Spring coils are so pervasive in design of pipe supports that our collective paradigm limits our ability to consider alternatives. The photograph below shows an example of a pipe support designed for the special environment of an off-shore platform which uses a stainless steel metal bellows instead of a spring coil.
![Stainless Steel Bellows Used As Spring Coil Stainless Steel Bellows Used As Spring Coil](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5321487686_115c1a76cb.jpg)
This customer was concerned about the corrosive environment and the salt water which will occasionally flow over the pipe support. The rolled plate on the left will be welded to a structural pipe on the platform. A riser clamp (not shown) will be attached on the right. The stainless steel bellows was designed with the proper spring rate and movement.