Wraptor Unveils First Purpose-Built Tapping Safety Blanket
Wraptor has officially announced the commercial launch of the Wraptor Tapping Safety Blanket, introducing what the company describes as the world’s first purpose-built engineered containment solution specifically designed for PVC pipe tapping operations. With the launch, the company has also begun accepting customer orders through its official website as it seeks to address a long-standing safety gap within the water and utility infrastructure industry.
The introduction of the new safety product comes in response to growing awareness around the risks associated with PVC pipe tapping procedures. Pipe tapping is a common process used in utility and water infrastructure systems to create new service connections or access points on pressurized pipelines without shutting down the flow of water. While the procedure is routine across the industry, it also carries significant risks when performed on pressurized PVC pipe systems.
According to Wraptor, tapping-related failures have become a recognized safety concern throughout the industry. The company cited industry findings indicating that approximately 60% of contractors have either witnessed or personally experienced a PVC tapping failure during their careers. When failures occur, the results can be extremely dangerous because pressurized pipe fragments and components may be propelled outward at very high speeds without warning.
The risks associated with these failures have been acknowledged for years by industry organizations such as the American Water Works Association and Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association. Both organizations have previously recommended the use of protective containment blankets during PVC tapping procedures to improve worker safety. However, despite these recommendations, there had not previously been a commercially available product specifically engineered to meet this need in a standardized and practical way.
Wraptor says the launch of its Tapping Safety Blanket is intended to fill that gap by providing utility crews and contractors with a purpose-built protective solution designed specifically for the conditions encountered during pipe tapping operations.
The product was developed under the leadership of Brett Trout, founder and president of Wraptor, who has spent more than three decades working in the utility and infrastructure industry. Throughout much of his career, Trout observed workers improvising safety measures during tapping procedures by using jackets, tarps, or other makeshift materials in an attempt to protect themselves from potential pipe failures.
According to Trout, the lack of a dedicated safety solution remained a major concern for years, but the issue became especially urgent after he learned about a severe workplace accident involving a PVC pipe explosion. The incident involved a worker performing a pipe tap when the pressurized PVC line violently failed, sending the tapping saddle into the left side of the worker’s face. Although the individual survived after spending weeks in intensive care, the injuries resulted in life-altering consequences.
Trout explained that the incident reinforced the need for a properly engineered protective solution rather than relying on improvised safety practices. Having spent years alongside utility crews and field workers, he believed the industry needed a practical and reliable containment product capable of reducing the risks associated with catastrophic tapping failures.
To develop the product, Wraptor partnered with Rose-Hulman Ventures, the applied research and development arm associated with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Together, the teams focused on creating a solution engineered specifically for real-world utility field conditions and the physical demands of PVC tapping procedures.
The resulting Wraptor Tapping Safety Blanket has been designed to fit PVC pipes ranging from six inches to twelve inches in diameter, making it suitable for a broad range of municipal and utility infrastructure applications. The company stated that the blanket can be installed in less than 30 seconds without requiring additional tools, allowing field crews to integrate it quickly into existing workflows without significantly slowing operations.
One of the key features of the product is its ability to withstand high-pressure blast forces generated during potential tapping failures. According to Wraptor, the blanket has been engineered to tolerate forces ranging from approximately 800 to 900 PSI. The company says this level of containment capability is intended to help reduce the risks posed by pressurized fragments and equipment failures during tapping operations.
The blanket incorporates several industrial-grade materials selected for durability and strength. These include dual-layer 18-ounce eTek vinyl-coated polyester, Cordura Nylon 1000D fabric, and heavy-duty cam buckles rated to withstand loads of up to 3,000 pounds. The combination of materials was selected to provide both flexibility in the field and the structural integrity required for high-risk applications.
Wraptor also stated that the product aligns with safety guidance published by the Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association and supports OSHA-aligned hazard mitigation practices aimed at improving worker safety during infrastructure operations. By introducing a standardized containment system, the company hopes to help utility operators strengthen field safety procedures and reduce the likelihood of severe injuries during tapping projects.
Before the commercial launch, the Wraptor Tapping Safety Blanket underwent independent field testing across multiple states to evaluate its effectiveness, usability, and compatibility with active utility operations. Testing was conducted in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and Texas with participation from utility crews and field operators working in real operating environments.
According to Wraptor, the field testing process focused not only on technical performance but also on practical usability in day-to-day operations. Feedback from participants indicated that the product integrated smoothly into existing work procedures without requiring major operational changes.
Several field operators reportedly expressed surprise that a purpose-built containment blanket had not existed sooner given the long-recognized risks associated with PVC tapping operations. Others noted that the product fit naturally into existing workflows, making it easier for crews to adopt additional safety measures without adding unnecessary complexity to the job.
The launch of the Wraptor Tapping Safety Blanket reflects broader trends across the utility and infrastructure sectors, where companies and contractors are increasingly prioritizing worker safety, operational risk reduction, and compliance with evolving industry standards. As infrastructure systems continue aging and maintenance demands grow, safety-focused innovations are becoming increasingly important across water and utility operations.
Wraptor believes its new product can help establish a higher safety standard for PVC tapping operations by replacing improvised protective measures with an engineered containment solution specifically designed for the hazards involved. The company hopes the product will contribute to reducing workplace injuries while supporting safer infrastructure maintenance practices across the utility industry.
With commercial availability now underway, Wraptor is positioning the Tapping Safety Blanket as a new category of field safety equipment intended to address one of the utility sector’s most persistent operational risks.
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