Cogbill Construction, LLC

10/23/2026

Article: Suitability of the SmartPad System for New Construction and Maintenance Projects

Pipe supports are where corrosion prevention plans usually succeed—or quietly fail.

Corrosion Under Pipe Supports (CUPS) is a constant operational challenge driven by water entrapment, crevice dynamics, and tight touchpoints. But the real headache for integrity engineers and project managers is finding a solution that works across both capital projects and ongoing maintenance.

In our latest article, we break down how the SmartPad System bridges the gap between greenfield construction and brownfield maintenance:

🔹 New Construction: Installs seamlessly into fabrication & assembly schedules to eliminate metal-to-metal contact from Day 1.

🔹 Maintenance & Retrofit: Protects in-service piping without requiring costly hot work, shutdowns, or complex line lifts.

🔹 Long-Term Integrity: Simplifies visual inspection and reduces long-term NDT/inspection costs over the lifecycle of the asset.

Whether you're specifying for a new facility build or managing corrosion on operating assets, protecting pipe touchpoints doesn't have to be complicated.

Read the full breakdown here

https://smartpadsystem.com/smartpad-system-new-construction-maintenance/

SmartPadSystem.com
[email protected]
(409) 768-1419

SmartPads are designed to reduce corrosion under pipe supports (CUPS) across the full lifecycle—from new construction to maintenance retrofits. This article explains why supports corrode even with coatings, compares common mitigation methods, and shows how SmartPads enable fast installation and pr...

10/22/2026

Non-adjustable pipe supports are the set-and-forget backbone of many systems—fixed shoes, guides, anchors, U-bolts/clamps, and rigid hangers that are built to one elevation and load. They carry weight and control movement with simple, robust geometry, so they resist loosening, hold alignment, and stay quiet under vibration. Choose them when the steel is true, the elevation is known, and thermal growth is already managed by guides/anchors or expansion joints.

https://redlineips.com/metallic-piping-supports/non-adjustable-pipe-supports/
[email protected]
(409) 768-1419

10/21/2026

Shim Block Assembly 101

Shim block assemblies are support components used to raise, level, and fine-tune the elevation of a pipe support where precise height control is required. They are commonly installed by themselves or in hold-down clamps, or similar support details, when the piping system must be brought to a specific operating elevation without refabricating the main support steel. In practical terms, a shim block assembly creates a controlled buildup between the support base and the support component above, helping correct fit-up differences, compensate for construction tolerances, and achieve proper load engagement.

A typical shim block assembly may include shim plates, structural plates, rods, guides, or other hardware, depending on the design and load requirements. Liners can also be incorporated where needed to help manage friction, protect contact surfaces, reduce metal-to-metal contact, or suit the service conditions at the support interface. The purpose of the assembly is not only to add height, but to do so in a stable and repeatable way that maintains alignment and transfers load properly into the structure below. Shim block assemblies are widely used in industrial piping systems where support elevation affects slope, drainage, nozzle alignment, or engagement with nearby restraint components.

RedLineIPS.com
[email protected]
(409) 768-1419

10/20/2026

Custom, adjustable pipe supports matter because your site isn’t “standard.” Elevations vary, steel settles, lines grow with heat, and nozzle loads have limits—so supports must be built to your exact geometry and service, not pulled off a shelf. That’s why the shop you trust matters: clear RFIs, 3D models, CNC-cut parts, qualified WPS/PQR, and in-process QC turn drawings into hardware that fits first time and holds spec under real conditions.

Adjustability is the safety valve for reality—threaded take-up, shims, and slotted bases let crews dial height and restraint so flanges align and guides don’t bind. When each step is right, installs go fast, schedules hold, and your system runs quietly and reliably.

https://redlineips.com/metallic-piping-supports/adjustable-pipe-supports/
[email protected]
(409) 768-1419

10/19/2026

From raw plate to field-ready steel: hoppers, transitions, vessels, stacks, stands, platforms, augers, cyclones, stair treads, saddles. CAD/CAM files become CNC-cut kits, precision formed and welded, then blasted, coated, and ready for a fast install. One shop, predictable fit and schedule.

https://cogbillconstruction.com/cogbill-industrial-plate-fabrication/
[email protected]
(409) 768-1419

10/15/2026

When it comes to pipe support, we've got your back (and your pipes!). Explore our comprehensive line of dependable pipe supports designed for every industrial need.

https://redlineips.com/metallic-piping-supports/
[email protected]
(409) 768-1419

10/14/2026

Hold-Down Clamps 101

Hold-down clamps are pipe support components used to keep a pipe, pipe shoe, or support assembly firmly seated on the structure below while resisting uplift, shifting, or unwanted movement. They are commonly used where vibration, surge, thermal forces, or operating conditions could cause the pipe to lift, rock, or move off its intended support point. Unlike a basic support that mainly carries vertical load, a hold-down clamp adds positive restraint and helps maintain contact between the piping system and the support detail beneath it.

In practice, hold-down clamps are often part of a larger support arrangement rather than a standalone item. They can be used with liners to protect coatings, reduce metal-to-metal contact, or help manage friction, and they may also be paired with slide plates where axial thermal movement must still occur while the pipe remains restrained vertically. In some designs, hold-down clamps are also integrated with shim block assemblies to fine-tune support height and load engagement, especially where precise support elevation matters. That combination makes them useful in refineries, chemical plants, power facilities, and offshore piping systems where both restraint and controlled movement must be handled at the same support location.

RedLineIPS.com
[email protected]
(409) 768-1419

10/13/2026

Why choose clamp-on pipe shoes over welded shoes? Because they deliver support and controlled sliding without hot work—no heat-affected zones, no distortion, no recoat cycle, and far fewer permit delays. They install on live lines, protect existing coatings, and can be repositioned or swapped as layouts evolve, all while keeping alignment and allowing thermal movement on racks and sleepers.

Operationally, clamp-on designs cut schedule risk (no welding/PWHT/NDE bottlenecks), standardize hardware for repeatable fit-up, and let you fine-tune elevation with shims or base adjustments instead of grinding and rewelding. Add isolation/slide surfaces as the spec requires, and you’ve got fast, clean, reliable support—built for retrofits and new work alike.

https://redlineips.com/metallic-piping-supports/pipe-shoes/
[email protected]
(409) 768-1419

10/12/2026

Need a platform, stairs, or a full access package? We build it to your specs.
Cogbill fabricates custom structural steel in carbon, stainless, or aluminum—built to fit your site and your drawings.
From vessel platforms to stair towers and handrails, we deliver clean fit-up and job-ready assemblies.
Send us your prints and we’ll quote it fast and build it right.

https://CogbillConstruction.com/cogbill-structural-steel-fabrication/
[email protected]
(409) 768-1419

10/08/2026

Pre-insulated pipe shoes combine a structural cradle with built-in insulation and a v***r barrier, so the line stays supported without creating a thermal bridge. In practice, you use them anywhere the pipe is insulated and you need to preserve that thermal break at the support—think chilled water and refrigeration loops, cryogenic services like LNG/LOX, and heat-conserving lines such as steam or hot oil.

https://redlineips.com/metallic-piping-supports/pipe-shoes/
[email protected]
(409) 768-1419