How to choose pipe fittings?

06 Aug.,2024

 

Pipes & Pipe Fittings Guide - Grainger KnowHow

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How to Choose the Right Fittings

There is a wide selection of pipe tubing and pipe fitting types and finding the right ones for your pipes is essential to an efficient plumbing system. The most important consideration when selecting tubing and fittings is fixture compatibility. Without this, your plumbing system won&#;t operate properly.

Here&#;s what to consider when choosing pipe tubing and fittings:

Pipe vs. Tubing 

Although people might use the terms &#;pipe&#; and &#;tubing&#; interchangeably, they have different purposes and are not measured the same way. Pipes serve as a vessel to transfer fluids and gases in large plumbing applications. Tubes, on the other hand, can be square, round or rectangular and are typically used in structural applications. Selecting the right type of tubing helps ensure optimal and cost-effective plumbing performance. 

Tubing can be made from hard or soft materials. However, tubing usage falls into three main categories:  

  • Fluid transport: tubes that transport fluids from one place to another
  • Structural applications: tubes designed to use in buildings and structures with mechanical properties
  • Electrical sheathing: tubes that are designed around electrical wires or applications to protect against abrasion   

Thread Types

Pipe fittings are threaded on both ends, with female threads on the inside of a fitting. Male threads are on the outside of a fitting and screw into the female threads. A common thread type used in North America is National Pipe Thread (NPT), featuring tapered threads used for joining and sealing pipes. Fittings come in male pipe threading (MPT or MNPT) and female pipe threading (FPT or FNPT). Another common thread type is British Standard Pipe (BSP), the standard used in most countries for plumbing and pipefitting. Other thread-type standards vary based on the country and industry.

Material

The material of fittings depends on several factors, including temperature conditions, pressure ratings and cost. Pipes come in a wide variety of materials, as do fittings. However, both fittings and tubing components are typically matched with the material of the pipe itself. The most common materials for fittings are metals and plastics, including brass, copper, steel, black iron, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene and more.

For tubing, the material plays a huge role in determining the right kind for your application. Hard, metal pipe tubing is used when pipes need strength and hardness. Copper, aluminum and steel are the most commonly used metals for tubing. These materials are frequently used in plumbing and heating applications for their corrosion-resistant durability. Soft tubing is a more flexible alternative in plumbing systems. The most commonly used plastics are nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane and PVC. Soft tubing offers corrosion resistance, strength and helps reduce pressure leaks.

Size

Finding what size pipes are needed for a project can be confusing. However, pipe size refers to the nominal diameter (DN) or average inside diameter of the pipe measurement. Pipes can be easily interchanged and connected to the same nominal diameter pipes. The nominal diameter can be calculated using standard tables and schedules based on the pipe dimensions. 

Fitting size is determined by the inside diameter (ID) of the pipe it&#;s connecting to and is measured in inches or millimeters. ID measures the size of the empty portion of the cylinder, and OD sizes the thickness of the tubing wall.

The tubing size is somewhat similar. The dimensions for tube sizing are determined by the OD, ID and wall thickness and measured in inches or millimeters. Nominal sizes for tubes are based on the outside diameter.

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Taking time to measure carefully will help ensure your sizing is correct. Selecting the proper tubing and pipe fitting types ensures your plumbing system can operate at peak performance.

Pipe Fitting Selection Guide

Pipe Fitting Selection Guide


Pipe fittings are available in various shapes, sizes and materials. Used to connect pipes of different lengths and sizes, these pipe fittings and flanges should make the right connections. Pipe and pipe-fittings are produced from a various materials for the transport of wide variety of solids and fluids. The wrong pipe fittings can lead to many problems like:

  • leaks
  • unwanted flow restrictions and
  • extra cost

The proper pipe fittings and flanges let your equipment do the work that you intend it to do. The various types of pipe fittings include adapters, bulkhead fittings, plugs, rigid couplings, flexible couplings, 90 degree elbows, 45 degree elbows, reducing elbows, flanges, nipples, concentric reducers, eccentric reducers, side outlet tees, standard tees, reducing tees, bullhead tees, unions, standard wyes, reducing wyes and many more. You should select the right fitting for your application among the wide range of fitting types and sizes offered.
Common points to consider:
The integrity of any fitting for proper functioning depends upon the following:
  • Selection of correct components or fittings appropriate for the application
  • Careful preparation and cleaning
  • Careful installation and assembly
  • Correct tightening and loading
Selecting Your Pipe Fittings:
The points to consider are as follows:
  • Consider the Tubing Used: For instance, barbed fittings work better in flexible tubing while compression fittings work best with rigid tubing.
  • Determine Material Compatibility: Material selection plays a vital role in the proper working of fittings. There are certain fluids which are not compatible with fitting material and these fittings cause leakage or system damage. It is very essential to check the material compatibility of your fluid with any chemicals.
  • Check Temperature and Pressure Conditions: Appropriate temperature and pressure ratings are needed for proper operating conditions. It is necessary to know whether the fittings are capable of performing at their maximum temperature and maximum pressure ratings because most fittings cannot perform both the task simultaneously.
Some popular fitting types:

Barbed Fittings:

They slide into soft tubing. For low-pressure installations, tubing elasticity holds the tubing onto the fitting.

They slide into soft tubing. For low-pressure installations, tubing elasticity holds the tubing onto the fitting.

Threaded Pipe Fittings:

These are the most commonly used fittings based on certain standards. For instance, there are threaded fittings of pipes in BSP (British Standard Pipe), NPT (National Pipe Taper), UNF (Unified Fine Thread) sizes for permanent, high-pressure pipe connections.

These are the most commonly used fittings based on certain standards. For instance, there are threaded fittings of pipes in BSP (British Standard Pipe), NPT (National Pipe Taper), UNF (Unified Fine Thread) sizes for permanent, high-pressure pipe connections.

Cam Fittings:

They are considered to be quick-disconnecting fittings which are used with pipes and hoses. For instance, you can connect a female coupler to a male adapter and for a secure connection, pull down the arms. These fittings are capable of withstanding high-pressure applications.

They are considered to be quick-disconnecting fittings which are used with pipes and hoses. For instance, you can connect a female coupler to a male adapter and for a secure connection, pull down the arms. These fittings are capable of withstanding high-pressure applications.

Quick Disconnect Fittings:

These fittings make and break tubing connections without separating tubing from fitting.

These fittings make and break tubing connections without separating tubing from fitting.

Chromatography Fittings:

These fittings are designed for HPLC and other high-pressure applications and they can withstand pressures as high as psi.

These fittings are designed for HPLC and other high-pressure applications and they can withstand pressures as high as psi.

Compression Fittings:

These fittings have a nut that compresses rigid tubing against fitting body and are mainly used for high-pressure applications.

These fittings have a nut that compresses rigid tubing against fitting body and are mainly used for high-pressure applications.


Pipe Thread Sizes:
This is a very important consideration for any pipe fitting. All pipes were manufactured with specification of a standardized outside diameter (OD) and wall thickness which in turn implies that the nominal pipe size is approximately equal to the inside diameter (ID). Nowadays, various thread configurations are used. We give below an example of British Standard Pipe (BSP) fittings for connecting systems that use both NPT and BSP thread configurations. The table shows a comparison of these two thread styles.

Size

Threads per inch

 

NPT

BSP

1/8" 27 28 1/4" 18 19 3/8" 18 19 1/2" 14 14 3/4" 14 14

To sum up: Selection criteria for buyers:
  • Materials
  • Pressure Ratings
  • Design and operation
  • Safety information
  • Temperature

Buyer's assistance:
Before purchasing pipe fittings and flanges, certain questions need to be answered for that particular pipe fitting and the manufacturer who is manufacturing that particular fitting. Some of these questions are as follows:
  • Can it handle pressure?
  • Can it handle high temperature?
  • Does it have proven long-term performance?
  • Are the joints or seals reliable?
  • Can it be fitted properly?
  • Does it have confidence of manufacturers?
  • Can it withstand outdoor storage and ultraviolet rays?
  • Can it resist punctures and abrasion?
  • Does it have widespread approval and acceptance from inspectors and engineers?
  • Does it have quality and value?
The more the number of &#;YES&#;, the better is your product.

The proper pipe fittings and flanges let your equipment do the work that you intend it to do. The various types of pipe fittings include adapters, bulkhead fittings, plugs, rigid couplings, flexible couplings, 90 degree elbows, 45 degree elbows, reducing elbows, flanges, nipples, concentric reducers, eccentric reducers, side outlet tees, standard tees, reducing tees, bullhead tees, unions, standard wyes, reducing wyes and many more. You should select the right fitting for your application among the wide range of fitting types and sizes offered.The integrity of any fitting for proper functioning depends upon the following:The points to consider are as follows:This is a very important consideration for any pipe fitting. All pipes were manufactured with specification of a standardized outside diameter (OD) and wall thickness which in turn implies that the nominal pipe size is approximately equal to the inside diameter (ID). Nowadays, various thread configurations are used. We give below an example of British Standard Pipe (BSP) fittings for connecting systems that use both NPT and BSP thread configurations. The table shows a comparison of these two thread styles.Before purchasing pipe fittings and flanges, certain questions need to be answered for that particular pipe fitting and the manufacturer who is manufacturing that particular fitting. Some of these questions are as follows:The more the number of &#;YES&#;, the better is your product.

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