Guest Column: A New Solution To An Old Problem

By Ilana Goldberg, CSI

For decades, the method to make a tube or pipe penetration consisted of drilling a hole in the wall and running the pipe through. What we see in most plants is foam or caulk to plug the hole, in combination with a stainless steel escutcheon plate, sealed to the wall with silicone caulking. This method is acceptable at first. However, when the tubing experiences some movement — vibrations or thermal expansion and contraction — the plate breaks loose from the wall. The result is an exposed hole, which is not only unsightly, but it can lead to more serious issues: the inside of the wall now becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.