, where the run is a perforated sleeve. Barred tees are simpler, lighter and cost less, and are the usual choice for oil and gas transmission and gathering lines.
| Service | Tee grade | Matching pipe |
|---|---|---|
| Gas and oil transmission | MSS SP-75 WPHY 42 / 46 / 52 / 60 / 65 / 70 | API 5L X42–X70 |
| General carbon steel | ASTM A234 WPB | API 5L Gr B, A106 Gr B |
| Low temperature | ASTM A420 WPL6 | A333 Gr 6 |
| European projects | EN 10253-2 P265GH, or tees matched to EN ISO 3183 line pipe on request | EN 10216-2 / EN ISO 3183 |
| Corrosive service | WP316L, duplex 2205, super duplex 2507 | Matching stainless or duplex pipe |
A barred tee is a buttweld tee with guide bars welded across the inside of the branch opening, parallel to the run. The bars stop pipeline pigs from entering the branch and help them pass the opening smoothly, while product still flows through the branch.
Pipeline specifications commonly require bars when the branch diameter is about half the run diameter or more, on lines that are pigged. The exact threshold and bar design come from your company or project specification.
It depends on the branch size and your specification. Small branches may have one or two bars, large branches more. The gap between bars must be small enough that the pig cannot drop into it. Send us your bar requirements or specification sheet.
The tee itself is made to MSS SP-75, ASME B16.9 or EN 10253. There is no general standard for the bars; their number, size, material and welding are set by the pipeline operator's or project's specification.
Yes, in suitable grades with hardness control and testing to NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 on request. State sour service and any HIC or SSC test requirements in the RFQ.
Reply from our Mumbai sales office, usually within one working day. You can attach drawings by email to marketing@arshyafittings.com.
