Durable Spectacle & Spade Flanges for Pressure Isolation Applications

A Spectacle Blind is a safety device used to isolate a section of line or piece of equipment when the line or equipment needs to be inspected or removed from service. The spectacle blind can be rotated to align the opening with the pipeline (open position) or turned perpendicular to the pipeline (closed position) to block the flow. It is often used during maintenance or repair operations to isolate a section of the pipeline. Spectacle Blinds can be heavier than Paddle Blinds (Spades), where larger sizes require assisted lifting for installation.

Spectacle Blinds are more commonly installed as a permanent device, where one end allows pipe flow, and the other blocks the flow.
LPF have been manufacturing Spectacle Blinds (also known as Spec Blinds or ‘8 Blind’) for over 15 years.

Spade:

A Spade Blind (also known as Spades & Spacers, Paddle Blind, Skillet Blind, Pancake Blind, Slip Blind or Line Blind) resembles the shape of a paddle (which is where “Paddle Blind” comes from). These types of blinds are generally applied in piping systems that do not require constant maintenance. Spades are used more as a temporary blocking device to stop flow in a process piping system. Sometimes optional Paddle type Spacers can be used in-line when returning the system to operation.

Spades are primarily used to block flow only, as opposed to a Spectacle Blind that can both allow flow and block flow. Spades are preferably used where access is limited and are needed to be used in tight spaces. Spades are sometimes chosen over Spectacle Blinds due to weight and ease of install – as Spades are lighter than a Spec Blind.