Hyspan Barco ball joints are commonly used in steam hot water heating systems because of their safety and reliability. When used in sets of two or three they absorb thermal expansion or contraction by the Off-Set method of lateral displacement. The ball joints are installed in pipe run or loop oriented perpendicular to the movement. Main anchors are not required because the design of ball joints reacts pressure thrust, and the flex torque reaction force is moderate.

Because of their ability to react pressure thrust and absorb rotational and torsional motions, ball joints are used for tank and building settlement, seismic isolation, solar arrays, and piping displacement from wave motion. Hyspan Barco ball joints are approved by Factory Mutual System for fire protection systems, and they have been tested to 8.3 seismic simulation.

Company standards and registrations include the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code including a "U" stamp, the European Pressure Equipment Directive and the Canadian Boiler and Pressure Vessel Registration. The company is a member of the Expansion Joint Manufacturers Association.

Type N Style I Hyspan Barco Ball Joints have evolved from the original ball joints that were developed by Barco in 1908 to distribute steam from locomotives to passenger cars for heating. The Type N Style I was developed in 1960. Since that time thousands of Style I joints have been installed in steam, hot water and chilled water distribution systems. Type N Style I joints are available from 2 1/2" through 30" with Hyspan Barco proprietary Compound 11 composition seals or Compound 24 glass filled Teflon® seals. Type N Style I joints have a bolted retainer that permits seal adjustment or disassembly for maintenance.