4 sealing installation methods worth exploring!

Sealing installation can be done by using many different methods and they all have their own applications to utilize.

First, however, we would like to point out that the methods and examples discussed in this article only address fastening options for customized B2B sealing solutions.

In addition, the installation methods addressed are solutions offered by FinnProfiles, and similar ones may not be available elsewhere.

We would also like to point out that FinnProfiles has more than 30 years of experience in designing and manufacturing individual sealing profile solutions for numerous different industries, such as the construction, marine, rolling stock, machine building, and pharmaceutical industries.

When should the installation method be selected?

Attention should be paid to the choice of installation method already at the design stage of the product to be sealed. In the same context, the design of the sealing profile itself must be initiated as well.

Each installation method has its own strengths and some of them may bring significant added value to your product. Thus, it is advisable to start discussions with the sealing designer and manufacturer as early as possible so that the desired installation method can be adapted to the product structure without any problems.

What should be considered when choosing the sealing installation method?

It would be important to map out at least the following when selecting a sealing installation method: What kind of space should the sealing fit into? What is the tightness requirement of the sealing? What are other possible technical requirements involved in the solution? What kind of stress is the sealing exposed to? How long is the operating distance of the sealing? With how much force can the sealing withstand compression? How often is the sealing to be replaced?

The installation method affects e.g. the sealing:

• Material selection
• Permanence
• Size
• Installability
• Price

Sealing installation methods

In practice, the installation of the sealing solution can be done in four different ways. Please note that all methods have their own advantages and should be considered when designing the structure of the object to be sealed.

The sealing can be installed in the following ways, for example:

• Groove fastening
• Tape fastening
• Metal-reinforced fastening
• Mechanical fastening

Below we go through the different installation methods and explain the related advantages and prerequisites.

Sealing groove fastening

As the name of the groove fastening already states, a groove must be designed for the installation site into which the foot part of the sealing is inserted. Groove fastening therefore always requires a separate installation profile for its counterpart.

Groove fastening is used a lot e.g. in window and door sealing fastenings. The advantages of this fastening method are its easy and quick installation without tools or chemicals. In addition, in many door and window factories, groove-fastened sealing is mechanically installed using automation.

It is also worth noting that TPE and silicone sealings can be made in dual-hardness (co-extrusion), in which case the foot part of the profile is made of a material harder than the sealing part itself. This way the groove fastening turns out to be very firm fastening.

Advantages:

• Easy to install / replace
• Mechanical installation possible
• Looks neat
• Good permanence
• The sealing is replaceable without tools
• The sealing can be made in dual-hardness

Prerequisites:

• Requires a separate installation profile for its counterpart
• Groove fastening permanence is not tight enough for all objects

Recommended applications

• Especially the door and window industry
• Other industry

Sealing installation with tape fastening

Tape fastening is especially suitable for applications where the sealing profile must be fastened to a smooth surface.

The tape quality is selected according to the surface and conditions of the installation site. For example, a painted wood surface has a different tape than a powder coated metal surface. Ultimately, the tape adhesive determines how permanent the sealing tape installation becomes.

In addition to the actual installation, tape fastening can also be utilized as an auxiliary fastening method. Auxiliary fastening can be utilized, for example, in the assembly phase of a machine or equipment, in which case it is sufficient for the tape to hold until the sealing is pressed between the structures.

FinnProfiles tape options:

• 2-sided fiberglass-reinforced tape (light-duty stress exposure / installation taping)
• Heat lamination (Acrylic foam)
• Adhesive coating (also suitable for silicone products)

Advantages:

• Easy to install
• No structural changes required

Prerequisites:

• Smooth, solid surface
• Temperature and humidity within reasonable limits depending on the tape

Recommended applications

• Sealing that is not subjected to high mechanical stress
• Sealing required for smooth surfaces

Sealing installation with metal-reinforced fastening

Above all, sealing installation with a metal-reinforced fastening solution is easy. Thus, a metal-reinforced sealing solution is the recommended method for applications where the sealing needs to be replaced at regular intervals, or if you otherwise want to invest in the ease of installing the sealing.

In addition, we recommend the metal-reinforced fastening solution on sites with natural edges suitable for the sealing that require sealing. Examples of these are the various hatches and doors of public transport.

The installation of the sealing profile with metal-reinforced fastening is done simply by pressing. In practice, the metal-reinforced installation groove of the sealing is pressed over the edge on the object.

• The metal-reinforcement only stiffens the fastening groove part of the sealing solution.
• The metal-reinforcement does not affect the flexibility of the solution.
• The functionality of the sealing profile itself is not affected by the metal-reinforcement.

The metal-reinforced fastening solution is also available in dual-hardness (co-extrusion), in which case the sealing itself has a different hardness than the fastening part. This way, the sealing can be made considerably more elastic (or emphasize its other properties) without compromising the stability of the installation.

In addition to the metal-reinforcement, the stability of the solution is enhanced by “tabs” inside the fastening groove, which increase the friction between the fastening groove and the edge of the object.

Despite its good permanence, metal-reinforced fastening can be dismantled by vigorously pulling by hand.

All in all, metal-reinforced fastening solution is an easy, safe and neat method, the use of which is mainly limited by dimensional limitations.

Advantages:

• Very easy to install / replace
• Excellent fire resistance
• Looks neat
• Good permanence
• Does not require the design of a separate installation profile
• Suitable for all silicone grades offered by FinnProfiles

Prerequisites:

• Width of the fastening groove part 10mm≤
• The fastening edge can practically be 1mm-4mm strong
• Made of silicone

Recommended applications

• Marine industry
• Rail industry
• All public transport
• Interior protection
• Edge sealing for various doors and hatches

Sealing installation with mechanical fastening

Mechanical installation is the right option when it is necessary to fasten the sealing so tight that it is not possible to remove it without tools or breaking the sealing.

Examples of mechanical installation implementations are:

• Pressing the sealing foot between the mouldings
• Fastening the sealing to the mounting base with screws

However, the durability of the sealing material used must be taken into account in the implementation of mechanical installation. Screw-through and riveting are generally suitable for most rubber and TPE blends, but silicone can easily be too soft a material and tear by perforation, and require a moulding or washer to secure the counterpart.

Advantages:

• Guaranteed permanence

Prerequisites:

• Possibility of pressing or screwing at the design site
• The sealing does not need to be replaced regularly

Recommended applications

• Sealing that may freeze on the surface to be sealed
• Protection profiles that are subjected to a lot of forces from different directions

Useful links: Chemical Industry Federation of Finland