Tapping safety Blanket Takes Third Place

This article presents the Tapping Safety Blanket, a canvas blanket with stainless steel bars designed for a 4‐bolt tap saddle with 2‐in. centers, such as McDonald and Ford saddles, although the blanket can be altered for use on similar saddles. The device prevents pieces of PVC pipe that may break off at the tap from blowing back on tapping personnel. The blanket also protects against the force of water under pressure from shooting out at the pipe installers. This device won Third Place in the 2006 Opflow Gimmicks & Gadgets Contest.