Service tee renewal used to be simple: pin off the tee with a steel pin or a wooden dowel and get to work. Many distribution companies now prohibit that practice, which leaves crews calling in line stoppers and pushing project costs up.
The Mazco Safe-T-Stopper gives crews a gas-free alternative for service tee renewal and abandonment. Since its introduction in 2005, more than 1,000 units have gone into service across Canada and the United States.
How It Works
The Safe-T-Stopper attaches a ball valve to the top of the tee and seals under the cap or around the plug. The crew removes the cap or plug through the tool, then stops the gas by inserting a rubber stopper below the branch or threading in a self-tapping plug. The tee can then be cut and capped or removed.
No gas is released, operators aren’t exposed to live gas, and methane emissions are reduced.
8 Tee Types It Handles
The Safe-T-Stopper works on tees that have no internal stopper:
- Cap tee
- Plug tee
- Street tee on a saddle
- Mueller tee with a missing completion plug
- Street elbow on a coupling
- Punch tee on a saddle
- Bolted plastic (PE) tee
- Dresser Qwik Tap
Not sure what’s in the ground? Our Tee Identification guide shows each type.
Pressure Ratings
Pick the tool package by the pressure and tee you’re working on:
- 80 psi (most common): homemade or manufactured tees with a cap or plug. A rubber stopper or self-tap plug stops the gas before the tee is cut and capped or removed.
- 125 psi (special package): the same cap and plug tees at higher pressure.
- 60 psi (special situations): street tees on a coupling and bolt-on PE tees, which are removed and replaced with a plug.
These are typical ratings. Never exceed the rated limit, and contact Mazco if you’re unsure which package fits.
One Base Tool, Many Adapters
Every setup starts with a 2500BV or 3000BV base tool in a custom kit case. From there, crews add tee adapter kits as they need them: cap tee, plug tee, Mueller tee, saddle punch tee, and Qwik Tap adapters. Accessories include a cap adapter remover, half collars for sealing, a magnet adapter, a self-tap plug adapter, and a viewport for watching the work.
Full part listings are on the Safe-T-Stopper Parts page.
Why Utilities Switch
- No pinning off with steel pins or wooden dowels
- No line stopper needed for routine tee renewals
- Less operator exposure to live gas
- Lower methane emissions
- The tool can pay for itself after one or two jobs
Manuals and Videos
Download the Safe-T-Stopper catalog or the Cap Tee manual, or watch the tool in action on our Videos page.
Request a Quote
To price a Safe-T-Stopper kit or the adapters for your tee types, contact us or call 1-877-688-8863. Canadian customers can contact our exclusive distributor, CR Wall & Co. Inc.